Draft General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact Statement Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, 26086-26089 [2015-10528]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices
people with nature and wildlife. In this
alternative, the refuge would be made
more accessible to outlying
communities with the opening of
additional access points and the
development of enhanced transportation
system. We would work with
nontraditional users’ trusted avenues of
communication to increase outreach
success. We would expand our
conservation education in surrounding
communities and schools, develop
youth-specific outreach, and employ
social marketing to broaden our
agency’s reach. We would manage the
refuge’s habitat and wildlife as in
Alternative B, but the reintroduction of
greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed
grouse would be attempted regardless of
whether these species’ populations are
likely to become self-sustaining.
Alternative D: Gateway Refuge
The emphasis of this alternative is to
work with partners to increase the
visibility of the refuge, the Refuge
System, and other public lands in the
area. There will be less visitor services
programming at the refuge and efforts to
engage with the public will be extended
to off-site locations. We would work
with Denver International Airport to
improve physical connections between
the refuge and the airport. The trail
system within the refuge would be more
extensive than under Alternative C.
Working with our partners, we would
manage access to the perimeter trail and
promote trail linkages to the Rocky
Mountain Greenway Trail and other
regional trails. We would manage the
refuge’s habitat and wildlife as in
Alternative B and we would work with
neighboring landowners and state
agencies to extend the range of native
species.
Public Meetings
Opportunity for public input will be
provided at public meetings. The
specific dates and times for the public
meetings are yet to be determined, but
will be announced via local media and
a planning update.
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Reasonable Accommodations
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is
committed to providing access for all
participants to our public meetings.
Please direct all requests for sign
language interpreting services, closed
captioning, simultaneous translations,
or other accommodation needs to
Bernardo Garza, (303) 236–4377,
bernardo_garza@fws.gov, or 800–877–
8339 (TTY).
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Submitting Comments and Issues for
Comment
We welcome all comments on the
draft CCP and EIS, particularly on how
we have addressed those issues
identified during the scoping process,
such as (1) habitat and wildlife
management, (2) reintroduction of the
black-footed ferret and other native
species, (3) public uses and access, (4)
water resources and management, (5)
partnerships, outreach and
collaboration, and (6) cultural and
historic resources. We consider
comments substantive if they question,
with reasonable basis, the accuracy of
the information in the document or the
adequacy of the EIS; if they present
reasonable alternatives other than those
presented in the draft CCP and EIS; or
if they provide new or additional
information relevant to the EIS.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we
will analyze the comments and address
them in the form of a final CCP and a
final EIS.
Public Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority
The environmental review of this
project will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508, 43 CFR part 46); other
appropriate Federal laws and
regulations; Executive Order 12996; the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee) (Administration Act), as
amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997; and Service policies and
procedures for compliance with those
laws and regulations.
Dated: March 16, 2015.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2015–10326 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–PWR–PWRO–17596];
[PX.PR113509L.00.1]
Draft General Management Plan/
Wilderness Study/Environmental
Impact Statement Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, Hawaii
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service
(NPS) has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the General Management Plan (GMP)
for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
(Hawaii Volcanoes NP) in the State of
Hawaii. The proposed GMP also
includes a wilderness study (WS) which
analyzes wilderness suitability of park
lands and includes a recommendation
for wilderness designation. This DEIS
describes and analyzes three GMP
alternatives that respond to both NPS
planning requirements and to public
concerns and issues identified during
the scoping and public involvement
process. Each alternative presents
management strategies for resource
protection and preservation, education
and interpretation, visitor use and
facilities, land protection and
boundaries, and long-term operations
and management of Hawaii Volcanoes
NP. The potential environmental
consequences of all the alternatives, and
mitigation strategies, are analyzed, and
the ‘‘environmentally preferred’’
alternative is identified. The wilderness
study recommends wilderness
designation of lands found eligible in
the Kahuku Unit. This GMP will replace
the 1975 Master Plan for the park.
