The National Park Service issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Channel Islands National Park Fire Management Plan (FMP) Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA was initially released for public comment in October 2022.
"Completion of this environmental assessment is an important milestone in the fire management planning process." said Channel Islands National Superintendent Ethan McKinley. "Reducing hazardous fuels and properly managing wildfires on the islands works to achieve natural and cultural resource protection goals while also providing for public and employee safety."
An update to the 2013 FMP was needed to conform to current federal policy and reduce hazardous wildland fuels to ensure protection of life, property, cultural values, and natural resources. The plan better identifies methods of prescribed fire used within the park and identifies and describes defensive space principles around park structures and critical resources. The fire management plan allows park managers to employ many different resource treatments depending on project needs. All wildfires will be suppressed immediately upon detection. Mechanical fuel reduction activities will be used to reduce the risk of wildfire to life and property and help restore natural vegetative conditions.
The National Park Service is required by policy to have fire management plans for all units with burnable vegetation. Channel Islands National Park’s last FMP was written in 2006 and was updated in 2013. It had expired due to changes in the National Environmental Policy Act and categorical exclusion (CE) use.
The Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Channel Islands National Park Fire Management Plan can be found at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CHIS_FMP_EAFONSI
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service