Final Environmental Impact Statement and South Florida and Caribbean Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan, 52967-52969 [2010-21550]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 167 / Monday, August 30, 2010 / Notices
be designed to generate a combined total
of approximately 250 MW of electricity.
Phase 1 would consist of the Unit 1
(western) power block, access road,
natural gas pipeline, and electric
transmission line. Phase 2 would
consist of the Unit 2 (eastern) power
block. The project would also include
above-ground and subsurface fiber optic
lines.
The overall site layout and
generalized land uses are characterized
as follows:
1. 250-MW facility including solar
generation facilities; on-site switchyard
(substation); administration, operations,
and maintenance facilities:
approximately 1,800 acres.
2. Two wastewater evaporation
ponds: Up to 30 acres each (located
within the 1,800-acre site).
3. A new generation-tie line to route
generated electrical power transmitted
from the GSEP switchyard by way of a
southeasterly ROW, that would connect
to the Southern California Edison 500–
230 kV Colorado River substation via
the existing Blythe Energy Project
Transmission Line between the Julian
Hinds and Buck substations.
4. Additional linear facilities off-site,
including a 6.5-mile access road and
natural gas pipeline.
5. Surface water control facilities for
storm water flow and discharge.
6. Temporary construction laydown
area(s) within the larger site footprint.
No additional laydown areas outside the
project footprint are contemplated.
Access to the site would be via a new
6.5-mile long, 24-foot wide
(approximately 18.9 acres) paved access
road extending north and west from the
existing Wiley’s Well Road. Wiley’s
Well Road is accessible by both
eastbound and westbound traffic off
Interstate 10 at the Wiley’s Well Road
Interchange. The new access road would
be constructed entirely on BLMadministered land.
The BLM’s purpose and need for the
NEPA analysis of the GSEP project is to
respond to Genesis Solar, LLC’s
application under Title V of FLPMA
(43 U.S.C. 1761) for a ROW grant to
construct, operate, and decommission a
solar thermal facility on public lands in
compliance with FLPMA, BLM ROW
regulations, and other applicable
Federal laws. The BLM will decide
whether to approve, approve with
modification, or deny a ROW grant to
Genesis Solar, LLC for the proposed
GSEP project. The BLM will also
consider amending the California Desert
Conservation Act (CDCA) Plan of 1980,
as amended, in this analysis. The CDCA
Plan, while recognizing the potential
compatibility of solar generation
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facilities on public lands, requires that
all sites associated with power
generation or transmission not
identified in that Plan be considered
through the plan amendment process. If
the BLM decides to grant a ROW, the
BLM would also amend the CDCA Plan.
In the Final EIS, the BLM’s Preferred
Alternative is the direct dry cooling
project alternative with a 250 nominal
MW output which includes a CDCA
Plan Amendment. In addition to the
Preferred Alternative, the Final EIS
analyzes the following alternatives: The
proposed action with a 250 nominal
MW output, wet-cooling technology and
an amendment the CDCA Plan to make
the area suitable for solar energy
development; a reduced acreage
alternative which includes a 150
nominal MW output, wet cooling
technology, and an amendment to the
CDCA Plan to make the area suitable for
solar energy development; and an
amendment to the CDCA Plan without
approving any project. As required
under NEPA, the Final EIS analyzes a
no action alternative, which would not
approve the GSEP or amend the CDCA
Plan. The BLM also analyzes an
alternative that denies the GSEP, but
amends the CDCA Plan to designate the
project area as suitable for other
possible solar energy power generation
projects, and an alternative to deny the
project and amend the CDCA Plan to
designate the project area as unsuitable
for solar energy power generation
projects. The BLM will take into
consideration the provisions of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 and
Secretarial Orders 3283 Enhancing
Renewable Energy Development on the
Public Lands and 3285A1 Renewable
Energy Development by the Department
of the Interior in responding to the GSEP
application.
The Final EIS evaluates the potential
impacts of the proposed GSEP on air
quality, biological resources, cultural
resources, water resources, geological
resources and hazards, land use, noise,
paleontological resources, public health,
socioeconomics, soils, traffic and
transportation, visual resources,
wilderness characteristics, and other
resources.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft
EIS/Staff Assessment for the proposed
GSEP and Possible Plan Amendment to
the CDCA Plan was published in the
Federal Register on April 9, 2010 (75 FR
18204). Comments on the Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS/Staff Assessment
received from the public and internal
BLM review were considered and
incorporated as appropriate into the
Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment/Final
EIS. Public comments resulted in the
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52967
addition of clarifying text and the
change in the preferred alternative from
wet cooling to dry cooling technology,
but did not significantly change
proposed land use plan decisions.