DATES: All written comments must be
postmarked or transmitted not later than
July 6, 2015 of the Environmental
Protection Agency’s notice of filing and
release of the DEIS. Upon publication of
this notice, the date will be immediately
posted on the park’s Web site
(www.nps.gov/havo) and on the NPS
Planning, Environment, and Public
Comment (PEPC) Web site (https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/havo), and
publicized via local and regional press
media.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cindy Orlando, Superintendent, Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52,
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718–0052 or
via telephone at (808) 985–6026.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
A Notice of Intent announcing
preparation of the DEIS and GMP was
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices
published in the Federal Register on
April 13, 2009. The NPS also publicized
the public scoping period and invited
public comment through newsletters,
correspondence, press releases, public
workshops, informal meetings, and the
PEPC Web site. During the spring of
2009 the NPS produced an initial
newsletter describing the start of the
planning process and soliciting
feedback on issues to be addressed in
the plan (approximately 8,500
newsletters were distributed overall). A
comprehensive scoping outreach effort
elicited early public comment regarding
issues and concerns, the nature and
extent of potential environmental
impacts, and possible alternatives that
should be addressed in the preparation
of the GMP. Agencies, organizations,
governmental representatives, and
Native Hawaiian organizations were
sent letters of invitation to attend the
public workshops or individual
meetings. Press releases were
distributed to local and regional news
media. The project was launched on the
PEPC Web site, providing access to
information about the GMP and a
method for taking public comments.
News articles featuring the public open
house meetings were written in the
West Hawaii Today, Hawaii Tribune
Herald, and the Kau Calendar, as well
as public service announcements on
local radio stations.
The NPS held seven public open
house meetings on the islands of
Hawaii, Oahu and Maui in April and
May 2009 to provide the public with an
opportunity to learn about the general
management planning project and to
offer comments. The meetings began
with a brief welcome and introduction
to the GMP planning process, and
transitioned into an open house format
where attendees could visit six stations
featuring tabletop poster displays. A
total of 95 people attended the meetings.
The park also conducted several
stakeholder meetings to obtain input
from representatives of city, county, and
federal agencies, business and
community organizations, Native
Hawaiian organizations, and research
permit holders. Park staff also gave
poster presentations at local meetings of
the Kau Chamber of Commerce, Volcano
Community Association, and Friends of
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Altogether during the 2009 scoping
phase, the park planning team spoke
with approximately 400 people at
public and stakeholder meetings and
approximately 1,500 people at park and
community tabling events.
Correspondence received from over 130
individuals and organizations
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engendered approximately 1,250
specific comments. All comments were
carefully reviewed and considered by
the planning team to inform preparation
of this GMP, and are preserved in the
project administrative record.
Expanding the scope of the EIS was
announced in the Federal Register on
December 2, 2011. The EIS was
expanded to include a wilderness study
needed to evaluate foreseeable effects
associated with possible designation of
wilderness within the park. This Notice
of Intent also formally extended the
GMP preliminary alternatives comment
period through January 2, 2012, in order
to gain additional comments about
wilderness and the recently evaluated
wilderness-eligible lands within the
Kahuku Unit.
The NPS conducted an additional
round of public involvement at the draft
alternatives phase of the planning
process to ensure that the planning team
fully comprehended the public’s
concerns and preferences with regard to
the range of draft alternatives and to
assist the planning team in refining the
draft alternatives and identifying a
preferred alternative. In addition, this
engagement afforded opportunity for
formal scoping for the wilderness study.
During scoping for the wilderness study
the NPS described the wilderness
eligibility analysis that had been
completed for the Kahuku Unit and
elicited public comments specifically
focused on the wilderness study.
During August 2011 the NPS
produced and mailed the Draft
Alternatives Newsletter to
approximately 955 contacts on the GMP
mailing list. The newsletter fully
outlined the concepts and actions in the
draft alternatives and proposed
management zones, and included
information on the wilderness eligibility
that was completed and the wilderness
study that would be included in the
DEIS/GMP. The newsletter also
contained a business reply
questionnaire to facilitate public
comments on the four draft alternatives.
In addition to the planning schedule
included in the Newsletter, information
was distributed to local media in
advance of the public meetings and
articles were printed in three local
papers: West Hawaii Today, Hawaii
Tribune Herald, and the Kau Calendar.
