+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Zion National    |   | Springdale, Utah  |
|                            | Park             |   | 84767             |
| U.S. Department of the     |                  |   |                   |
| Interior                   | Use the complete |   | 435 772-3256      |
|                            | site name here   |   | phone             |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   |                   |
|                            | Battlefield      |   | 435 772-3426 fax  |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | www.nps.gov/zion  |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Zion National Park** News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

September 4, 2007

For Immediate Release

Ron Terry 435 772-0160

David Eaker 435 772-7811

07-25

### Zion National Park Asks for Comments on an Environmental Assessment

Zion National Park is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment
(EA) that assesses the impacts of the aerial application of herbicide on
the area burned in the Dakota Hill Complex Fire. The lightning caused
fires started on July 15, 2007 and burned 5,858 acres within the park.
The EA also analyzes the impacts of an herbicide re-treatment on a
portion of the Kolob Fire that burned in 2006.

The proposed aerial application of herbicide would include up to 3,161
acres for the Dakota Hill Complex and re-treatment of up to 6,739 acres
for the Kolob Fire. Treatment for the Dakota Hill Complex is proposed
for late fall 2007. Re-treatment for Kolob is proposed to begin after
December 2007. Because of the remote and rough terrain in the burn area,
helicopter application of the herbicide is proposed.

Sensitive areas would not be sprayed including: 300-feet either side of
riparian corridors and surface water; within ½-mile of Mexican spotted
owl protected area centers; and in areas where control plots would be
established to monitor the effectiveness of the spray treatments.

The treatment is intended to interrupt the grass-fire cycle that is
perpetuated by cheatgrass, a non-native, highly flammable grass.
Cheatgrass increases in abundance and density after fire. As cheatgrass
continues to invade and increase after each fire, the time between fires
becomes shorter.

This environmental assessment will be available for public review and
comment until October 5, 2007. The document is available for review:
online at <http://parkplanning.nps.gov/>; at public libraries in
Springdale, Hurricane, St. George, and Kanab; or by calling the park at
435-772-0211. If you wish to comment on the environmental assessment,
you may mail comments to: Zion National Park, Attn: Post-Fire Aerial
Herbicide EA, Springdale, UT 84767 or post comments online at
<http://parkplanning.nps.gov/>.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment - including your personal identifying
information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information
from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

-NPS-