Document Type

Report

Publication Date

11-2005

Abstract

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to document results of an analysis of proposed changes to current management of wildland fire and hazardous fuels for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Division of Fire Management. The Division of Fire Management oversees all fire-related activities for the Moab, Monticello, and Price Field Offices, referred to in this document as the Moab Fire District. Proposed revisions of the Moab Fire District Fire Management Plan (FMP) serve as the Proposed Action for this EA. The revised FMP incorporates current planning requirements associated with fire management on public lands, including wildland fire suppression and fuel treatments. The EA analysis is designed to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It allows determinations to be made as to whether any “significant” impacts, as defined by the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in regulation 40 CFR 1508.27, could result from the analyzed actions. An EA provides evidence for determining whether preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) statement is necessary. A Decision Record (DR) that includes a FONSI statement is a document that briefly presents reasons why implementation of the Proposed Action would not result in significant environmental impacts (effects) beyond those already addressed within other NEPA and BLM planning documents. If the decision-maker determines that this project would have significant impacts following the analysis in the EA, then an EIS would be prepared for the project. If not, a DR may be signed for the EA approving the alternative selected. The DR would identify fire management planning goals and objectives associated with the FMP and would provide language upon which future fire management planning and implementation actions could tier (as per 40 CFR 1502.20). Future site-specific projects would analyze issues in additional implementation-level NEPA documents.

Comments

UT-063-04-02, UT-060-2005-042

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