Instructions for filing a protest with
the Director of the BLM regarding the
Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment may
be found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ Letter of
the Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment/
Final EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2.
E-mailed and faxed protests will not be
accepted as valid protests unless the
protesting party also provides the
original letter by either regular or
overnight mail postmarked by the close
of the protest period. Under these
conditions, the BLM will consider the
e-mail or faxed protest as an advance
copy and it will receive full
consideration. If you wish to provide
the BLM with such advance
notification, please direct faxed protests
to the attention of the BLM protest
coordinator at (202) 912–7212, and emails to Brenda_HudgensWilliams@blm.gov. All protests,
including the follow-up letter to e-mails
or faxes, must be in writing and mailed
to the appropriate address, as set forth
in the ADDRESSES section above.
Before including your phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your protest,
you should be aware that your entire
protest—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your protest to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10 and
43 CFR 1610.2 and 1610.5.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010–21570 Filed 8–27–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement
and South Florida and Caribbean
Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of availability of a final
environmental impact statement for the
South Florida and Caribbean Parks
Exotic Plant Management Plan.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40
SUMMARY:
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52968
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 167 / Monday, August 30, 2010 / Notices
CFR part 1500–1508), the National Park
Service (NPS), Department of the
Interior, announces the availability of
the final environmental impact
statement (FEIS) in abbreviated form for
the proposed South Florida and
Caribbean Parks Exotic Plant
Management Plan. This plan guides the
management and control of exotic
plants and restoration of native plant
communities in nine national parks: Big
Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne
National Park, Canaveral National
Seashore, Dry Tortugas National Park,
Everglades National Park, Buck Island
Reef National Monument, Christiansted
National Historic Site, Salt River Bay
National Historic Park and Ecological
Preserve, and Virgin Islands National
Park. The FEIS identifies and evaluates
the proposed plan and two alternatives
and their potential environmental
consequences and identifies and
analyzes appropriate mitigation
strategies.
In accordance with the Plant
Protection Act of 2000, (7 U.S.C. 7701
et seq.), the United States Government
has designated certain plants as noxious
weeds; many of these are exotic plant
species. Approximately 1,200 exotic
plant species in Florida and the
Caribbean have become established in
natural areas, and as many as 4 percent
of those exotic plant species have
displaced native species. Exotic plants
compete aggressively with native plants
and are often at an advantage because
they have little or no predatory control.
Among other problems, exotic plants
displace native species, alter native
species proportion, degrade or reduce
available habitat for threatened and
endangered species, consume nutrients,
alter fire patterns, reduce recreational
opportunities, and clog waterways.
The purpose of the plan/FEIS is to (1)
provide a programmatic plan to manage
and control exotic plants in nine parks
in south Florida and the Caribbean; (2)
promote restoration of native species
and habitat conditions in ecosystems
that have been invaded by exotic plants;
and (3) protect park resources and
values from adverse effects resulting
from exotic plant presence and control
activities.
DATES: In December 2003, the NPS met
with various Federal, territorial, State,
and local government agencies to share
information among agencies and elicit
issues, concerns, and other relevant
information to address during the
planning process. Agency
representatives participated in meetings
in the Virgin Islands, (one on St. John
and one on St. Croix), and in a meeting
in West Palm Beach, Florida. A Notice
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16:28 Aug 27, 2010
Jkt 220001
of Intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for South Florida
and Caribbean parks exotic plant
management was published in the
Federal Register on January 22, 2004
(69 FR 3174). Public scoping open
houses were held in March 2004 in Cruz
Bay, St. John; Christiansted and
Frederiksted, St. Croix; and Naples and
Homestead, Florida. A project
newsletter was also distributed and 40
letters or e-mails were received and
used by the interdisciplinary planning
team to refine the issues to be addressed
in the plan/EIS. The Environmental
Protection Agency published its notice
of filing of the Draft EIS in the Federal
Register on September 22, 2006 (71 FR
55463). The NPS notice of availability
was published in the Federal Register
on September 27, 2006 (71 FR 56549).
Following a 60-day public comment
period, NPS considered carefully the
agency and public comments received,
and prepared the FEIS. Not sooner than
30 days from the date of publication of
the Notice of Availability for the FEIS in
the Federal Register by the
Environmental Protection Agency the
NPS will sign a Record of Decision on
the Final Environmental Impact
Statement/South Florida and Caribbean
Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan.
After the Record of Decision is signed,
the NPS will publish a Notice of
Availability of the Record of Decision
on the Final Environmental Impact
Statement/South Florida and Caribbean
Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
final document will be available online
at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/EVER.