The NPS held a public open house
meeting and two stakeholder meetings
in the park, and two additional public
meetings were held in the towns of
Pahoa and Naalehu. A total of 66 people
participated. Overall the NPS received
72 written responses in the form of
letters, emails, comment forms, and
comments submitted on the PEPC Web
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26087
site. A total of 709 individual comments
were received. All comments received
were again reviewed by the GMP
planning team to inform preparation of
the Draft GMP/WS. A summary of
public comments on the preliminary
alternatives and wilderness study was
created and made available to the public
in February, 2012, on the park’s Web
site, in PEPC, and through 830 mailers
sent to the GMP project mailing list.
Proposed Plan and Alternatives
Alternative 1 (No Action
Alternative)—Existing programming,
facilities, staffing, and funding would
generally continue at current levels to
protect the values of Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park. There would be no major
changes in current management or
visitor use. Implementation of currently
approved plans would continue as
funding allows. This alternative
provides the baseline for evaluating
actions and impacts in other
alternatives.
Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)—
Strengthens and expands opportunities
to connect people with the volcanic
world treasure, Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, and provide a wide range
of high quality visitor experiences based
¯
on different geographic areas. Kılauea
summit would continue to be the most
actively visited area of the park with the
greatest concentration of services and
amenities for park visitors. Along Chain
of Craters Road and Mauna Loa Road,
the park would strive to provide visitors
with improved opportunities to
experience and connect with park
resources and values, including new
opportunities at places like Mauna Ulu
and Kealakomowaena, while dispersing
use to create a less congested and more
tranquil experience. At Kahuku,
although visitor access and recreation
opportunities would be expanded from
what is currently offered, infrastructure
and development would be minimal,
gradually phased in over time, and
remain rustic in design to allow for a
primitive visitor experience.
Natural and cultural resources would
continue to be managed and protected
with a high degree of integrity,
consistent with direction provided by
existing laws and policies. The
preferred alternative emphasizes the
park’s role as a refuge and haven for
native biota, people, and cultures in a
world constantly adapting to volcanic
activity and island building processes.
The preferred alternative would honor
the Native Hawaiian people and culture
by recognizing Native Hawaiian values
such as malama aina (nourishing or
taking care of the land) and kuleana
(responsibility) and perspectives from
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Native Hawaiian land management such
as ahupuaa management (managing land
from mauka (mountains) to makai (sea)
as important concepts in park
stewardship of resources. Native
Hawaiian traditional ecological
knowledge would be used to enhance
current scientific understanding to
protect park resources and provide
additional interpretive and educational
opportunities for visitors. Alternative 2
is also considered to be the
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ course of
action.
Alternative 3—Emphasizes building
new connections with the park
primarily through expanded education
and hands-on stewardship
opportunities. Traditional visitor
opportunities would continue and
capacity could be expanded at some
existing sites to allow for increased
visitation, but new development would
be very limited and a suite of
management tools would be used to
disperse visitors and manage congestion
throughout the park. A greater focus
would be placed on science and
learning opportunities for visitors from
mauka (mountains) to makai (sea). The
park would immerse visitors in the
protection and restoration of native
species and ecosystems by maximizing
opportunities to participate in
restoration activities and additional
emphasis would be placed on providing
opportunities for visitors to engage in
research, scientific investigation, and
projects associated with natural and
cultural resources management, notably
in Kahuku.
Similar to Alternative 2, natural and
cultural resources would continue to be
managed and protected with a high
degree of integrity, consistent with
direction provided by existing laws and
policies. This alternative also
emphasizes the park’s role as a refuge
and haven for native biota, people, and
cultures in a world constantly adapting
to volcanic activity and island building
processes. This alternative would honor
the Native Hawaiian people and culture,
by recognizing Native Hawaiian values
such as malama aina and kuleana, and
perspectives from Native Hawaiian land
management such as ahupuaa
management (managing land from
mauka to makai) as important concepts
in park stewardship of resources. Native
Hawaiian traditional ecological
knowledge would be used to enhance
current scientific understanding to
protect park resources and provide
additional interpretive and educational
opportunities for visitors.
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Actions Common to All Alternatives
Many aspects of natural and cultural
resources management (such as an
emphasis on restoring native
ecosystems, preservation of wilderness
character, and continued support for
research), visitor use and experience
(such as providing access to the iconic
places and volcanic processes), and
collaboration with partners on a variety
of issues (including coastal and
shoreline management) are common to
all alternatives. The park would
continue to operate Volcano House as a
concession operation for lodging, retail,
and food and beverage services in all
alternatives. Guidance for Kilauea
Military Camp (KMC) and use of the
1877 Volcano House should conditions
change also applies to all alternatives.
