Notice of Availability: Tamiami Trail Modifications: Next Steps Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National Park, Florida, 77896-77897 [2010-31307]

Download as PDF 77896 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 14, 2010 / Notices Total Estimated Burden Hours: 10,296. Status: Revision of a currently approved collection. Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as amended. Dated: December 8, 2010. Colette Pollard, Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–31362 Filed 12–13–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [5284–TT02–371] Notice of Availability: Tamiami Trail Modifications: Next Steps Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National Park, Florida National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability. AGENCY: srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: The Notice of Intent (NOI) for this project referred to it as a ‘‘Feasibility Study and Report’’ based on language in the authorizing legislation. This new appellation was a result of public scoping and internal National Park Service discussions. SUMMARY: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director’s Order Number 2 (Park Planning) and Director’s Order Number 12 (Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-making), the NPS announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) Modifications: Next Steps Project for Everglades National Park, Florida. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111–008, dated March 11, 2009) directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to construct modifications to Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) that were approved in the 2008 Limited Reevaluation Report and Environmental Assessment. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act also directed the NPS to ‘‘immediately evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, beyond that to be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r–8), including a continuous bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) to restore more natural VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Dec 13, 2010 Jkt 223001 water flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas.’’ DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Notice of Availability of the FEIS. ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ever. A limited number of compact discs (CDs) and hard copies are available at Park headquarters. You may request a hard copy or CD by contacting Everglades National Park, Attn: Bruce Boler, 950 N. Krome Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030– 6733; telephone 305–224–4234. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping was initiated in the summer of 2009. A newsletter was distributed on May 31, 2009, and a public meeting was held on June 2, 2009, to keep the public informed and involved throughout the planning process. As the lead agency, the NPS conducted several inter-agency/ Tribal meetings and one workshop to develop project objectives, identify alternatives, evaluate the benefits of alternatives, and identify a preferred alternative. The draft document was revised as a result of public and agency feedback received during the public comment period. The FEIS provides historical information, existing conditions, alternatives for infrastructure modifications, and related impacts of the alternatives. The FEIS describes six alternatives for consideration, including a no-action alternative that provides for the continuation of the current Tamiami Trail infrastructure configuration. The five action alternatives present a range of infrastructure modification opportunities. The environmental impacts of each alternative, including the no-action alternative, are systematically analyzed in the document. The six analyzed alternatives (with corresponding identifiers as they appear in the document) are as follows: • No-Action Alternative: The NoAction Alternative consists of a 1-mile eastern bridge and elevation of the remaining roadway to allow for 8.5 feet stages in the L–29 Canal. This alternative continues the status quo. • Alternative 1: 2.2 miles of bridges and remaining roadway elevated: Alternative 1 would involve creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 2.2 miles of the existing highway and embankment. Four bridges would be constructed in PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the openings to replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic across the openings. This alternative would create 2.2 miles of ecological connectivity and better distribute flows in the western area of the 11-mile project corridor. • Alternative 2a: 3.3 miles of bridges and remaining roadway elevated: Alternative 2a would involve creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 3.3 miles of the existing highway and embankment. Six bridges would be constructed in the openings to replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic across the openings. This alternative would create 3.3 miles of ecological connectivity and moderately reduce the adverse effects of high velocity discharges associated with the existing culverts. • Alternative 4: 1.0 miles of bridging and remaining roadway elevated: Alternative 4 would involve creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 1.0 mile of the existing highway and embankment where the bridging is proposed. Two bridges would be constructed in the opening to replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic. This alternative would increase ecological connectivity by 1.0 mile. • Alternative 5: 1.5 miles of bridging and remaining roadway elevated: Alternative 5 would involve creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 1.5 miles of the existing highway and embankment. Three bridges would be constructed in the opening to replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic. This alternative would increase ecological connectivity by 1.5 miles. • Alternative 6e: 5.5 miles of bridging and remaining roadway elevated. Alternative 6e is the maximum bridging option and involves creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 5.5 miles of the existing highway and embankment. Four bridges would be constructed in the opening to replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic. Bridge down-ramp (access ramps) options were also developed for