To request a copy contact Sandra
Hamilton, Environmental Quality
Division, National Park Service,
Academy Place, P.O. Box 25287,
Denver, Colorado 80225, 303–969–2068.
While supplies last, the document can
also be picked up in person at the
participating parks’ headquarters: Big
Cypress National Preserve, 33100
Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida
34141; Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW
328 Street, Homestead, Florida 33033;
Canaveral National Seashore, 212 S.
Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida
32796; Dry Tortugas National Park
40001 State Road 9336, Homestead,
Florida 33034; Everglades National
Park, 40001 State Road 9336,
Homestead, Florida 33034; Buck Island
Reef National Monument, Danish
Custom House, Kings Wharf, 2100
Church Street #100, Christiansted, St.
Croix, Virgin Islands 00820;
Christiansted National Historic Site; Salt
River Bay National Historic Park and
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Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands
National Park, 1300 Cruz Bay Creek, St.
John, Virgin Islands 00830.
Three
alternatives are identified and potential
impacts analyzed in the plan/FEIS.
Alternative C, New Framework for
Exotic Plant Management: Increased
Planning, Monitoring, and Mitigation,
with an Emphasis on Active Restoration
of Native Plants, is the environmentally
preferable alternative and the NPS
preferred alternative. Alternative C
would augment the systematic approach
integral to alternative B, described
below, and would add an active
restoration program to enhance the
return of native species to treated areas
in selected high-priority areas. Under
Alternative C, a decision tool would be
applied to determine areas that are
appropriate for active restoration, which
would occur in park areas that have
been previously disturbed and in areas
with potential threatened and
endangered species habitat or sensitive
vegetation communities where a more
rapid recovery would be desirable. The
active restoration approach for a given
treatment area would be determined
based on a site-specific evaluation.
Other areas in the parks would recover
passively. Under Alternative B, New
Framework for Exotic Plant
Management: Increased Planning,
Monitoring, and Mitigation, the parks
would apply a systematic approach that
would prioritize exotic plants for
treatment, monitor effects of those
treatments on exotic plants and park
resources, and mitigate any adverse
effects to park resources, as determined
through the monitoring program.
Alternative B would employ an adaptive
management strategy, using the results
of monitoring to adjust treatment
methods or mitigation methods to reach
the desired future condition of treated
areas in the parks. The effectiveness of
efforts to control exotic plant invasion
of native habitats would increase as a
result of uniform recording and storage
of information acquired during
monitoring and of sharing that
information among the nine park units.
Under Alternative A, Continue Current
Management, the parks would continue
to manage exotic plants under the
existing management framework.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The parks would continue to treat
infestations of exotic plants on an ad
hoc basis using a variety of physical,
mechanical, chemical, and biological
methods and through currently
available funding sources.
Authority: The authority for publishing
this notice is 40 CFR 1506.6.
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 167 / Monday, August 30, 2010 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sandra Hamilton, Environmental
Quality Division, National Park Service,
Academy Place, P.O. Box 25287,
Denver, Colorado 80225, 303–969–2068.
The responsible official for this final
EIS is the Regional Director, Southeast
Region, National Park Service, 100
Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: August 16, 2010.
Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2010–21550 Filed 8–27–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–70–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Final Environmental Impact Statement;
Prisoners Harbor Wetland Restoration,
Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands
National Park, Santa Barbara County,
CA; Notice of Approval of Record of
Decision
Summary: Pursuant to § 102(2)(C) of
the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, as amended)
and the regulations promulgated by the
Council on Environmental Quality (40
CFR 1505.2), the Department of the
Interior, National Park Service (NPS)
has prepared and approved a Record of
Decision for the Final Environmental
Impact Statement for restoration of
approximately 3 acres of coastal
wetland on Santa Cruz Island, Channel
Islands National Park. The requisite noaction ‘‘wait period’’ was initiated April
16, 2010, with the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Federal Register
notification of the filing of the Final EIS.
Decision: As soon as practical the NPS
will begin to implement restoration of
palustrine wetlands and deepwater
habitat at Prisoners Harbor, as well as
remove a berm constricting natural
flows in lower Canada del Puerto Creek,
in order to reconnect the creek to its
floodplain. Other project elements
include removing cattle corrals and
relocating a scale house to its pre-1960s
location, removing eucalyptus and
controlling other non-native species,
and protecting archeological resources.