The park would continue to provide
interpretation at the Jaggar Museum,
with improved exhibits, and the
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory would
continue to operate adjacent to Jaggar
Museum. The park would also continue
to implement recently approved
initiatives including: Fire Management
Plan (2007), Crater Rim Drive
Rehabilitation (2010), Archeological
Preservation Plan for Kealakomo
Ahupuaa (2011), and Protecting and
Restoring Native Ecosystems by
Managing Non-native Ungulates (2013).
Flexibility in managing Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park is necessary
given the park is situated between two
active volcanoes, and volcanic eruptions
are possible at any time. Park
management is influenced by the
magnitude of individual events. Rather
than provide specific recommendations
in the GMP for how the park may
respond to a given event, the planning
team has developed some general
‘‘adaptive management’’ guidance for
managers facing volcanic activity in the
future, notably with respect to facilities
and infrastructure in the park. This
guidance is also common to all
alternatives.
Finally, in 1989 a 5.5 mile segment of
the historic Chain of Craters Road
through the park towards Kalapana and
Pahoa was buried by lava flows. Due to
a change in the direction of other lava
flows above this area, in 2014 the
remaining access to the Pahoa area
became threatened. Consequently, an
unpaved emergency access route was
constructed following the historic road
alignment. This route is for emergency
access only, in the event of access to
Pahoa being cut off. Under all of the
alternatives, when this route is no
longer needed for emergency access, it
would be used as an equestrian, biking,
and hiking trail (similar in character and
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functionality to the Escape Road from
the summit to Mauna Ulu) to provide a
quality non-motorized visitor use
opportunity and future emergency route
without compromising natural values
and avoiding the management
complexity of managing a new coastal
entrance to the park.
Wilderness Study
The NPS proposes wilderness
designation of certain lands found
eligible in the Kahuku Unit (121,015
acres) as a natural extension of the
existing wilderness within the park.
This proposed designation would
further a conservation vision for highelevation protection of natural and
cultural resources and would create
connectivity for park wilderness that
would span from the summit of Mauna
Loa Volcano all the way down its
massive Southwest Rift. This rugged
and remote environment offers
outstanding opportunities for solitude
and potential for high-challenge
recreational hiking. Nearly all of this
mauka area of Kahuku is a place where
the imprint of humans is scarcely
noticeable, overpowered by the vast lava
expanse and aura of wildness.
Consistent with NPS policy, the park
would continue to manage these
proposed eligible lands for their
wilderness qualities prior to formal
designation.
Public Review and Comment: A
limited number of printed copies of the
Draft GMP/WS/EIS are available for
review at local public libraries, and by
request to the park (address below). The
document is also available on the GMP
project Web site. Comments are
encouraged to be submitted
electronically at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/havo. The
postage paid comment response form
included in the Draft General
Management Plan/Wilderness Study/
EIS Newsletter #4 may be used
(additional pages can be attached as
necessary). Written comments can be
mailed to: Superintendent, Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52,
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718–0052.
Comments may also be submitted at one
of the open house meetings to be
conducted by the NPS—complete
details including dates, time, and
locations will be posted on the GMP
Web site (and announced via local and
regional press media). In addition, a
formal hearing on the wilderness study
will also be held in conjunction with
one of the open house meetings. The
hearing will occur not later than two
weeks before the conclusion of the 60
day public review and comment period.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Decision Process: Following the 60
day opportunity for public review of the
DEIS/WS/GMP, all comments received
will be carefully considered in
preparing the final document. The FEIS
document is anticipated to be
completed during the fall of 2015 and
its availability will be announced in the
Federal Register and via local and
regional press media. As a delegated
EIS, the official responsible for the final
decision is the Regional Director, Pacific
West Region; subsequently the official
responsible for implementation will be
the Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park.
Dated: February 2, 2015.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Dated: April 17, 2015.
J. Paul Loether,
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/
National Historic Landmarks Program.
