Record of Decision for the Nabesna Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 20843 [2012-8364]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices survey, in accordance with 43 CFR 4.450–2, of the above plats is received prior to the date of official filing, the filing will be stayed pending consideration of the protest. A plat will not be officially filed until the day after all protests have been dismissed and become final or appeals from the dismissal affirmed. A person or party who wishes to protest against any of these surveys must file a written protest with the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Director stating that they wish to protest. A statement of reasons for a protest may be filed with the Notice of protest to the State Director or the statement of reasons must be filed with the State Director within thirty (30) days after the protest is filed. Robert A. Casias, Deputy State Director, Cadastral Survey/ GeoSciences. [FR Doc. 2012–8312 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–AKR–WRST–0112–9413; 98651C01SZP] Record of Decision for the Nabesna Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve National Park Service, Interior. Notice of availability of a record of decision for the Nabesna Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) that documents decisions regarding off-road vehicle management in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The ROD describes the management actions, trail improvements, regulations, and mitigation (including monitoring) that will implement Alternative 6, identified in the FEIS as the preferred alternative. The ROD also describes the rationale used in making the decision and identifies the environmentally preferable alternative. The ROD includes a recommendation for the reclassification of eligible wilderness, which was approved by the NPS mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Apr 05, 2012 Jkt 226001 Director on January 18, 2012. The reclassification resulted in a net gain of 16,929 acres of eligible wilderness in the analysis area. ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD will be available for public review at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/wrst. Hard copies are available at park headquarters (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway, Copper Center, Alaska) or may be requested from Bruce Rogers, Project Manager, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ROD describes management actions necessary for managing off-road vehicles (ORVs) for recreational and subsistence use on trails in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The trails were in existence at the time the 13.2-million-acre park and preserve was established in 1980. Beginning in 1983, the park issued permits for recreational ORV use of these established trails, initially in accordance with 36 CFR 13.14(c), which was replaced by 43 CFR 36.11(g)(2) in 1986. The trails also provide for subsistence ORV use and access to inholdings. On June 29, 2006, the National Parks Conservation Association, Alaska Center for the Environment, and The Wilderness Society filed a lawsuit against 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. They challenged the NPS issuance of recreational ORV permits, asserting that NPS failed to make the required finding that recreational 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 ORV use as required by NEPA. In the May 15, 2007, settlement agreement, NPS agreed to endeavor to complete an EIS and ROD by December 31, 2010 (this was extended to December 31, 2011). A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in August 2010 and made available for a 90-day public comment period. During the 90-day public comment period, five public meetings were held in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Tok, Slana, and Copper Center, Alaska. The NPS received 153 comment letters from various agencies, organizations, and individuals. In response to public comment, the FEIS analyzed a sixth alternative that was identified as the NPS preferred alternative and that combined elements PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 20843 of Alternatives 4 and 5 from the DEIS. Additionally, the FEIS responded to substantive comments in Chapter 5 and numerous changes were made in the FEIS as a result of public comment. The FEIS considered a reasonable range of alternatives based on project purpose and need and considering park resources and values, and public input. Alternative 6 was identified as the NPS preferred alternative. All trails would be improved to at least a maintainable condition. After trail improvement, recreational ORV use would be permitted on trails in the national preserve (Suslota, Caribou Creek, Trail Creek, Lost Creek, Soda Lake, and Reeve Field) but not on trails in the national park (Boomerang, Tanada Lake, and Copper Lake). Subsistence ORV use would be subject to monitoring and adaptive management steps and would be confined to designated trail corridors in park wilderness. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Rogers, Project Manager, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573. Telephone: 907–822– 7276. Tim A. Hudson, Acting Regional Director, Alaska. [FR Doc. 2012–8364 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–0412–9934; 2200– 3200–665] National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions Nominations for the following properties being considered for listing or related actions in the National Register were received by the National Park Service before March 17, 2012. Pursuant to § 60.13 of 36 CFR Part 60, written comments are being accepted concerning the significance of the nominated properties under the National Register criteria for evaluation. Comments may be forwarded by United States Postal Service, to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., MS 2280, Washington, DC 20240; by all other carriers, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye St. NW., 8th Floor, Washington DC 20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written or faxed comments should be submitted by April 23, 2012. Before including your E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8364]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-AKR-WRST-0112-9413; 98651C01SZP]


Record of Decision for the Nabesna Off-Road Vehicle Management 
Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Wrangell-St. Elias 
National Park and Preserve

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a record of decision for the Nabesna 
Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS), Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces 
the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) that documents decisions 
regarding off-road vehicle management in the Nabesna District of 
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The ROD describes the 
management actions, trail improvements, regulations, and mitigation 
(including monitoring) that will implement Alternative 6, identified in 
the FEIS as the preferred alternative. The ROD also describes the 
rationale used in making the decision and identifies the 
environmentally preferable alternative. The ROD includes a 
recommendation for the reclassification of eligible wilderness, which 
was approved by the NPS Director on January 18, 2012. The 
reclassification resulted in a net gain of 16,929 acres of eligible 
wilderness in the analysis area.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD will be available for public review at 
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/wrst. Hard copies are available at park 
headquarters (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Mile 106.8 
Richardson Highway, Copper Center, Alaska) or may be requested from 
Bruce Rogers, Project Manager, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and 
Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ROD describes management actions 
necessary for managing off-road vehicles (ORVs) for recreational and 
subsistence use on trails in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias 
National Park and Preserve. The trails were in existence at the time 
the 13.2-million-acre park and preserve was established in 1980. 
Beginning in 1983, the park issued permits for recreational ORV use of 
these established trails, initially in accordance with 36 CFR 13.14(c), 
which was replaced by 43 CFR 36.11(g)(2) in 1986. The trails also 
provide for subsistence ORV use and access to inholdings. On June 29, 
2006, the National Parks Conservation Association, Alaska Center for 
the Environment, and The Wilderness Society filed a lawsuit against 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. They challenged the NPS issuance of recreational ORV 
permits, asserting that NPS failed to make the required finding that 
recreational 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 ORV use as required by NEPA.
    In the May 15, 2007, settlement agreement, NPS agreed to endeavor 
to complete an EIS and ROD by December 31, 2010 (this was extended to 
December 31, 2011).
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in 
August 2010 and made available for a 90-day public comment period. 
During the 90-day public comment period, five public meetings were held 
in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Tok, Slana, and Copper Center, Alaska. The NPS 
received 153 comment letters from various agencies, organizations, and 
individuals. In response to public comment, the FEIS analyzed a sixth 
alternative that was identified as the NPS preferred alternative and 
that combined elements of Alternatives 4 and 5 from the DEIS. 
Additionally, the FEIS responded to substantive comments in Chapter 5 
and numerous changes were made in the FEIS as a result of public 
comment. The FEIS considered a reasonable range of alternatives based 
on project purpose and need and considering park resources and values, 
and public input.
    Alternative 6 was identified as the NPS preferred alternative. All 
trails would be improved to at least a maintainable condition. After 
trail improvement, recreational ORV use would be permitted on trails in 
the national preserve (Suslota, Caribou Creek, Trail Creek, Lost Creek, 
Soda Lake, and Reeve Field) but not on trails in the national park 
(Boomerang, Tanada Lake, and Copper Lake). Subsistence ORV use would be 
subject to monitoring and adaptive management steps and would be 
confined to designated trail corridors in park wilderness.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Rogers, Project Manager, 
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper 
Center, Alaska 99573. Telephone: 907-822-7276.

Tim A. Hudson,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2012-8364 Filed 4-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-HC-P
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