[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34663-34664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16832]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Director's Order Concerning National 
Park Service Wildland Fire Management Activities

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is converting and updating its 
current system of internal instructions. When these documents contain 
new policy or procedural requirements that may affect parties outside 
the NPS, the information is made available for public review and 
comment. Director's Order #18 establishes new policies and procedural 
guidance concerning

[[Page 34664]]

wildland fire management activities for units of the National Park 
System.
    Copies of the proposed guidance document will be made available 
upon request by writing: Fire Policy, National Park Service, National 
Interagency Fire Center, 3833 So., Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 
83705, or on the Internet at: http;//www.nps.gov/fire/fmpc/policy.htm.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Fire Policy, National Park 
Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 So. Development Avenue, 
Boise, Idaho 83705.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Swain at the above address or by calling 208-376-5202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NPS is revising the policies and procedures 
that guide its fire management activities. To accomplish this,the fire 
management policies included in ``National Park Service Management 
Policies'' (1988), are being revised and the Wildland Fire Management 
Guidelines (NPS-18, 1990) is being rescinded. The new policies will be 
issued as Director's Order #18, in conformance with the NPS's new 
system of internal guidance documents. Director's Order #18 will 
contain: (1) new policy statements to replace those now contained in 
the ``Management Policies'', and (2) new fire management procedures and 
standards that will be adhered to.
    The 1994 wildland fire season created a renewed awareness and 
concern among Federal land management agencies and their constituents 
about the impacts of wildland fire. A Federal Wildland Fire Management 
Policy and Program Review was chartered by the Departments of Interior 
and Agriculture to ensure that uniform Federal policies and cohesive 
interagency and
    Inter-governmental fire management programs existed.
    Early in the review process, internal and external ideas were 
sought and broad program management issues were identified. The review 
was announced and input was requested in the Federal Register on 
January 3, 1995 (60 FR 95). The input received was used to develop a 
draft report. The draft report was published in its entirety in the 
Federal Register on June 22,1995 (60 FR 32485), and a 30-day public 
comment period was announced. The full report was also available on the 
Internet. Because of numerous requests to extend the comment period, 
the comment period did not end until September 25, 1995. A total of 308 
comments were received on the draft report. The final report was 
accepted by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture on December 18, 
1995. From this report, uniform policies and cohesive fire management 
programs have been developed by the Federal land management agencies.
    Director's Order #18 Wildlife Fire Management, will establish fire 
management policy throughout the NPS in concert with cooperating 
agencies. Director's Order #18 will be considered for adoption by the 
NPS after the comment period closes.

    Dated: June 15, 1998.
Chris Andress,
Chief, Ranger Activities Division.
[FR Doc. 98-16832 Filed 6-24-98; 8:45 am]
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