ARKANSAS
Conway County
Moose Addition Neighborhood Historic
District (Boundary Increase), Roughly
bounded by S. St. Joseph, E. Green, S.
Chestnut, E. Valley, S. Morrill & E. Church
Sts., Morrilton, 15000258
West Church Street Historic District, Roughly
bounded by S. Morrill, Valley, S. Cherokee
& W. Church Sts., Morrilton, 15000259
Poinsett County
Tyronza Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
161 Church St., Tyronza, 15000260
Prairie County
Kocourek and Son Hardware, 110 E. Front
St., Hazen, 15000257
[FR Doc. 2015–10528 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–FF–P
MASSACHUSETTS
Plymouth County
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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Jefferson County
Cyrus, Enoch and Mary, Homestead and
Orchard Site, (Crooked River National
Grassland MPS) Hagman Rd., Culver,
15000270
McCoin, Julius and Sarah, Homestead and
Orchard Site, (Crooked River National
Grassland MPS) FS Rd. 57, Culver,
15000271
Marion County
Olallie Meadows Guard Station, 595 NW.
Industrial Way, Estacada, 15000272
Wallowa County
Hoodoo Ridge Lookout, Umatilla NF, Walla
Walla District, Troy, 15000273
PUERTO RICO
Adjuntas Municipality
Washington Irving Graded School, (Early
20th Century Schools in Puerto Rico MPS)
Rodulfo Gonzalez St., Adjuntas, 15000274
Guanica Municipality
James Garfield Graded School, (Early 20th
Century Schools in Puerto Rico MPS) Calle
65th de Infanteria, Guanica, 15000275
Sabana Grande Municipality
James Fenimore Cooper Graded School,
(Early 20th Century Schools in Puerto Rico
MPS) 20 San Isidro St., Sabana Grande,
15000277
VIRGINIA
Caroline County
Meadow, The, Historic District, 13111 Dawn
Blvd., Doswell, 15000276
Dona Ana County
National Register of Historic Places;
Notification of Pending Nominations
and Related Actions
Chope’s Town Cafe and Bar, 16145 NM 28,
La Mesa, 15000262
Nominations for the following
properties being considered for listing
or related actions in the National
Register were received by the National
Park Service before April 10, 2015.
Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR part
60, written comments are being
accepted concerning the significance of
the nominated properties under the
National Register criteria for evaluation.
Comments may be forwarded by United
States Postal Service, to the National
Register of Historic Places, National
Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., MS 2280,
Washington, DC 20240; by all other
carriers, National Register of Historic
Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye
St. NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC
20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written
or faxed comments should be submitted
by May 21, 2015. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
Lee, Oliver, Dog Canyon Ranch, Address
Restricted, Alamogordo, 15000263
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Douglas County
U.S. Army Fort Umpqua, Address Restricted,
Corvallis, 15000269
NEW MEXICO
[NPS–WASO–NRNHL–18161;
PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000]
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OREGON
Myles Standish Burial Ground, Chestnut St.,
Duxbury, 15000261
National Park Service
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Otero County
Santa Fe County
San Jose Hall, 5637 NM 41, Galisteo,
15000264
NEW YORK
In the interest of preservation a three day
comment period has been requested for a
proposed move of the following property:
MASSACHUSETTS
Dukes County
Gay Head Light, (Lighthouses of
Massachusetts TR) Lighthouse Rd.,
Aquinnah, 87001464
[FR Doc. 2015–10530 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–51–P
Cattaraugus County
Union and State Streets Historic District,
Roughly 101–133 N. Union, 110–114, 116
W. State & 102, 116, 120 S. Union Sts.,
Olean, 15000265
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
Kings County
Manhattan Beach Jewish Center, 60 West End
Ave., Brooklyn, 15000266
Onondaga County
Liverpool Cemetery, 225 6th St., Liverpool,
15000267
Orleans County
Stevens—Sommerfeldt House, 5482 HolleyByron Rd., Clarendon, 15000268
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[S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A000 67F
134S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX066A00
33F 13xs501520]
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection; Request for Comments for
1029–0129
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
AGENCY:
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26086-26089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10528]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-17596]; [PX.PR113509L.00.1]
Draft General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental
Impact Statement Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the General Management Plan
(GMP) for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii Volcanoes NP) in the
State of Hawaii. The proposed GMP also includes a wilderness study (WS)
which analyzes wilderness suitability of park lands and includes a
recommendation for wilderness designation. This DEIS describes and
analyzes three GMP alternatives that respond to both NPS planning
requirements and to public concerns and issues identified during the
scoping and public involvement process. Each alternative presents
management strategies for resource protection and preservation,
education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land
protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of
Hawaii Volcanoes NP. The potential environmental consequences of all
the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are analyzed, and the
``environmentally preferred'' alternative is identified. The wilderness
study recommends wilderness designation of lands found eligible in the
Kahuku Unit. This GMP will replace the 1975 Master Plan for the park.