This alternative was identified and
analyzed as the agency-preferred
Alternative B in the Final EIS (and
includes no substantive modifications to
the course of action which was
described in the Draft EIS). The full
range of foreseeable environmental
consequences were assessed, and
appropriate mitigation measures
(developed in consultation with Tribal
representatives and other agencies) are
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16:28 Aug 27, 2010
Jkt 220001
included in the approved plan. Both a
No Action alternative and one
additional ‘‘action’’ alternative
(Alternative C, which would have
restored approximately a third less
wetland habitat) were also identified
and analyzed. As documented in the
Draft and Final EIS, the selected
alternative was deemed to be the
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ course of
action.
Copies: Interested parties desiring to
review the Record of Decision may
obtain a copy by contacting the
Superintendent, Channel Islands
National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive,
Ventura, CA 93001 or via telephone
request at (805) 658–5700.
Dated: July 13, 2010.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010–21566 Filed 8–27–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–F6–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
National Park System Advisory Board;
Meeting
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice is hereby given in
accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix, that
the National Park System Advisory
Board will meet September 15–16, 2010,
in Washington, DC. The Board will have
an orientation session on the morning of
September 15, and in the afternoon will
tour park sites in the National Capital
Region. On September 16, the Board
will convene its business meeting from
8:30 a.m., to 4 p.m.
DATES: September 15–16, 2010.
Location: The Dupont Hotel, meeting
room Glover Park A, 1500 New
Hampshire Avenue, NW.; Washington,
DC 20036; 202–448–3848.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information concerning the
National Park System Advisory Board or
to request to address the Board, contact
Ms. Shirley Sears Smith, Office of
Policy, National Park Service, 1201 I
Street, NW., 12th Floor, Washington, DC
20005; telephone 202–354–3955; e-mail
Shirley_S_Smith@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 15, the Board will convene
from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., for an
orientation session for Board members,
followed by a tour of national park sites
of the National Capital Region. The
Board will convene its business meeting
SUMMARY:
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52969
on September 16, at 8:30 a.m., and
adjourn at 4 p.m. During the course of
the two days, the Board expects to be
addressed by Secretary of the Interior
Ken Salazar and National Park Service
Director Jonathan Jarvis, and will be
briefed by park officials on matters
including education, science, funding,
and public engagement. Other officials
of the Department of the Interior and the
National Park Service may address the
Board, and other miscellaneous topics
and reports may be covered.
The Board meeting will be open to the
public. The order of the agenda may be
changed, if necessary, to accommodate
travel schedules or for other reasons.
Space and facilities to accommodate the
public are limited and attendees will be
accommodated on a first-come basis.
Anyone may file with the Board a
written statement concerning matters to
be discussed. The Board also will
permit attendees to address the Board,
but may restrict the length of the
presentations, as necessary to allow the
Board to complete its agenda within the
allotted time. Before including your
address, telephone 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.
Draft minutes of the meeting will be
available for public inspection about 12
weeks after the meeting, at 1201 I Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20005.
Dated: August 25, 2010.
Bernard Fagan,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010–21552 Filed 8–27–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–70–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Rim of the Valley Corridor Special
Resource Study, Los Angeles and
Ventura Counties, CA; Notice of
Scoping
Summary: Notice is hereby given in
accordance with provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (Pub. L. 91–190) and the Council
on Environmental Quality’s
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1502.9(c)) that public scoping has been
initiated for a conservation planning
and environmental impact analysis
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52967-52969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21550]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement and South Florida and
Caribbean Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a final environmental impact
statement for the South Florida and Caribbean Parks Exotic Plant
Management Plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations
(40
[[Page 52968]]
CFR part 1500-1508), the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the
Interior, announces the availability of the final environmental impact
statement (FEIS) in abbreviated form for the proposed South Florida and
Caribbean Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan. This plan guides the
management and control of exotic plants and restoration of native plant
communities in nine national parks: Big Cypress National Preserve,
Biscayne National Park, Canaveral National Seashore, Dry Tortugas
National Park, Everglades National Park, Buck Island Reef National
Monument, Christiansted National Historic Site, Salt River Bay National
Historic Park and Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands National
Park. The FEIS identifies and evaluates the proposed plan and two
alternatives and their potential environmental consequences and
identifies and analyzes appropriate mitigation strategies.
In accordance with the Plant Protection Act of 2000, (7 U.S.C. 7701
et seq.), the United States Government has designated certain plants as
noxious weeds; many of these are exotic plant species. Approximately
1,200 exotic plant species in Florida and the Caribbean have become
established in natural areas, and as many as 4 percent of those exotic
plant species have displaced native species. Exotic plants compete
aggressively with native plants and are often at an advantage because
they have little or no predatory control. Among other problems, exotic
plants displace native species, alter native species proportion,
degrade or reduce available habitat for threatened and endangered
species, consume nutrients, alter fire patterns, reduce recreational
opportunities, and clog waterways.
