Fire Mangement Plan Development

The National Park Service (NPS) will be preparing a new fire management plan and environmental assessment (EA) for Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. The proposed fire management plan is intended to be both strategic and operational, guiding the full range of wildland fire program activities that support land and resource management objectives.

In preparing a new fire management plan for Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the NPS seeks to adjust management direction from the previous plan by accommodating new national and NPS policies and new scientific information. More specifically, the purpose of the proposed fire management plan at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is to ensure the health and safety of the public, NPS staff, and firefighters; protect cultural and natural resources; use fire in a manner that maintains a healthy and sustainable ecosystem; and strengthen cooperative fire management partnerships.

An environmental assessment will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to monument resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.

The NPS encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project—once during initial project scoping and again following release of the environmental assessment. The NPS is currently in the scoping phase of the proposed project. Please submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the project by April 13, 2012.

If you have questions about the project or would like more information, please contact Melana Stichman, NEPA Specialist / Resource Management, at (406) 638-3225 or melana_stichman@nps.gov.

Topic Questions:

1. The NPS encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project—once during initial project scoping and again following release of the environmental assessment. The NPS is currently in the scoping phase of the proposed project. Please submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the project by April 13, 2012 online at the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/libi.

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