DATES: All written comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later
than July 6, 2015 of the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of
filing and release of the DEIS. Upon publication of this notice, the
date will be immediately posted on the park's Web site (www.nps.gov/havo) and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC)
Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/havo), and publicized via local
and regional press media.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Orlando, Superintendent, Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-
0052 or via telephone at (808) 985-6026.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A Notice of Intent announcing preparation of the DEIS and GMP was
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published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2009. The NPS also
publicized the public scoping period and invited public comment through
newsletters, correspondence, press releases, public workshops, informal
meetings, and the PEPC Web site. During the spring of 2009 the NPS
produced an initial newsletter describing the start of the planning
process and soliciting feedback on issues to be addressed in the plan
(approximately 8,500 newsletters were distributed overall). A
comprehensive scoping outreach effort elicited early public comment
regarding issues and concerns, the nature and extent of potential
environmental impacts, and possible alternatives that should be
addressed in the preparation of the GMP. Agencies, organizations,
governmental representatives, and Native Hawaiian organizations were
sent letters of invitation to attend the public workshops or individual
meetings. Press releases were distributed to local and regional news
media. The project was launched on the PEPC Web site, providing access
to information about the GMP and a method for taking public comments.
News articles featuring the public open house meetings were written in
the West Hawaii Today, Hawaii Tribune Herald, and the Kau Calendar, as
well as public service announcements on local radio stations.
The NPS held seven public open house meetings on the islands of
Hawaii, Oahu and Maui in April and May 2009 to provide the public with
an opportunity to learn about the general management planning project
and to offer comments. The meetings began with a brief welcome and
introduction to the GMP planning process, and transitioned into an open
house format where attendees could visit six stations featuring
tabletop poster displays. A total of 95 people attended the meetings.
The park also conducted several stakeholder meetings to obtain input
from representatives of city, county, and federal agencies, business
and community organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and
research permit holders. Park staff also gave poster presentations at
local meetings of the Kau Chamber of Commerce, Volcano Community
Association, and Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Altogether
during the 2009 scoping phase, the park planning team spoke with
approximately 400 people at public and stakeholder meetings and
approximately 1,500 people at park and community tabling events.
Correspondence received from over 130 individuals and organizations
engendered approximately 1,250 specific comments. All comments were
carefully reviewed and considered by the planning team to inform
preparation of this GMP, and are preserved in the project
administrative record.
Expanding the scope of the EIS was announced in the Federal
Register on December 2, 2011. The EIS was expanded to include a
wilderness study needed to evaluate foreseeable effects associated with
possible designation of wilderness within the park. This Notice of
Intent also formally extended the GMP preliminary alternatives comment
period through January 2, 2012, in order to gain additional comments
about wilderness and the recently evaluated wilderness-eligible lands
within the Kahuku Unit.
The NPS conducted an additional round of public involvement at the
draft alternatives phase of the planning process to ensure that the
planning team fully comprehended the public's concerns and preferences
with regard to the range of draft alternatives and to assist the
planning team in refining the draft alternatives and identifying a
preferred alternative. In addition, this engagement afforded
opportunity for formal scoping for the wilderness study. During scoping
for the wilderness study the NPS described the wilderness eligibility
analysis that had been completed for the Kahuku Unit and elicited
public comments specifically focused on the wilderness study.
