Record of Decision; Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI, 59159 [2011-24555]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 59159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Record of Decision; Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability for the Record of Decision on the Final 
General Management Plan/Wilderness Management Plan/Final Environmental 
Impact Statement, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service 
(NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General 
Management Plan (GMP)/Wilderness Management Plan for Apostle Islands 
National Lakeshore, Wisconsin. On June 24, 2011, the Regional Director 
for the NPS Midwest Region approved the ROD for the Final GMP/EIS. As 
soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement the selected 
alternative.

ADDRESSES: The ROD will be available for public inspection via the 
Internet through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web 
site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/apis, or by writing to Ms. Julie 
Van Stappen, Chief of Planning and Resource Management, Apostle Islands 
National Lakeshore, 415 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, Wisconsin 54814; 
telephone: 715-779-3398, extension 211. Copies also can be picked-up in 
person at the park's headquarters at 415 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, 
Wisconsin.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the selected alternative the park's 
current management direction will continue with some minor changes to 
increase the opportunities for more people to have an island 
experience. Preservation of natural and cultural resources will remain 
a top priority. The current mix of recreational activities will stay 
the same and the visitor experience in most of the park will stay 
largely as it is. Management of the wilderness area will continue 
largely the way it is now. The Raspberry Island light station will 
continue to be the focal point for cultural resource interpretation and 
its cultural landscape will be rehabilitated consistent with plans 
developed but never implemented prior to the light station restoration. 
Wilderness management will remain consistent with current direction, 
with no net change in campsite numbers or trail miles, with the 
exception of the Oak Island group campsite which will be relocated 
outside of wilderness, and the original site restored. The NPS will 
continue to have visitor centers at Bayfield, Little Sand Bay, Stockton 
Island, and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. The NPS will 
continue to be a leader in sustainable practices at Apostle Islands 
National Lakeshore.

Key Changes in the Selected Action Include

     Two or more light stations will be restored or 
rehabilitated, similar to the Raspberry Island light station, and the 
rest will continue to be preserved at current levels.
     If feasible, part of the Long Island light station will be 
rehabilitated for park staff housing to better protect and interpret 
the resources of Long Island.
     If life estates on Sand or Rocky Island naturally expire 
within the life of this plan, historically significant structures will 
be preserved and interpreted.
     If feasible, additional transportation opportunities will 
be sought to encourage visitors to come to some of the inner islands, 
such as Basswood or Sand islands; some additional visitor facilities 
will be developed on these islands, including day use areas, new 
trails, and campsites.
     Most of the Stockton Island campground will be relocated 
to Presque Isle; however, a few campsites will be maintained on the 
north end of the current campground.
     There will be no change in the number of public docks in 
the park, but some docks will be relocated, improved, or expanded.
     The Bayfield visitor center will be relocated to a new 
location closer to the water to improve contact with visitors and to be 
co-located, if possible, with the park's primary maintenance and an 
operations center; the park headquarters will remain in the old 
Bayfield County Courthouse.
     The Little Sand Bay Visitor Center, currently in poor 
condition and not cost-effective to renovate, will be replaced with a 
smaller, more sustainable structure that offers the same level of 
visitor services as today and honors the site's rich history. The 
restored fishing boat ``Twilite'' will be a featured exhibit.
     A new ranger station and accessible beach ramp will be 
developed at Meyers Beach.
    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 preferable 
alternative, a finding of no impairment of park resources and values, 
and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Julie Van Stappen, Chief of 
Planning and Resource Management, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, 
415 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, Wisconsin 54814, or by calling 715-
779-3198, extension 211.

    Dated: June 27, 2011.
Michael T. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-24555 Filed 9-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-97-P