BLM Land Use Plan Amendment - Alaska Interagency Coordination

188 Pages·2004·8.72 MB·English

Bureau of Land Management

Finding of No Significant Impact

and

Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment
Environmental Assessment
for
Wildland Fire and Fuels Management
for
Alaska

AK-313-04-EA-001

Mary Lynch, Team Leader
Bureau of Land Management
Alaska Fire Service
P.O. Box 35005
Ft. Wainwright, AK 99703
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Executive Summary

In January 2003, the Bureau of Land Management-Alaska wildland fire and fuels
management program was evaluated by the BLM National Office of Fire and Aviation.
That review determined that the existing wildland fire and fuels management direction in
BLM-Alaska land use plans was not adequate. Congress has directed that all land use
plans must contain wildland fire and fuels management guidelines as described in
various National Fire Plan documents by September 2004. BLM-Alaska’s planning
schedule did not sufficiently meet that mandate. Therefore, this Land Use Plan
Amendment for Wildland Fire and Fuels Management and the associated Environmental
Assessment were developed to bring the 12 existing BLM-Alaska land use plans into
compliance and supply interim guidance for BLM-managed lands for which completion
of new land use plans is scheduled..

The Amendment identifies land use and resource objectives and the wildland fire
suppression options and fuels management activities that will achieve those objectives.
Fire management options ensure the protection of human life and site-specific values and
also recognize fire as an essential ecological process and natural change agent of the
Alaskan ecosystems. Firefighter and public safety are identified as the number one
priority in all fire management activities. Existing Alaska-specific fire management
decisions and policy in the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan 1998
(AIWFMP) were used to develop the Amendment. As BLM-Alaska Field Office staffs
develop alternative criteria for future land use plans, the Amendment decisions will be
reviewed, incorporated, revised or replaced by area-specific land use and resource
objectives that can be achieved by wildland fire and fuels management activities.

This Amendment addresses BLM wildland fire and fuels management guidance to:
• Protect human life and property.
• Use wildland fire and fuel treatments to meet resource objectives.
• Reduce the risk and cost of uncontrolled wildland fires through wildland fire use,
prescribed fire, and manual and mechanical treatments.
• Reduce the adverse effects of fire management activities.
• Continue interagency collaboration and cooperation.

The level of detail in the Environmental Assessment is appropriate to the first tier of
BLM’s land use planning process. The analysis considers the environmental
consequences of BLM fire suppression, fire exclusion, and fuels management activities.
Individual projects were not considered; when projects are proposed, a site-specific
environmental analysis will be required.

The Amendment also reinforces BLM-Alaska’s commitment to support the interagency
wildland fire program, consider the latest available technology and methods, and support
scientific research to study fire effects and improve business practices.

Appendices contain additional supporting information and reference material.

BLM-Alaska Land Use Amendment for Wildland Fire and Fuels Management
and Environmental Assessment

Table of Contents

Acronyms

Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action
1.1 Purpose 1-1
1.2 Need for the Proposed Action 1-1
1.3 Scope of the Analysis 1-2
1.3.1 Land Use Plans 1-2
1.4 Laws, Regulations, and Policies 1-3
1.5 Planning Criteria 1-3

Chapter 2 Alternatives Including the Fire and Fuels Amendment
2.1 Introduction to Alternatives 2-1
2.2 Scoping and Alternative Development 2-1
2.3 Management Common to Both Alternatives 2-1
2.3.1 Management Options
2.3.1a Critical Management Option 2-3
2.3.1b Full Management Option 2-3
2.3.1c Limited Management Option 2-4
2.3.1d Modified Management Option 2-4
2.3.2 Management Option Designation Review and Change 2-5
2.3.3 Procedures, Restrictions and Constraints 2-5
2.3.3a Air Quality 2-5
2.3.3b Cultural and Paleontilogical Resources 2-5
2.3.3c Safety 2-5
2.3.3d Standard Operating Procedures 2-5
2.3.3e Structure and Sites, Known 2-7
2.4 No Action Alternative 2-7
2.5 Preferred Alternative: Land Use Plan for Wildland Fire and Fuels Management 2-7
2.5.1 Amendment Goals and Objectives 2-8
2.5.2 Management Options 2-9
2.5.2a Critical Management Option 2-9
2.5.2b Full Management Option 2-9
2.5.2c Limited Management Option 2-10
2.5.2d Modified Management Option 2-10
2.5.3 Management Option Designation Review and Change 2-14
2.5.4 Stabilization and Rehabilitation 2-14
2.5.5 Procedures, Restrictions and Constraints 2-14
2.5.5a Standard Operating Procedures 2-14
2.5.5b Structures, Unknown 2-15
2.5.6 Monitoring for Cumulative Effects 2-15
2.5.7 Fuels Management 2-15
2.5.7a Priorities 2-16
2.5.7b Treatment Methods 2-16
2.5.7c Wildland Fire Use 2-16
2.6 Comparison of the No Action Alternative to the Preferred Alternative 2-16
2.7 Alternative Considered but Eliminated 2-16

Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
3.1 Critical Elements 3-1
3.1.1 Air Quality 3-2
3.1.1a Affected Environment 3-2
3.1.1b Environmental Consequences 3-3
3.1.2 Aquatic Resources and Essential Fish Habitat 3-4
BLM-Alaska Land Use Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management
and Environmental Assessment
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3.1.2a Affected Environment 3-4
3.1.2b Environmental Consequences 3-8
3.1.2c Essential Fish Habitat Compliance 3-9
3.1.3 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 3-10
3.1.4 Cultural Resources 3-10
3.1.4a Affected Environment 3-10
3.1.4b Environmental Consequences 3-11
3.1.4c National Historic Preservation Act Sec.106 Compliance 3-12
3.1.5 Environmental Justice 3-12
3.1.6 Farmlands 3-13
3.1.7 Floodplains 3-13
3.1.8 Migratory Birds 3-13
3.1.9 Noxious and Invasive Plants 3-13
3.1.9a Affected Environment 3-13
3.1.9b Environmental Consequences 3-14
3.1.10 Native American Religious Concerns 3-15
3.1.11 Subsistence 3-15
3.1.11a Affected Environment 3-15
3.1.11b Environmental Consequence 3-18
3.1.11c ANILCA 810 Compliance 3-18
3.1.12 Threatened and Endangered Species 3-18
3.1.12a Affected Environment 3-18
3.1.12b Environmental Consequences 3-21
3.1.12c Endangered Species Act Sec. 7 Compliance 3-22
3.1.13 Wastes, Hazardous and Solid 3-23
3.1.14 Water Quality 3-23
3.1.14a Affected Environment 3-23
3.1.142b Environmental Consequences 3-23
3.1.15 Wetlands and Riparian Zones 3-26
3.1.15a Affected Environment 3-27
3.1.15b Environmental Consequences 3-27
3.1.16 Wild and Scenic Rivers 3-28
3.1.17 Wilderness 3-28
3.2 Other Elements Analyzed 3-28
3.2.1 Recreation 3-28
3.2.2 Socio-Economics 3-29
3.2.3 Soils 3-29
3.2.3a Affected Environment 3-29
3.2.3b Environmental Consequences 3-30
3.2.4 Special Status Species 3-31
3.2.4a Affected Environment 3-33
3.2.4b Environmental Consequences 3-33
3.2.5 Vegetation Resources 3-34
3.2.5a Forestlands, Affected Environment 3-35
3.2.5b Forestlands, Environmental Consequences 3-37
3.2.5c Shrublands, Affected Environment 3-38
3.2.5d Shrublands, Environmental Consequence 3-39
3.2.5e Herbaceous Communities (Tundra and Grasslands), Affected Environment 3-39
3.2.5f Herbaceous Communities, Environmental Consequences 3-40
3.2.6 Visual Resource Management 3-41
3.2.7 Wildlife 3-41
3.2.7a Affected Environment 3-41
3.2.7b Environmental Consequences 3-42
3.3 Cumulative Effects 3-51

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Chapter 4 Consultations and Coordination
4.1 BLM Internal Issue Development 4-1
4.2 Outreach Efforts 4-2
4.3 Public Comments and Responses 4-2
4.4 List of Preparers 4-4

Appendices
A. Applicable Laws, Executive Orders, Instruction Memoranda, etc.
B. Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan 1998
C. Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (AWFCG) Role and Membership List
D. Interagency Fire Management Planning
E. Fire Occurrence Statistics
F. AWFCG Management Option Change Procedure
G. Condition Class Definition Table
H. Fuel Treatment Methods
I. Detailed Summary of No Action Alternative, Wildland Fire and Fuels Management in Existing
Land Use Plans
J. BLM-Alaska Planning Schedule
K. Detailed Summary of the Preferred Alternative, Land Use Plan Amendment for Wildland Fire and
Fuels Management
L. BLM Policy for Cabin/Structure Protection
M. Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Section 810 Evaluation
N. Retardant Composition and Use
O. Fuel Models and Fire Behavior
P. Alaskan Fire Control Service to BLM Alaska Fire Service

Maps
1. BLM-Managed Lands
2. BLM-Managed Lands within BLM Resource Management Planning Units
3. Fire Management Options for BLM-Managed Lands
4. Alaska Statewide Fire Management Options
5. Alaska Interagency Fire Management Planning Units
6. Alaska Hydrologic Units with Fire History
7. Alaska Vegetation Cover (Vegetation Map of Alaska, 1- km resolution)
8. Alaska CFFDRS Fuel Models
9. Retardant Use 1998-2003

Glossary

Bibliography

List of Figures Page
2.1 Critical Management Option Anticipated Average Annual Occurrence 2-3
2.2 Full Management Option Anticipated Average Annual Occurrence 2-4
2.3 Limited Management Option Anticipated Average Annual Occurrence 2-4
2.4 Modified Management Option Anticipated Average Annual Occurrence 2-5
3.1 Alaska Nonattainment Areas and Class 1 for Air Quality 3-2
3.2 Alaska Regulated and Restricted Noxious Weeds 3-14
3.3 Wild Food Harvest Species Composition 3-16
3.4 Alaska’s Threatened and Endangered Species, Vertebrate 3-18
3.5 Alaska’s Threatened and Endangered Species, Botanical 3-19
3.6 Spectacled Eiders Critical Habitat 3-20
3.7 Steller’s Eider Critical Habitat 3-22
3.8 BLM Sensitive Species, Vertebrate 3-32
3.9 BLM Sensitive Species, Botanical 3-33

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List of Tables
2-1 Comparison of Management Option Classifications 2-2
2-2 No Action Alternative, Summary of Fire Management Guidance in Existing Land Use Plans 2-6
2-3 Preferred Alternative, Summary of the Land Use Plan Amendment for Wildland Fire
and Fuels Management 2-11
2.4 Comparison of the Alternatives 2-17

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