A National Park Service firefighter watches a single engine air tanker drop fire retardant on the East Seep Fire in 2022 in Utah / NPS
On Monday the National Park Service released a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Dinosaur National Monument. This kicks off a 30-day public comment period that will continue through January 14, 2025.
The NPS is seeking public comment on two alternatives analyzed in the EA: one alternative that allows only for fire suppression on monument lands and one alternative that allows land managers to use all fire management strategies and tactics for managing wildfire to reduce fire risk, protect resources, and achieve resource management objectives as outlined in the draft FMP.
“The draft Fire Management Plan will allow the monument to use all of the tools in the fire management toolbox to reduce fire risk and protect park values and resources, including fuels reduction treatments, prescribed fire, and the ability to manage fires based on their risk to the monument and neighboring communities,” said Mike Guarino, Dinosaur National Monument Fire Management Officer.
The monument’s FMP was last updated in 2004. The 2006 NPS Management Policies require each NPS unit with burnable vegetation to have an approved FMP. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an EA is required to complete the update.
The EA is available for review and comment on the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/DINOFMPEA. Comments can be submitted through the PEPC system online (preferred) or by mail to: Fire Management Plan Public Comment, Dinosaur National Monument, Attn: Phil Akers, Superintendent, 4545 Highway 40, Dinosaur, CO 81610. Comments by email or phone will not be accepted. All comments, both mailed and online, will be accepted through January 14, 2025.
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