Final Environmental Impact Statement\General Management Plan; Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Island County, Washington; Notice of Approval of Record of Decision, 8779 [07-877]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 8779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-877]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement\General Management Plan; 
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Island County, Washington; 
Notice of Approval of Record of Decision

    Summary: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the implementing 
regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, has 
prepared, and the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, has approved, 
the Record of Decision for the new General Management Plan for Ebey's 
Landing National Historical Reserve. The 30-day wait period was 
officially initiated October 13, 2006, with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    Decision: As soon as practicable the Reserve will begin to 
implement as its new General Management Plan the Preferred Alternative 
(with minor modifications from Alternative B as described in the Draft 
and Final EIS); this alternative was also deemed to be the 
``environmentally preferred'' course of action. The selected plan 
features an overlay of four management zones on the Reserve: (i) 
Cultural and Natural Preservation Zone, (ii) Visitor Use and 
Development Zone, (iii) Administrative Zone, and (iv) Special Use 
Zone--these zones are identified based on resource condition or 
character, visitor experience and appropriate types of activities or 
facilities criteria. The new plan enhances existing programs, natural 
and cultural resource management, and administrative and maintenance 
operations. An integrated pest management program will be implemented 
in concert with Reserve landowners and other partners. Visitor services 
within the Reserve are improved, and information kiosks would be 
installed along State Route 20 in the Smith Prairie area and at a 
northern gateway location, and at the Keystone and/or Port Townsend 
ferry landings. The Trust Board shall continue to be responsible for 
setting the policies and general actions for the Reserve consistent 
with the Reserve's enabling legislation, GMP, and relevant NPS policies 
and guidelines. This includes continuing the NPS's annual appraisal of 
Reserve management and operations under the enabling legislation. The 
Trust Board would continue to oversee management and protection of 
lands (including fee and easements) purchased with federal money, 
administer programs and technical support, participate in local land 
use review processes, and advocate for and support the Reserve. The 
Reserve Manager continues to be employed by and report directly to the 
Trust Board (in turn, the Trust Board will conduct annual operations 
and staff performance reviews and submit these to the Deputy Regional 
Director, Pacific West).
    Based upon public comments and refinements desired by the planning 
team collaborative, the selected plan includes several modifications 
from the Preferred Alternative as detailed in the Final EIS, including 
but not limited to: the GMP will incorporate certain historic 
preservation and land use protection measures which were adopted by 
Island County after the EIS process was begun; the development of a 
marine science center by nonprofits will be encouraged; proposed 
Reserve staff additions over the next 20 years are reduced to five. 
Also, since release of the draft GMP, Bell Farm was removed from the 
proposed boundary modification at the owner's request.
    The proposed plan and three alternatives were identified and 
analyzed in the Final EIS, and previously in the Draft EIS (the latter 
was distributed in August 2005). A broad spectrum of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation 
measures identified, for each alternative. Beginning with early 
scoping, through the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, a series 
of public meetings and open-houses was conducted locally. Overall 
approximately 40 written scoping comments and 250 written or electronic 
Draft EIS review comments were received (as noted above, the latter 
served as the source of several minor adjustments to the final selected 
plan). Key consultations or other contacts that aided in preparing the 
EIS involved (but were not limited to) Island County and Town of 
Coupeville officials, Ebey's Landing Trust Board, Washington State 
Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, tribal governments, and adjoining land managing agencies. 
Local community groups and neighbors, farmers and local business 
owners, and interested organizations were contacted extensively during 
initial scoping and throughout the GMP planning process.
    Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of 
Decision may obtain a complete copy by contacting the Reserve Manager, 
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, P.O. Box 774, Coupeville, 
Washington 98239 as well as via telephone request at (360) 678-6084.

    Dated: December 13, 2006.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 07-877 Filed 2-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-6W-M