Fire Rehabilitation Program

State Director's Policy

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Utah State Office
P.O. Box 45155
Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0155

U-930
1742 P

To: All Field Offices
From: State Director
Subject: Emergency Fire Rehabilitation Policy

The extensive 1996 fire season and the subsequent rehabilitation efforts drew questions and conflict over the methods BLM used to mitigate the adverse affects of those fires. This controversy generally revolved around whether or not pulling anchor chains between two bulldozers is a suitable method to cover aerially broadcasted seed. Particular concern was raised regarding the impacts to archaeological resources from chaining and if covering seed is necessary at all.

I requested the Chairman of the Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) to form a subcommittee for the purpose of evaluating BLM’s fire rehabilitation procedure and make recommendations on all aspects of the program. The subcommittee was formed and included representatives from a wide variety of interests including the Paiute Indian Tribe, environmental, agency and university scientists, wildlife, archaeology, ranching, and local government. This subgroup held field inspections and group meetings at several times during the summer and fall of 1997. In early November 1997, the subcommittee submitted their report and recommendations to the RAC for their consideration. The RAC reviewed the subcommittee’s report and submitted final recommendations to me on November 25, 1997.

Simultaneously, I requested that Utah State University conduct a literature search and prepare an annotated bibliography, with abstracts, of current research focusing on Fire Effects on Rangelands in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau Regions of Utah. That document was also submitted in November 1997 and contains approximately 600 scientific studies relating to this subject. Several of these studies analyze various fire rehabilitation methods and results.

I have carefully reviewed these two documents along with current National, and BLM policies concerning fire rehabilitation including: 1. Utah Standards and Guides for Healthy Rangelands. 1997; 2. Emergency Fire Rehabilitation Draft Handbook (H-1742), Interim Guidance, Sept. 3, 1997; and the Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision, Vegetation Treatment on BLM Lands in Thirteen Western States. May 1991.

I have determined to adopt the RAC recommendations in total and conclude that broadcast seed must be covered in order to provide for a reasonable assurance of rehabilitation success and that chaining is a viable, necessary, and cost effective tool to cover seed in certain fire rehabilitation projects.

It will continue to be Utah BLM policy to utilize chaining to cover aerially applied seeds where appropriate. This does not alter the importance and necessity of following established evaluation, environmental, and consultation procedures. We will continue to make specific determinations on how to treat cultural resources with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the President’s Advisory Council, Indian Tribes, and interested parties.

I have carefully reviewed both the RAC recommendations and the subgroup report, and in response (State Director's response BLM Utah will adopt the RAC recommendations in total.

State Director, Utah

Introduction / Fire Rehab Primer / Photo Story / Myths vs Facts / RAC Recommendations
Subgroup Report / State Director's Policy / News Releases / Fire Rehab Handbook

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