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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks » KNP Complex Wildfire Tree Hazard Mitigation in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks » Document List » Document Contents

KNP Complex Wildfire Tree Hazard Mitigation Environmental Assessment


The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on the KNP Complex Wildfire Tree Hazard Mitigation Environmental Assessment (EA) which proposes to mitigate roughly 12,000-15,000 roadside tree hazards within the burn perimeter of the 2021 KNP Complex Wildfire (KNP) in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (parks).

Areas subject to proposed tree hazard mitigation include the Generals Highway, Mineral King Road, Crystal Cave Road, Crescent Meadow Road, Redwood Mountain Road, and the Clover Creek Sprayfield. Action may also be taken in other developed areas within the KNP burn perimeter as necessary to meet desired conditions, safety, and resource protection goals. In addition, the NPS is proposing to treat woody debris within up to no more than 80 feet of the road's edge.

BACKGROUND
The KNP Complex Wildfire burned over 88,000 acres of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and adjacent lands during the fall of 2021, resulting in high levels of tree-mortality across the landscape and adding to the already extensive levels of conifer mortality previously documented within the parks and throughout the Sierra Nevada. Where dead or otherwise defective trees overlap with developed areas, some are considered tree hazards - meaning they pose a direct risk to human safety and property due to the likelihood of their failure and potential to hit a human or man-made target.

The EA evaluates three alternatives to minimize the threat to public safety and NPS infrastructure from tree hazards killed or otherwise damaged by the KNP Complex Wildfire. The EA also analyzes treatment of debris to protect road corridors that serve as fire breaks, evacuation routes, and provide firefighter access.

The preferred alternative includes mitigating (removing) tree hazards along roadways and developed areas within the 2021 KNP Complex Fire burn perimeter. In addition, the preferred alternative proposes to treat fallen debris within up to 80 feet from the road's edge. Authorized methods of treating fallen debris include, though are not limited to, pile burning, chipping and spreading on site, chipping and hauling from the parks, or hauling from the parks whole. Some wood may also be made available for public use via permit.

HOW TO COMMENT
The NPS is accepting public comments on the EA through March 4, 2023. Comments that provide the NPS with the following types of feedback are particularly helpful:

 Is the information provided in the EA accurate?
 Does the EA present the full range of reasonable alternatives?
 Has the NPS considered technical information necessary to complete the impacts analysis.
 Is NPS' impacts analysis adequate?
 Are the project mitigations sufficient?

Please provide feedback online by clicking the "comment now" link located on the left-hand side of this page.

Written comments may also be sent via mail or hand-delivery to:

Superintendent  
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks  
Attn: KNP Complex Wildfire Tree Hazard Mitigation Project 
47050 Generals Highway
  
Following the public review period, the NPS will consider all feedback to inform next steps which could either be selecting an alternative (or variation of an alternative) for implementation or determining that additional analysis is necessary prior to making a decision. If an alternative is selected for implementation following this public review period, the NPS will document the decision through a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) which will be reviewed by the Superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and, if appropriate, approved by the Regional Director of Interior Region 10. The NPS anticipates making a decision about these next steps no later than April 2023.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Feb 3, 2023 - Mar 4, 2023
Document Content:
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