Environmental Impact Statement on Recreational Use of Off-Road Vehicles Along Nine Trails in the Nabesna Area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 72754-72755 [E7-24853]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 72754 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices Park Service’s preferred alternative. Alternative D proposes the National Monument be developed as a Harbor Center with partners as a hub of activities and a jumping off point for visitors to explore New York Harbor. The Draft GMP/EIS evaluates potential environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Impact topics include the cultural, natural, and socioeconomic environments. This notice also announces that a public meeting will be held to solicit comments on the Draft GMP/EIS during the public review period. The date, time and location will be announced on the park’s Web site https://www.nps.gov/ gois, in local papers and can also be obtained by calling 212.825.4162. DATES: There are several ways to view the document, which will be publicly available on or about October 15, 2007: • An electronic version of the document will be available for public review and comment on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. • Downloadable PDF from the park’s Web site https://www.nps.gov/gois. • Printed copies (these are limited in quantity) and CDs can be requested by contacting the park at 212.825.4162. The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement from the public for a period of 60 days following publication of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Interested persons may check the park Web site at https:// www.nps.gov/gois for date, time, and place(s) of public meetings to be conducted by the National Park Service, or by calling 212.825.4162. ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review and comment online at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov, and can be viewed at the following locations: Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Science, Industry and Business Library, 188 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. New Amsterdam Branch Library, 9 Murray Street, New York, NY 10007. Bronx Library Center, 310 East Kingsbridge Road, New York, NY 10458. St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. Business Library, 280 Cadman Plaza West at Tillary St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. Carroll Gardens Library, 396 Clinton St. at Union St., Brooklyn, NY 11231. Central Library, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:37 Dec 20, 2007 Jkt 214001 Red Hook Library, 7 Wolcott St. at Dwight St., Brooklyn, NY 11231. Central Library, 89–11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432. Flushing Library, 41–17 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355. Jersey City Public Library, Documents Department, 472 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07302. Newark Public Library, 5 Washington St., P.O. Box 0630, Newark, NJ 07101– 0630. New Jersey State Library, U.S. Documents, 185 W. State St., P.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ 08625–0520. If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of several methods. You may mail comments to Superintendent Linda Neal, Governors Island National Monument, Battery Maritime Building, Slip 7, 10 South Street, New York, NY 10004. The preferred method of comment is via the Internet at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov. You may also fax your comments to 212.825.4161. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For over two centuries, Governors Island has played a vital role in the defense and development of New York City. The island’s military history begins with the American Revolution and culminates with the U.S. Coast Guard’s departure in 1996. In 1985 the northern 121 acres of the island were designated a National Historic Landmark District. Castle Williams and Fort Jay, within the district, are among the best remaining examples of early American coastal fortifications. On January 19, 2001, President William J. Clinton established the Governors Island National Monument by Presidential Proclamation 7402. On February 7, 2003, President George W. Bush issued Proclamation 7647, which re-established the monument and clarified its status. The Draft General Management Plan (GMP) sets forth alternative visions (management alternatives) for the development and operation of Governors Island National Monument. This plan is the product of a process that integrates the aspirations of the public with the unique capabilities of the NPS to provide for PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the preservation and public enjoyment of the National Monument over the next 20 years. Dated: December 11, 2007. Dennis R. Reidenbach, Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service. [FR Doc. E7–24831 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Environmental Impact Statement on Recreational Use of Off-Road Vehicles Along Nine Trails in the Nabesna Area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ACTION: SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an EIS on the recreational use of off-road vehicles (ORV) along nine trails in the Nabesna area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The purpose of the EIS is to evaluate a range of alternatives for managing recreational off-road vehicle use on the following trails: Caribou Creek, Lost Creek, Trail Creek, Reeve Field, Boomerang Lake, Soda Lake, Suslota Lake, Copper Lake and Tanada Lake. The EIS will be used to guide the management of recreational ORV use on these trails in the Nabesna area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It may also form the basis for either a special regulation to designate ORV routes and areas or a compatibility finding to issue permits for ORV use in accordance with current regulations. The EIS will assess potential environmental impacts associated with a range of reasonable alternatives for managing recreational ORV impacts on park resources and values such as soils, vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, visitor experience, scenic quality, cultural resources and subsistence opportunities. In addition to the No Action alternative, this EIS will evaluate a proposed action that would authorize recreational ORV use on trails that can be maintained to a standard that reduces or eliminates adverse impacts. Other alternatives include: authorizing recreational ORV use on some or all nine trails after making improvements to address degraded conditions along trail alignments, and not authorizing recreational ORV use on any trails. Public input is sought on this range of alternatives. E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices This EIS is being prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.), and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500. Scoping: The NPS requests input from federal and state agencies, local governments, private organizations, recreational users, and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in this EIS. Scoping comments are being solicited. NPS representatives will be available to discuss issues, resource concerns and the planning process at public scoping meetings. Scoping meetings will be held in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Tok, Glennallen, and Slana, Alaska in early 2008. When public meetings have been scheduled, their dates, times, and locations will be announced in local newspapers and posted on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/WRST. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this EIS should be received 60 days after the last scoping meeting referenced above. The draft EIS is projected to be available to the public in early 2009. Electronic comments may be submitted to the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/WRST. Written comments also may be mailed or faxed to the address and phone number provided below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meg Jensen, Park Superintendent, WrangellSt. Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573. Telephone (907) 822–5234, Fax (907) 822–7259. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 13.2 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve was established in 1980 at which time the nine trails under evaluation were already in existence and had use. As part of the general management planning for the park, VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:37 Dec 20, 2007 Jkt 214001 ORVs were determined to be a means of surface transportation traditionally employed by local rural residents engaged in subsistence uses. In 1983, the park began issuing permits for recreational use of these trails initially in accordance with 36 CFR 13.14(c) which was replaced by 43 CFR 36.11(g)(2) in 1986. The park annually issues approximately 200 recreational permits largely for sport hunters traveling to preserve areas. Subsistence users and inholders (there are 784,000 acres of non-federal lands within the park) also use ORVs on these trails. They are also used by hikers, and in the winter by skiers, mushers and trappers. Snowmachines are the typical motorized use in the winter months. Over the history of the park, research has been conducted to assess the conditions of the trails and to experiment with a variety of trail hardening materials. On June 29, 2006, the National Parks Conservation Association, Alaska Center for the Environment, and The Wilderness Society (Plantiffs) filed a lawsuit against the NPS in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska regarding recreational ORV use on the nine trails that are the subject of this EIS. The plaintiffs challenged the NPS issuance of recreational ORV permits asserting that the NPS failed to make the finding required by 43 CFR 36.11(g)(2), that such ORV use is compatible with the purposes and values of the Park and Preserve. They also claimed that the NPS failed to prepare an environmental analysis of recreational ORVs. In the May 15, 2007, settlement agreement, the NPS agreed to endeavor to complete an EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) by December 31, 2010, during which time the NPS can issue permits authorizing recreational use of ORVs on the Suslota Lake Trail, Tanada Lake Trail, and a portion of the Copper Lake Trail only when the ground is frozen. The NPS may continue to issue permits for recreational ORV use of the remaining six trails through the year 2010. The litigation and settlement did not change the use of ORVs by local rural residents engaged in subsistence uses. The trails remain open to other uses such as hiking, skiing, or horseback riding. Prior to the 2007 summer/fall season, all recreational ORV permit holders were contacted and apprised of the situation. Executive Order 11644, issued in 1972 and amended by Executive Order 11989 in 1977, states that federal agencies allowing ORV use must designate the specific areas and trails on PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72755 public lands on which the use of ORVs may be permitted, and areas in which the use of ORVs may not be permitted. Agency regulations to authorize ORV use shall provide that designation of such areas and trails will be based upon the protection of the resources of the public lands, promotion of the safety of all users of those lands, and minimization of conflicts among the various uses of those lands. Executive Order 11644 was issued in response to the widespread and rapidly increasing use of ORV on the public lands—‘‘often for legitimate purposes but also in frequent conflict with wise land and resource management practices, environmental values, and other types of recreational activity.’’ Therefore, the purpose of this EIS is to consider alternative management strategies for the recreational use of ORVs consistent with the park’s enabling legislation and other applicable laws and regulations. Dated: December 12, 2007. Tim A. Hudson, Acting Regional Director, Alaska. [FR Doc. E7–24853 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission; Notice of Public Meeting Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission will be held at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, January 18, 2008, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. DATES: Friday, January 18, 2008. ADDRESSES: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Brandt, Superintendent, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740, telephone: (301) 714–2201. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission was established by Public Law 91–664 to meet and consult with the Secretary of the Interior on general policies and specific matters related to E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72754-72755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24853]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Environmental Impact Statement on Recreational Use of Off-Road 
Vehicles Along Nine Trails in the Nabesna Area of Wrangell-St. Elias 
National Park and Preserve