During August 2011 the NPS produced and mailed the Draft
Alternatives Newsletter to approximately 955 contacts on the GMP
mailing list. The newsletter fully outlined the concepts and actions in
the draft alternatives and proposed management zones, and included
information on the wilderness eligibility that was completed and the
wilderness study that would be included in the DEIS/GMP. The newsletter
also contained a business reply questionnaire to facilitate public
comments on the four draft alternatives. In addition to the planning
schedule included in the Newsletter, information was distributed to
local media in advance of the public meetings and articles were printed
in three local papers: West Hawaii Today, Hawaii Tribune Herald, and
the Kau Calendar.
The NPS held a public open house meeting and two stakeholder
meetings in the park, and two additional public meetings were held in
the towns of Pahoa and Naalehu. A total of 66 people participated.
Overall the NPS received 72 written responses in the form of letters,
emails, comment forms, and comments submitted on the PEPC Web site. A
total of 709 individual comments were received. All comments received
were again reviewed by the GMP planning team to inform preparation of
the Draft GMP/WS. A summary of public comments on the preliminary
alternatives and wilderness study was created and made available to the
public in February, 2012, on the park's Web site, in PEPC, and through
830 mailers sent to the GMP project mailing list.
Proposed Plan and Alternatives
Alternative 1 (No Action Alternative)--Existing programming,
facilities, staffing, and funding would generally continue at current
levels to protect the values of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There
would be no major changes in current management or visitor use.
Implementation of currently approved plans would continue as funding
allows. This alternative provides the baseline for evaluating actions
and impacts in other alternatives.
Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)--Strengthens and expands
opportunities to connect people with the volcanic world treasure,
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and provide a wide range of high
quality visitor experiences based on different geographic areas.
K[imacr]lauea summit would continue to be the most actively visited
area of the park with the greatest concentration of services and
amenities for park visitors. Along Chain of Craters Road and Mauna Loa
Road, the park would strive to provide visitors with improved
opportunities to experience and connect with park resources and values,
including new opportunities at places like Mauna Ulu and
Kealakomowaena, while dispersing use to create a less congested and
more tranquil experience. At Kahuku, although visitor access and
recreation opportunities would be expanded from what is currently
offered, infrastructure and development would be minimal, gradually
phased in over time, and remain rustic in design to allow for a
primitive visitor experience.
Natural and cultural resources would continue to be managed and
protected with a high degree of integrity, consistent with direction
provided by existing laws and policies. The preferred alternative
emphasizes the park's role as a refuge and haven for native biota,
people, and cultures in a world constantly adapting to volcanic
activity and island building processes. The preferred alternative would
honor the Native Hawaiian people and culture by recognizing Native
Hawaiian values such as malama aina (nourishing or taking care of the
land) and kuleana (responsibility) and perspectives from
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Native Hawaiian land management such as ahupuaa management (managing
land from mauka (mountains) to makai (sea) as important concepts in
park stewardship of resources. Native Hawaiian traditional ecological
knowledge would be used to enhance current scientific understanding to
protect park resources and provide additional interpretive and
educational opportunities for visitors. Alternative 2 is also
considered to be the ``environmentally preferred'' course of action.
Alternative 3--Emphasizes building new connections with the park
primarily through expanded education and hands-on stewardship
opportunities. Traditional visitor opportunities would continue and
capacity could be expanded at some existing sites to allow for
increased visitation, but new development would be very limited and a
suite of management tools would be used to disperse visitors and manage
congestion throughout the park. A greater focus would be placed on
science and learning opportunities for visitors from mauka (mountains)
to makai (sea). The park would immerse visitors in the protection and
restoration of native species and ecosystems by maximizing
opportunities to participate in restoration activities and additional
emphasis would be placed on providing opportunities for visitors to
engage in research, scientific investigation, and projects associated
with natural and cultural resources management, notably in Kahuku.
Similar to Alternative 2, natural and cultural resources would
continue to be managed and protected with a high degree of integrity,
consistent with direction provided by existing laws and policies. This
alternative also emphasizes the park's role as a refuge and haven for
native biota, people, and cultures in a world constantly adapting to
volcanic activity and island building processes. This alternative would
honor the Native Hawaiian people and culture, by recognizing Native
Hawaiian values such as malama aina and kuleana, and perspectives from
Native Hawaiian land management such as ahupuaa management (managing
land from mauka to makai) as important concepts in park stewardship of
resources. Native Hawaiian traditional ecological knowledge would be
used to enhance current scientific understanding to protect park
resources and provide additional interpretive and educational
opportunities for visitors.