Alternative 6e to maintain access to two commercial airboat facilities: Everglades Safari Park and Coopertown. Option 4 (Modified Parallel Down Ramp) was selected as the preferred option for Everglades Safari and Option 5 (Parallel Down Ramp with Existing Frontage Road) was selected as the preferred option for Coopertown. Alternative 6e would increase ecological connectivity by 5.5 miles, reduce flow velocities below the 0.10 feet per second (fps) E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 14, 2010 / Notices threshold that causes harm to marshes, and substantially restore the flow patterns associated with a healthy ridge and slough landscape in Northeast Shark River Slough. • Common to all action alternatives: The remaining highway embankments along stretches of the road that are not bridged would be reconstructed to raise the crown elevation to 12.3 feet, the minimum required based on the design high water of 9.7 feet and the roadway cross-section geometry. Preferred Alternative: Alternative 6e was determined to be the preferred alternative (and environmentally preferable alternative) by the NPS and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 1506.6. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Everglades National Park at the address and telephone number shown above. The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional Director, Southeast Region, NPS, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Dated: December 2, 2010. Gordon Wissinger, Deputy Regional Director, Chief of Staff, Southeast Region, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2010–31307 Filed 12–13–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–XH–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [7700–1104–SZS] Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study, Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement, National Trails Intermountain Region, NM National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability of the Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study, National Trails Intermountain Region, New Mexico. Four alternatives and their respective environmental consequences were presented in the feasibility study. Under alternative A, the no-action alternative, current practices and policies would srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Dec 13, 2010 Jkt 223001 continue. A national historic trail would not be designated, and interpretation and protection of Long Walk-related events and resources would not be coordinated. Under alternative B, Congress would designate two national historic trails (dual designations) to emphasize the unique removal experiences of the Mescalero Apache and Navajo tribes within the contextual history. An auto tour route would be established. Interpretation and education would emphasize the distinctive tribal and individual removal histories. Under alternative C (Environmentally Preferable Alternative) one national historic trail would be designated, emphasizing the removal experiences common to both tribes. An auto tour route would be established. Interpretation and education would emphasize overviews of the Long Walk events. Under alternatives B and C, the Secretary of the Interior would administer the trail through partnerships, primarily with the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation. Under alternative D, Congress would provide a grant program to the tribes focusing on interpretation and education projects and resource protection on tribal lands. All decisions about strategy, level of protection, etc., would be made by the tribes. A national historic trail would not be designated. No other alternatives were considered during the course of the study. The feasibility study determined the Long Walk routes fully meet the criteria for designation as national historic trails. The overall nature of public comments during the review period for the draft study supported designation. Neither the draft feasibility study nor the abbreviated final environmental impact statement identified a preferred alternative. The National Park Service has subsequently identified Alternative A, the no-action alternative, to be the preferred alternative after requesting and considering comments on the draft plan from the Navajo Nation. The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Notice of Availability of the Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement. DATES: Information will be available for public inspection online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ntir, in the office of the Superintendent, Aaron Mahr, National Trails Intermountain Region, National Park Service, PO Box 728, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504–0728; (505) 988–6098. ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 77897 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon A. Brown, National Trails Intermountain Region, National Park Service, PO Box 728, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504–0728; (505) 988–6717. Dated: November 26, 2010. John Wessels, Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2010–31308 Filed 12–13–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4311–36–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [2253–665] Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, that meet the definitions of sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony under 25 U.S.C. 3001. This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. The eight Tlingit objects are one wooden box drum (catalogue number NA6828); one hide robe (catalogue number NA6829); two carved wooden masks (catalogue numbers NA6831 and NA6832); one carved wooden headdress (catalogue number NA6835); one head cover (catalogue number NA6836); one carved wooden rattle (catalogue number NA6845); and one carved wooden pipe (catalogue number NA6862). The first cultural item is a drum (NA6828) made of two pieces of cedar wood, called Old-Man-of-War Box Drum. One narrow side is carved to represent the ‘‘old-man-of-war’’ and the opposing side is open; the broad sides are painted in geometric figures in red and black. The drum measures approximately 65.0 cm long, 32.0 cm wide and 85.0 cm high. E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77896-77897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31307]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[5284-TT02-371]


