Management of Fire. The objectives of fire management in wilderness are to: (a) permit lightning-caused fires to play, as nearly as possible, their natural ecological role within wilderness and (b) reduce, to an acceptable level, the risks and consequences of wildfire within wilderness or escaping from wilderness. Fire ignited by lightning may be permitted to burn or will be suppressed as prescribed in an approved plan. Prescribed fires may be permitted to reduce unnatural buildup of fuels only if necessary to meet objectives (a) and (b) above and require approval from the Federal administering agency. ATTACHMENT A MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS DECISION PROCESS OUTLINE Pursuant to the Policies and Guidelines for Fish and Wildlife Management in National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wilderness, the intent of this attachment is to documents the analysis process used by the BLM and Forest Service, in cooperation with the State fish and wildlife agencies, to determine the "minimum requirements" for accomplishing fish and wildlife projects and activities within a wilderness area. It is also intended to reemphasize that continued State and Federal coordination and cooperation is necessary to meet each agency's management objectives in wilderness. The following outlines the "Minimum Requirements Decisions Process" (MRDP) for certain proposed projects within wilderness. For certain projects proposed by State fish and wildlife agencies, this analysis will be completed by the applicable State agency in coordination with the responsible Federal agency.
Management of Fire. The objectives of fire management in wilderness are to: (a) permit lightning-caused fires to play, as nearly as possible, their natural ecological role within wilderness and (b) reduce, to an acceptable level, the risks and consequences of wildfire within wilderness or escaping from wilderness. Fire ignited by lightning may be permitted to burn or will be suppressed as prescribed in an approved plan. Prescribed fires may be permitted to reduce unnatural buildup of fuels only if necessary to meet objectives (a) and (b) above and require approval from the Federal administering agency. ATTACHMENT A Minimum Requirements Decisions Process Outline Pursuant to the Policies and Guidelines for Fish and Wildlife Management in National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wilderness, the intent of this attachment is to document the analysis process used by the BLM and Forest Service, in cooperation with the State fish and wildlife agencies, to determine the “minimum requirements” for accomplishing fish and wildlife projects and activities within a wilderness area. It is also intended to reemphasize that continued State and Federal coordination and cooperation is necessary to meet each agency’s management objectives in wilderness. The following outlines the “Minimum Requirements Decisions Process” (MRDP) for certain proposed projects within wilderness. For certain projects proposed by State fish and wildlife agencies, this analysis will be completed by the applicable State agency in coordination with the responsible Federal agency. Unless specifically exempted by law, all proposed projects and activities within wilderness involving the eight Wilderness Act prohibitions listed below will require the completion of the MRDP to determine whether they can be authorized in wilderness. Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act lists ten prohibited uses in wilderness. Eight of these prohibited uses could be allowed if they are “…necessary to meet the minimum requirements for the administration of the area for the purpose of this Act (including measures required in emergencies involving the health and safety of persons within the area)…”. The eight prohibited uses recognized by this exception are temporary roads, use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, landing of aircraft, other forms of mechanical transport, and structures or installations. The two Section 4(c) prohibited uses that may not be authorized in wilderness under the above exception are commercial e...