Actions Common to All Alternatives
Many aspects of natural and cultural resources management (such as
an emphasis on restoring native ecosystems, preservation of wilderness
character, and continued support for research), visitor use and
experience (such as providing access to the iconic places and volcanic
processes), and collaboration with partners on a variety of issues
(including coastal and shoreline management) are common to all
alternatives. The park would continue to operate Volcano House as a
concession operation for lodging, retail, and food and beverage
services in all alternatives. Guidance for Kilauea Military Camp (KMC)
and use of the 1877 Volcano House should conditions change also applies
to all alternatives. The park would continue to provide interpretation
at the Jaggar Museum, with improved exhibits, and the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory would continue to operate adjacent to Jaggar Museum. The
park would also continue to implement recently approved initiatives
including: Fire Management Plan (2007), Crater Rim Drive Rehabilitation
(2010), Archeological Preservation Plan for Kealakomo Ahupuaa (2011),
and Protecting and Restoring Native Ecosystems by Managing Non-native
Ungulates (2013).
Flexibility in managing Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is necessary
given the park is situated between two active volcanoes, and volcanic
eruptions are possible at any time. Park management is influenced by
the magnitude of individual events. Rather than provide specific
recommendations in the GMP for how the park may respond to a given
event, the planning team has developed some general ``adaptive
management'' guidance for managers facing volcanic activity in the
future, notably with respect to facilities and infrastructure in the
park. This guidance is also common to all alternatives.
Finally, in 1989 a 5.5 mile segment of the historic Chain of
Craters Road through the park towards Kalapana and Pahoa was buried by
lava flows. Due to a change in the direction of other lava flows above
this area, in 2014 the remaining access to the Pahoa area became
threatened. Consequently, an unpaved emergency access route was
constructed following the historic road alignment. This route is for
emergency access only, in the event of access to Pahoa being cut off.
Under all of the alternatives, when this route is no longer needed for
emergency access, it would be used as an equestrian, biking, and hiking
trail (similar in character and functionality to the Escape Road from
the summit to Mauna Ulu) to provide a quality non-motorized visitor use
opportunity and future emergency route without compromising natural
values and avoiding the management complexity of managing a new coastal
entrance to the park.
Wilderness Study
The NPS proposes wilderness designation of certain lands found
eligible in the Kahuku Unit (121,015 acres) as a natural extension of
the existing wilderness within the park. This proposed designation
would further a conservation vision for high-elevation protection of
natural and cultural resources and would create connectivity for park
wilderness that would span from the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano all the
way down its massive Southwest Rift. This rugged and remote environment
offers outstanding opportunities for solitude and potential for high-
challenge recreational hiking. Nearly all of this mauka area of Kahuku
is a place where the imprint of humans is scarcely noticeable,
overpowered by the vast lava expanse and aura of wildness. Consistent
with NPS policy, the park would continue to manage these proposed
eligible lands for their wilderness qualities prior to formal
designation.
Public Review and Comment: A limited number of printed copies of
the Draft GMP/WS/EIS are available for review at local public
libraries, and by request to the park (address below). The document is
also available on the GMP project Web site. Comments are encouraged to
be submitted electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/havo. The
postage paid comment response form included in the Draft General
Management Plan/Wilderness Study/EIS Newsletter #4 may be used
(additional pages can be attached as necessary). Written comments can
be mailed to: Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box
52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-0052. Comments may also be submitted
at one of the open house meetings to be conducted by the NPS--complete
details including dates, time, and locations will be posted on the GMP
Web site (and announced via local and regional press media). In
addition, a formal hearing on the wilderness study will also be held in
conjunction with one of the open house meetings. The hearing will occur
not later than two weeks before the conclusion of the 60 day public
review and comment period.
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Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Decision Process: Following the 60 day opportunity for public
review of the DEIS/WS/GMP, all comments received will be carefully
considered in preparing the final document. The FEIS document is
anticipated to be completed during the fall of 2015 and its
availability will be announced in the Federal Register and via local
and regional press media. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible
for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region;
subsequently the official responsible for implementation will be the
Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Dated: February 2, 2015.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-10528 Filed 5-5-15; 8:45 am]
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