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Wildland Fire Management Plan
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site » Wildland Fire Management Plan » Document List
Environmental Assessment
for
Fire Management Plan
The National Park Service (NPS) is in the process of preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. The purpose of this scoping notice is to inform interested parties of the FMP/ EA process and to allow the public the opportunity to comment on the Draft EA; addressing those issues and concerns that they feel have particular significance to either or both of the parks.
Issues and Concerns
The FMP/ EA will apply to the lands administered by Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial only.
The FMP/ EA will address a full range of wildland fire activities, including the suppression of all unwanted wildland fires, the use of prescribed fire to protect park cultural and natural resources, and the use of mechanical and chemical treatments to reduce hazardous fuel loads, protect structures and reduce invasive plant species.
The parks welcome public input regarding the issues and alternatives proposed for achieving the management goals as outlined in the FMP/EA. Issues of major importance that have been identified include the effects of the implementation of a wildland fire program on firefighter and public safety, air quality, soils, vegetation and wildlife (including threatened and endangered species), cultural resources, wetlands and floodplains, and impacts on adjacent landowners and the public.
Timeline
The final draft FMP/ EA will be made available for public review and comment for a period of thirty days, commencing on July 1, 2005. The draft version can be viewed on the internet at http://www.nps.gov/alpo/pepc/fmp.pdf The draft Fire Management Plan can also be reviewed at the Johnstown, Altoona, and Cresson Public Libraries as well as both the Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. The parks plan to hold meetings to receive comments from the public and interested parties sometime in late July.
Scoping Comments
There are many ways to solicit comments (see attached sheet). Ensure that procedures for public access to the FMP/EA are outlined in this paragraph. Please mail or e-mail comments by August 15, 2005 to:
Contact Information
Keith Newlin, SuperintendentAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial
110 Federal Park Road
Gallitzin, PA 16641