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an EIS on the 
recreational use of off-road vehicles (ORV) along nine trails in the 
Nabesna area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The 
purpose of the EIS is to evaluate a range of alternatives for managing 
recreational off-road vehicle use on the following trails: Caribou 
Creek, Lost Creek, Trail Creek, Reeve Field, Boomerang Lake, Soda Lake, 
Suslota Lake, Copper Lake and Tanada Lake. The EIS will be used to 
guide the management of recreational ORV use on these trails in the 
Nabesna area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It may 
also form the basis for either a special regulation to designate ORV 
routes and areas or a compatibility finding to issue permits for ORV 
use in accordance with current regulations. The EIS will assess 
potential environmental impacts associated with a range of reasonable 
alternatives for managing recreational ORV impacts on park resources 
and values such as soils, vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, visitor 
experience, scenic quality, cultural resources and subsistence 
opportunities.
    In addition to the No Action alternative, this EIS will evaluate a 
proposed action that would authorize recreational ORV use on trails 
that can be maintained to a standard that reduces or eliminates adverse 
impacts. Other alternatives include: authorizing recreational ORV use 
on some or all nine trails after making improvements to address 
degraded conditions along trail alignments, and not authorizing 
recreational ORV use on any trails. Public input is sought on this 
range of alternatives.

