Fire Management Plan Public Scoping

The National Park Service (NPS) Wildland Fire Program manages wildland fire to protect the public, park communities, and infrastructure; conserve natural and cultural resources; and maintain and restore natural ecosystem processes, as highlighted in the NPS Wildland Fire Strategic Plan.

All NPS units with burnable vegetation must have an approved Fire Management Plan (FMP). An FMP is a programmatic planning document that describes policy, goals, and objectives, and establishes strategies and tactics for managing wildland fire and non-fire fuel treatments, such as manual and mechanical thinning. FMPs are based on direction from existing park planning documents, such as a general management plan and resource stewardship plan.

The NPS is proposing to develop and implement a new FMP for Bandelier National Monument ("Bandelier," or "park") with a fire management strategy that aligns with Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and includes vegetation thinning, prescribed fire, and a full range of strategies for managing wildfire. The flexible range of fire management strategies for managing wildfire may include fully suppressing lightning-caused wildland fires or managing them as they burn in a geographically defined area under specific prescription parameters to accomplish resource management goals and objectives.

Bandelier's FMP will address values to be protected and align with parkwide resource stewardship goals and objectives. The FMP will also be consistent with environmental laws and regulations such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal and State Historic Preservation Acts, Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

In accordance with NEPA, Bandelier's FMP Environmental Assessment will evaluate potential impacts of two fire management plan alternatives on the natural, biological, physical, cultural, social, and economic environments related to Bandelier.

• Alternative A (no action): Continue current (2005) multiple strategy wildland fire management program

• Alternative B (proposed action): Expanded multiple strategy wildland fire management program

Topic Questions Instructions:

We are interested in hearing from you! Comments, questions, and ideas on all elements of Bandelier National Monument's preliminary Fire Management Plan alternatives are welcomed by the National Park Service during the 14-day public scoping period, from May 20 to June 3, 2024. Your comments will help us refine the preliminary alternatives for Bandelier's Fire Management Plan. There will also be opportunity to comment on the completed Draft Fire Management Plan and Environmental Assessment during the 30-day public comment period currently scheduled for July 24 to August 24, 2024. Additional information with be forthcoming.

Topic Questions:

1. 1. Do you have comments on Alternative A (no action): Continue current multiple strategy wildland fire management program?

2. 2. Do you have comments on Alternative B (proposed action): Expanded multiple strategy wildland fire management program?

3. 3. Which alternative do you prefer?

4. 4. Do you have suggestions for improvements or other considerations?

5. 5. Do you have additional information to share?

6. 6. Would you like to speak with us directly about this process?

Document Content:

BAND FMP EA Alternatives Table.docx   (31.1 KB, .docx file) https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f59c8943876449e995b1e5e0ee13848d    DRAFT BAND FMP EA PEPC.docx   (2.7 MB, .docx file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.