The purpose of the plan/FEIS is to (1) provide a programmatic plan
to manage and control exotic plants in nine parks in south Florida and
the Caribbean; (2) promote restoration of native species and habitat
conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded by exotic plants; and
(3) protect park resources and values from adverse effects resulting
from exotic plant presence and control activities.
DATES: In December 2003, the NPS met with various Federal, territorial,
State, and local government agencies to share information among
agencies and elicit issues, concerns, and other relevant information to
address during the planning process. Agency representatives
participated in meetings in the Virgin Islands, (one on St. John and
one on St. Croix), and in a meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida. A
Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for
South Florida and Caribbean parks exotic plant management was published
in the Federal Register on January 22, 2004 (69 FR 3174). Public
scoping open houses were held in March 2004 in Cruz Bay, St. John;
Christiansted and Frederiksted, St. Croix; and Naples and Homestead,
Florida. A project newsletter was also distributed and 40 letters or e-
mails were received and used by the interdisciplinary planning team to
refine the issues to be addressed in the plan/EIS. The Environmental
Protection Agency published its notice of filing of the Draft EIS in
the Federal Register on September 22, 2006 (71 FR 55463). The NPS
notice of availability was published in the Federal Register on
September 27, 2006 (71 FR 56549).
Following a 60-day public comment period, NPS considered carefully
the agency and public comments received, and prepared the FEIS. Not
sooner than 30 days from the date of publication of the Notice of
Availability for the FEIS in the Federal Register by the Environmental
Protection Agency the NPS will sign a Record of Decision on the Final
Environmental Impact Statement/South Florida and Caribbean Parks Exotic
Plant Management Plan. After the Record of Decision is signed, the NPS
will publish a Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the
Final Environmental Impact Statement/South Florida and Caribbean Parks
Exotic Plant Management Plan in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the final document will be available
online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/EVER. To request a copy contact
Sandra Hamilton, Environmental Quality Division, National Park Service,
Academy Place, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225, 303-969-2068.
While supplies last, the document can also be picked up in person at
the participating parks' headquarters: Big Cypress National Preserve,
33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida 34141; Biscayne National
Park, 9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead, Florida 33033; Canaveral National
Seashore, 212 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida 32796; Dry
Tortugas National Park 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034;
Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida
33034; Buck Island Reef National Monument, Danish Custom House, Kings
Wharf, 2100 Church Street 100, Christiansted, St. Croix,
Virgin Islands 00820; Christiansted National Historic Site; Salt River
Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands
National Park, 1300 Cruz Bay Creek, St. John, Virgin Islands 00830.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three alternatives are identified and
potential impacts analyzed in the plan/FEIS. Alternative C, New
Framework for Exotic Plant Management: Increased Planning, Monitoring,
and Mitigation, with an Emphasis on Active Restoration of Native
Plants, is the environmentally preferable alternative and the NPS
preferred alternative. Alternative C would augment the systematic
approach integral to alternative B, described below, and would add an
active restoration program to enhance the return of native species to
treated areas in selected high-priority areas. Under Alternative C, a
decision tool would be applied to determine areas that are appropriate
for active restoration, which would occur in park areas that have been
previously disturbed and in areas with potential threatened and
endangered species habitat or sensitive vegetation communities where a
more rapid recovery would be desirable. The active restoration approach
for a given treatment area would be determined based on a site-specific
evaluation. Other areas in the parks would recover passively. Under
Alternative B, New Framework for Exotic Plant Management: Increased
Planning, Monitoring, and Mitigation, the parks would apply a
systematic approach that would prioritize exotic plants for treatment,
monitor effects of those treatments on exotic plants and park
resources, and mitigate any adverse effects to park resources, as
determined through the monitoring program. Alternative B would employ
an adaptive management strategy, using the results of monitoring to
adjust treatment methods or mitigation methods to reach the desired
future condition of treated areas in the parks. The effectiveness of
efforts to control exotic plant invasion of native habitats would
increase as a result of uniform recording and storage of information
acquired during monitoring and of sharing that information among the
nine park units. Under Alternative A, Continue Current Management, the
parks would continue to manage exotic plants under the existing
management framework.
The parks would continue to treat infestations of exotic plants on
an ad hoc basis using a variety of physical, mechanical, chemical, and
biological methods and through currently available funding sources.
Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR
1506.6.
[[Page 52969]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Hamilton, Environmental Quality
Division, National Park Service, Academy Place, P.O. Box 25287, Denver,
Colorado 80225, 303-969-2068.
The responsible official for this final EIS is the Regional
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street,
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: August 16, 2010.
Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-21550 Filed 8-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
