Beatrice, Nebraska - Homestead National Historical Park has finalized its Fire Management Plan (FMP) and associated Environmental Assessment (EA) with the signing of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by Regional Director Herbert Frost, Ph.D. The public was provided an opportunity to review and comment on the FMP/EA in early 2021. The FONSI (with errata and response to public comments) and the environmental assessment describe the final decision of the NPS for the FMP.
The Fire Management Plan is a multi-year fuel treatment plan proposing prescribed fires on a 1 to 10-year interval. The changes included in this approved plan are using prescribed fire in the woodland, burning the restored prairie near the Heritage Center as well conducting burns in cooperation with adjacent park neighbors. The burns will serve to protect and enhance the vegetation of Homestead and reduce risk from wildfires.
The National Park Service would like to thank the many people who provided input, especially Nebraska Game and Park Commission, Northern Prairie Land Trust, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.
The public is invited to view the Fire Management Plan, its associated environmental assessment and the FONSI at: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2285307
If you are unable to access the online version, please call the park at 402-223-3514 and we will be able to help you gain access to a hard copy of the documents.
Remember, Homestead National Historical Park has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2021. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNHP) and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park).
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