Notice of Availability: Tamiami Trail Modifications: Next Steps 
Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National 
Park, Florida

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

    The Notice of Intent (NOI) for this project referred to it as a 
``Feasibility Study and Report'' based on language in the authorizing 
legislation. This new appellation was a result of public scoping and 
internal National Park Service discussions.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director's 
Order Number 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order Number 12 
(Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-
making), the NPS announces the availability of a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) 
Modifications: Next Steps Project for Everglades National Park, 
Florida.
    The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-008, dated March 
11, 2009) directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to 
construct modifications to Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) that were 
approved in the 2008 Limited Reevaluation Report and Environmental 
Assessment. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act also directed the NPS 
to ``immediately evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, 
beyond that to be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries 
to Everglades National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-8), including a 
continuous bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, 
for the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) to restore more natural water 
flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of 
restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity 
between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas.''

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
the Notice of Availability of the FEIS.

ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review online at 
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ever. A limited number of compact discs 
(CDs) and hard copies are available at Park headquarters. You may 
request a hard copy or CD by contacting Everglades National Park, Attn: 
Bruce Boler, 950 N. Krome Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030-6733; telephone 
305-224-4234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping was initiated in the summer 
of 2009. A newsletter was distributed on May 31, 2009, and a public 
meeting was held on June 2, 2009, to keep the public informed and 
involved throughout the planning process. As the lead agency, the NPS 
conducted several inter-agency/Tribal meetings and one workshop to 
develop project objectives, identify alternatives, evaluate the 
benefits of alternatives, and identify a preferred alternative. The 
draft document was revised as a result of public and agency feedback 
received during the public comment period. The FEIS provides historical 
information, existing conditions, alternatives for infrastructure 
modifications, and related impacts of the alternatives. The FEIS 
describes six alternatives for consideration, including a no-action 
alternative that provides for the continuation of the current Tamiami 
Trail infrastructure configuration. The five action alternatives 
present a range of infrastructure modification opportunities. The 
environmental impacts of each alternative, including the no-action 
alternative, are systematically analyzed in the document.
    The six analyzed alternatives (with corresponding identifiers as 
they appear in the document) are as follows:
     No-Action Alternative: The No-Action Alternative consists 
of a 1-mile eastern bridge and elevation of the remaining roadway to 
allow for 8.5 feet stages in the L-29 Canal. This alternative continues 
the status quo.
     Alternative 1: 2.2 miles of bridges and remaining roadway 
elevated: Alternative 1 would involve creating conveyance openings 
through Tamiami Trail by removing 2.2 miles of the existing highway and 
embankment. Four bridges would be constructed in the openings to 
replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic across 
the openings. This alternative would create 2.2 miles of ecological 
connectivity and better distribute flows in the western area of the 11-
mile project corridor.
     Alternative 2a: 3.3 miles of bridges and remaining roadway 
elevated: Alternative 2a would involve creating conveyance openings 
through Tamiami Trail by removing 3.3 miles of the existing highway and 
embankment. Six bridges would be constructed in the openings to replace 
the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic across the 
openings. This alternative would create 3.3 miles of ecological 
connectivity and moderately reduce the adverse effects of high velocity 
discharges associated with the existing culverts.
     Alternative 4: 1.0 miles of bridging and remaining roadway 
elevated: Alternative 4 would involve creating conveyance openings 
through Tamiami Trail by removing 1.0 mile of the existing highway and 
embankment where the bridging is proposed. Two bridges would be 
constructed in the opening to replace the removed section of road and 
maintain vehicle traffic. This alternative would increase ecological 
connectivity by 1.0 mile.
     Alternative 5: 1.5 miles of bridging and remaining roadway 
elevated: Alternative 5 would involve creating conveyance openings 
through Tamiami Trail by removing 1.5 miles of the existing highway and 
embankment. Three bridges would be constructed in the opening to 
replace the removed section of road and maintain vehicle traffic. This 
alternative would increase ecological connectivity by 1.5 miles.
     Alternative 6e: 5.5 miles of bridging and remaining 
roadway elevated. Alternative 6e is the maximum bridging option and 
involves creating conveyance openings through Tamiami Trail by removing 
5.5 miles of the existing highway and embankment. Four bridges would be 
constructed in the opening to replace the removed section of road and 
maintain vehicle traffic. Bridge down-ramp (access ramps) options were 
also developed for Alternative 6e to maintain access to two commercial 
airboat facilities: Everglades Safari Park and Coopertown. Option 4 
(Modified Parallel Down Ramp) was selected as the preferred option for 
Everglades Safari and Option 5 (Parallel Down Ramp with Existing 
Frontage Road) was selected as the preferred option for Coopertown. 
Alternative 6e would increase ecological connectivity by 5.5 miles, 
reduce flow velocities below the 0.10 feet per second (fps)

[[Page 77897]]

threshold that causes harm to marshes, and substantially restore the 
flow patterns associated with a healthy ridge and slough landscape in 
Northeast Shark River Slough.
     Common to all action alternatives: The remaining highway 
embankments along stretches of the road that are not bridged would be 
reconstructed to raise the crown elevation to 12.3 feet, the minimum 
required based on the design high water of 9.7 feet and the roadway 
cross-section geometry.
    Preferred Alternative: Alternative 6e was determined to be the 
preferred alternative (and environmentally preferable alternative) by 
the NPS and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 
1506.6.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Everglades National Park at 
the address and telephone number shown above.
    The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, NPS, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 
Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: December 2, 2010.
Gordon Wissinger,
Deputy Regional Director, Chief of Staff, Southeast Region, National 
Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31307 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-XH-P

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