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<br />-' <br /> <br />paQa 3 <br /> <br />Vegetation Treatments Programmatic EIS <br /> <br />Q. Are there any other federal agencies involved in the effort? <br />A. There are no other federal agencies involved as cooperating agencies; however, the <br />project is being closely coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine <br />Fisheries Service, and Environmental Protection Agency. <br /> <br />w <br />o <br />00 <br />0) <br /> <br />Q. Are tribal, state, and local governments involved in the EIS process? <br />A. The BLM will coordinate closely with tribal, state, and local governments, the National <br />Association of Counties, and the Western Governors Association throughout development of <br />the EIS. <br /> <br />Q. How much has been done so far, and what is the next step? <br />A. The Notice ofIntent to develop the EIS was published in the Federal Registerori October <br />12,2001, and a news release was distributed to the media, interested groups, and state <br />agencies by the BLM at the same time. A notice of the extension of the public comment <br />period and the schedule for scoping meetings was publishectin the Federal Register on <br />January 2, 2002, and a "Questions and Answers" information sheetwas distributed oil the <br />same date. Nineteen public scoping meetings will be held throughout the western U.S., andin <br />Alaska and Washington, D.C., during January through mid March. <br /> <br /> <br />Q. When is the EIS scheduled for completion? <br />A. The Draft EIS is scheduled to be completed in the fall of2002, and the Final EIS in late <br />summer 2003. <br /> <br />Potential Issues to Be Examined in the EIS <br /> <br />Q. Does this EIS involve controversial issues? <br />A. It is anticipated that most public scrutiny will focus on issues associated with the use of <br />prescribed fire and restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems, and the use bfherbicides to control <br />noxious weeds and other vegetation. Specific issues to be addressed in the EISinclude the <br />impacts of wildfires and prescribed fires on regional air quality; effects of herbicides on <br />human and environmental health; effects of treatment methods on threatened and endangered <br />species; and effects of treatment methods on resources used by Native Americans and Alaska " <br />Native groups. <br /> <br />Q. What issues will this EIS not cover? <br />A. The EIS will not address vegetation management that is primarily focused on commercial <br />timber or other forest product enhancement and use, livestock forage enhancement and use, . <br />abandoned mine land reclamation, and energy production. The EIS will riot analy;?:e fire . .. <br />suppression operations and soil stabilization, except where related to vegetation treatment. The < <br />EIS also will not make land use allocations, or evaluate off-road vehicle use of13LM- . . <br />administered lands. <br /> <br />Q. Will there be an assessment of risks to the public and the environment from the use of <br />herbicides and prescribed burning? <br />A. A risk assessment will be done to determine the likely risks to humans and wildlife from <br />the treatments involving new herbicides proposed for use by the BLM, and from prescribed <br />burning. The EIS will riot evaluate the risks from herbicides presently being used by the BLM,;;. <br />which have already been evaluated in the earlier EISs, unless new information has become <br />available to suggest that these herbicides require further evaluation. <br /> <br />Q. Will the EIS include alternatives for treating vegetation and mitigation? <br />A. Yes, the EIS will include alternative proposals for treating vegetation, including the use of' <br />preventive measures and operational procedures to reduce impacts to humans and the . <br />environment. <br /> <br />,k ,J,; <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.-o.~.~C>._~ ,. '~'''' <br /> <br />\'.j <br />..',. ..... iilllI' <br />;it_'h,:",l~:>;~. ~~ <br />