[[Page 72755]]

    This EIS is being prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4331 et seq.), and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500.
    Scoping: The NPS requests input from federal and state agencies, 
local governments, private organizations, recreational users, and the 
public on the scope of issues to be addressed in this EIS. Scoping 
comments are being solicited. NPS representatives will be available to 
discuss issues, resource concerns and the planning process at public 
scoping meetings. Scoping meetings will be held in Anchorage, 
Fairbanks, Tok, Glennallen, and Slana, Alaska in early 2008. When 
public meetings have been scheduled, their dates, times, and locations 
will be announced in local newspapers and posted on the NPS Planning, 
Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/WRST.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will 
always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials 
of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in 
their entirety.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this EIS should be received 60 
days after the last scoping meeting referenced above. The draft EIS is 
projected to be available to the public in early 2009. Electronic 
comments may be submitted to the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public 
Comment (PEPC) Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/WRST. Written 
comments also may be mailed or faxed to the address and phone number 
provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meg Jensen, Park Superintendent, 
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper 
Center, Alaska 99573. Telephone (907) 822-5234, Fax (907) 822-7259.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 13.2 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias 
National Park and Preserve was established in 1980 at which time the 
nine trails under evaluation were already in existence and had use. As 
part of the general management planning for the park, ORVs were 
determined to be a means of surface transportation traditionally 
employed by local rural residents engaged in subsistence uses. In 1983, 
the park began issuing permits for recreational use of these trails 
initially in accordance with 36 CFR 13.14(c) which was replaced by 43 
CFR 36.11(g)(2) in 1986. The park annually issues approximately 200 
recreational permits largely for sport hunters traveling to preserve 
areas. Subsistence users and inholders (there are 784,000 acres of non-
federal lands within the park) also use ORVs on these trails. They are 
also used by hikers, and in the winter by skiers, mushers and trappers. 
Snowmachines are the typical motorized use in the winter months. Over 
the history of the park, research has been conducted to assess the 
conditions of the trails and to experiment with a variety of trail 
hardening materials.
    On June 29, 2006, the National Parks Conservation Association, 
Alaska Center for the Environment, and The Wilderness Society 
(Plantiffs) filed a lawsuit against the NPS in the United States 
District Court for the District of Alaska regarding recreational ORV 
use on the nine trails that are the subject of this EIS. The plaintiffs 
challenged the NPS issuance of recreational ORV permits asserting that 
the NPS failed to make the finding required by 43 CFR 36.11(g)(2), that 
such ORV use is compatible with the purposes and values of the Park and 
Preserve. They also claimed that the NPS failed to prepare an 
environmental analysis of recreational ORVs.
    In the May 15, 2007, settlement agreement, the NPS agreed to 
endeavor to complete an EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) by December 
31, 2010, during which time the NPS can issue permits authorizing 
recreational use of ORVs on the Suslota Lake Trail, Tanada Lake Trail, 
and a portion of the Copper Lake Trail only when the ground is frozen. 
The NPS may continue to issue permits for recreational ORV use of the 
remaining six trails through the year 2010.
    The litigation and settlement did not change the use of ORVs by 
local rural residents engaged in subsistence uses. The trails remain 
open to other uses such as hiking, skiing, or horseback riding. Prior 
to the 2007 summer/fall season, all recreational ORV permit holders 
were contacted and apprised of the situation.
    Executive Order 11644, issued in 1972 and amended by Executive 
Order 11989 in 1977, states that federal agencies allowing ORV use must 
designate the specific areas and trails on public lands on which the 
use of ORVs may be permitted, and areas in which the use of ORVs may 
not be permitted. Agency regulations to authorize ORV use shall provide 
that designation of such areas and trails will be based upon the 
protection of the resources of the public lands, promotion of the 
safety of all users of those lands, and minimization of conflicts among 
the various uses of those lands. Executive Order 11644 was issued in 
response to the widespread and rapidly increasing use of ORV on the 
public lands--``often for legitimate purposes but also in frequent 
conflict with wise land and resource management practices, 
environmental values, and other types of recreational activity.'' 
Therefore, the purpose of this EIS is to consider alternative 
management strategies for the recreational use of ORVs consistent with 
the park's enabling legislation and other applicable laws and 
regulations.

    Dated: December 12, 2007.
Tim A. Hudson,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
 [FR Doc. E7-24853 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-HC-P

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