Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Stream Management Plan, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, IA, 54688 [06-7715]

Download as PDF 54688 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 180 / Monday, September 18, 2006 / Notices protection, increasing quality recreational and access opportunities, and preserving quality of life values in local communities. The ROD briefly discusses the background for the planning effort, summarizes public involvement during the planning process, states the decision and discusses the basis for it, describes other alternatives considered, specifies the environmentally preferable alternative, and identifies measures adopted to minimize potential environmental harm. The ROD can be found online at the NPS Planning, Environmental and Public Comment Web site at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/index.cfm. Copies of the ROD are available on request from: Miriam Valentine, National Park Service, Talkeetna Ranger Station, P.O. Box 588, Talkeetna, Alaska, 99676. Telephone: (907) 733– 9102. ADDRESSES: cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Tranel, Chief of Planning, National Park Service, Denali National Park and Preserve, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone: (907) 644–3611. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS prepared an EIS, as required, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and Council of Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500). A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement, published in the Federal Register in February 2004 (69 FR 72513), formally initiated the NPS planning and EIS effort. A Draft EIS was issued in September 2005 (70 FR 55414). A Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the Final EIS was published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on May 5, 2006, commencing the required 30-day noaction period (71 FR 26498). The Final EIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of two action alternatives and a no-action alternative. The NPS selected Alternative C, as described in the Final EIS. The emphasis of the selected alternative is to enhance access and recreational opportunities throughout the South Denali region for a variety of visitors, including Alaskans, independent travelers, and package tour travelers, while at the same time protecting the important resource and community values in the area, including the rural lifestyle of local residents. Major actions of the selected alternative include: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:18 Sep 15, 2006 Jkt 208001 • Provide a new destination and additional visitor opportunities in the South Denali region. New facilities will offer easily accessible visitor opportunities along the state’s main highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The visitor center will provide visitors an intimate setting and facilitate their connection to the landscape and natural resources. It will offer a range of opportunties for learning and recreating, and it will provide visitors of various abilities a chance to experience alpine and subarctic tundra environments and opportunities to view Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range. Opportunities to view wildlife exist as well as opportunities to spend a day or more at the visitor center or in the surrounding area. • Offer a wide variety of high-quality recreation opportunities throughout the South Denali region for a variety of visitors. Visitors traveling in groups and those traveling independently can benefit from the options offered. Some, and perhaps all, of the facilities and opportunities should be attractive to Alaska residents who recreate in the South Denali region. The new Parks Highway visitor center will provide information, orientation, interpretive programs, and shelter to visitors. Public use cabins, trail systems for a wide variety of user groups, and camping facilities will provide options for visitors to experience the landscape in remote as well as in easily accessible settings. New trails, parking areas, boat launch, and potential docking facility will provide increased access to rivers and public lands in the South Denali region. Together these developments should accommodate the visitor growth anticipated for the South Denali region over the next 15 to 20 years. • Create economic and employment opportunities for local residents through establishment of a new visitor destination. Residents of south central Alaska, in particular, will benefit from improved recreational access with this alternative. Rural character may be negatively affected, particularly for the community of Trapper Creek. Negative impacts will be partially mitigated by measures in the plan to protect the scenic qualities of adjacent road corridors. The agencies will continue to address local interests by seeking public input during future planning and implementation efforts. National Park Service, Department of the Interior. SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) on the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Stream Management Plan, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (Site), West Branch, Iowa. The Midwest Regional Director approved the ROD for this final EIS on August 1, 2006. Specifically, the Site will adopt and implement actions described under Alternative E, the preferred alternative, in the final EIS. Under the selected action, the primary strategy entails the restoration of the function of the stream corridor and a floodwater detention area in the upstream portion of the Park. The EIS considered and evaluated five alternatives to the selected action. A full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. The overriding concern expressed by the Site and the public during the development of this action was the protection of fundamental resources and values of the Site. Alternative E— Provide 50-Year Flood Protection—is the selected alternative since it best meets the objectives of the Site. The preferred alternative will not result in the impairment of resources and values. The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the rationale for why the selected action is the environmentally preferred alternative, a finding of no impairment of Site resources and values, and an overview of public involvement in the decisionmaking process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Stream Management Plan Record of Decision, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, P.O. Box 607, West Branch, Iowa 52358, or by calling 319–643–2541. Copies of the final EIS and ROD are available upon request from the above address. Dated: July 31, 2006. Victor Knox, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 06–7714 Filed 9–15–06; 8:45 am] Dated: August 1, 2006. Ernest Quintana, Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 06–7715 Filed 9–15–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–PF–M BILLING CODE 4310–70–M PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Stream Management Plan, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, IA AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 54688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7715]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Stream Management Plan, Herbert 
Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, IA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) on the final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Stream Management Plan, Herbert Hoover 
National Historic Site (Site), West Branch, Iowa. The Midwest Regional 
Director approved the ROD for this final EIS on August 1, 2006. 
Specifically, the Site will adopt and implement actions described under 
Alternative E, the preferred alternative, in the final EIS. Under the 
selected action, the primary strategy entails the restoration of the 
function of the stream corridor and a floodwater detention area in the 
upstream portion of the Park.
    The EIS considered and evaluated five alternatives to the selected 
action. A full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was 
assessed. The overriding concern expressed by the Site and the public 
during the development of this action was the protection of fundamental 
resources and values of the Site. Alternative E--Provide 50-Year Flood 
Protection--is the selected alternative since it best meets the 
objectives of the Site. The preferred alternative will not result in 
the impairment of resources and values.
    The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of 
other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the 
rationale for why the selected action is the environmentally preferred 
alternative, a finding of no impairment of Site resources and values, 
and an overview of public involvement in the decisionmaking process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Stream Management Plan 
Record of Decision, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, P.O. Box 
607, West Branch, Iowa 52358, or by calling 319-643-2541. Copies of the 
final EIS and ROD are available upon request from the above address.

    Dated: August 1, 2006.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 06-7715 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M

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