Record of Decision for the Denali Park Road Final Vehicle Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Denali National Park and Preserve, 24232 [2013-09675]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 24, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–AKR–DENA–11706; PPAKAKROZ4,
PPMPSAS1Y.YP0000]
Record of Decision for the Denali Park
Road Final Vehicle Management Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement
for Denali National Park and Preserve
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the
National Park Service (NPS) announces
the availability of a Record of Decision
(ROD) for the Vehicle Management Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement
for Denali National Park and Preserve.
The Vehicle Management Plan
addresses management of all motorized
vehicles on the restricted section of the
Denali Park Road (Mile 15–Mile 90).
This plan amends the vehicle
management aspect of the park’s
General Management Plan (GMP). The
NPS will propose a modification to the
current park-specific regulations in
order to implement these amendments.
The NPS selected Alternative D (NPS
Preferred Alternative), which offers
visitors the opportunity to have a highquality experience using a
transportation system that offers
predictability, efficiency, and variety.
The ROD details the background of the
project, the decision made (selected
alternative), other alternatives
considered, the basis for the decision,
the environmentally preferable
alternative, measures adopted to
minimize environmental harm, and
public involvement in the decision
making process.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD will be
available in an electronic format online
at the NPS Planning, Environmental and
Public Comment Web site at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/dena. Hard
copies and compact discs of the plan/
FEIS are available on request by
contacting: Miriam Valentine, Chief of
Planning, Denali National Park and
Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park,
Alaska, 99755, or by telephone at (907)
733–9102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Miriam Valentine, Chief of Planning,
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O.
Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 99755, or by
telephone at (907) 733–9102.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Vehicle
management on the Denali Park Road,
the primary means of access into Denali
National Park and Preserve, has been
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:05 Apr 23, 2013
Jkt 229001
based on a GMP from 1986 and the
Entrance Area and Road Corridor
Development Plan (a GMP amendment)
completed in 1997.
The purpose of this Vehicle
Management Plan is to provide specific
direction for improved vehicle
management on the restricted section of
the Denali Park Road for approximately
the next 20 years. The plan describes
how the NPS will manage vehicle use
on the Park Road in order to provide
visitors with an opportunity for a highquality experience while protecting
wilderness resources and values, scenic
values, wildlife, and other park
resources; and maintaining the unique
character of the Park Road.
The Notice of Availability for the draft
plan/environmental impact statement
was published in the Federal Register
on August 1, 2011 (FR 45848). Public
meetings were held in Denali Park
(August 23, 2011); Fairbanks (August
31, 2011); and Anchorage (September 7,
2011). Approximately 61 people
attended the meetings. Additionally,
park staff were invited by stakeholder
groups to discuss the draft plan at their
regular meetings. Park staff attended
and presented at approximately six
stakeholder meetings.
The initial 60-day public comment
period, August 1 through September 30,
2011, was extended to October 31, 2011,
in response to numerous requests from
the public and organizations. 324 pieces
of correspondence were received,
containing 889 comments, during the
90-day comment period.
A preferred alternative was not
identified in the draft plan to allow for
refinement of the existing alternatives
based on public input. The preferred
alternative in the final plan addresses
many of the comments and concerns
that were received on the draft plan.
The Notice of Availability for the final
plan/environmental impact statement
was published in the Federal Register
on July 29, 2012 (FR 39253).
The NPS selected Alternative D (NPS
Preferred Alternative). With the
implementation of this alternative the
number of vehicles, their schedules, and
behavior will be managed to meet
visitor demand while maintaining
standards for desired resource
conditions and visitor experience.
Several times each season, key
indicators will be monitored to assess
the success of current traffic levels,
behavior, and patterns to determine
whether the set standards are being met.
Comprehensive monitoring will also
be conducted at regular intervals to
specifically address the impacts of
traffic on wildlife, wilderness, and the
visitor experience. A Before-After
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Control Impact (BACI) study will be
conducted within the first five years of
the plan’s implementation to affirm the
selection of key indicators and to
distinguish impacts due to changes in
current traffic patterns and traffic levels.
Data from long-term inventory and
monitoring programs may also be used
to evaluate whether changes in the
resource condition are occurring.
In addition to managing for desired
conditions, the maximum level of
vehicle use on the restricted section of
the Park Road will be 160 vehicles per
24-hour period. This limit includes all
motor vehicles counted westbound at
the Savage River Check Station. The
160-vehicle limit is derived from traffic
model simulation results and extensive
scientific research on visitor preferences
and resource condition.
Dated: February 14, 2013.
Joel L. Hard,
Deputy Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2013–09675 Filed 4–23–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–EF–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NRNHL–12729;
PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000]
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 30, 2013.
Pursuant to section 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 May 9, 2013. Before including your
address, phone number, email 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
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 24232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09675]
[[Page 24232]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-AKR-DENA-11706; PPAKAKROZ4, PPMPSAS1Y.YP0000]
Record of Decision for the Denali Park Road Final Vehicle
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Denali National
Park and Preserve
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces
the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Vehicle
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Denali National
Park and Preserve. The Vehicle Management Plan addresses management of
all motorized vehicles on the restricted section of the Denali Park
Road (Mile 15-Mile 90). This plan amends the vehicle management aspect
of the park's General Management Plan (GMP). The NPS will propose a
modification to the current park-specific regulations in order to
implement these amendments. The NPS selected Alternative D (NPS
Preferred Alternative), which offers visitors the opportunity to have a
high-quality experience using a transportation system that offers
predictability, efficiency, and variety. The ROD details the background
of the project, the decision made (selected alternative), other
alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the
environmentally preferable alternative, measures adopted to minimize
environmental harm, and public involvement in the decision making
process.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD will be available in an electronic format
online at the NPS Planning, Environmental and Public Comment Web site
at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/dena. Hard copies and compact discs of
the plan/FEIS are available on request by contacting: Miriam Valentine,
Chief of Planning, Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9,
Denali Park, Alaska, 99755, or by telephone at (907) 733-9102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miriam Valentine, Chief of Planning,
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska
99755, or by telephone at (907) 733-9102.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Vehicle management on the Denali Park Road,
the primary means of access into Denali National Park and Preserve, has
been based on a GMP from 1986 and the Entrance Area and Road Corridor
Development Plan (a GMP amendment) completed in 1997.
The purpose of this Vehicle Management Plan is to provide specific
direction for improved vehicle management on the restricted section of
the Denali Park Road for approximately the next 20 years. The plan
describes how the NPS will manage vehicle use on the Park Road in order
to provide visitors with an opportunity for a high-quality experience
while protecting wilderness resources and values, scenic values,
wildlife, and other park resources; and maintaining the unique
character of the Park Road.
The Notice of Availability for the draft plan/environmental impact
statement was published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2011 (FR
45848). Public meetings were held in Denali Park (August 23, 2011);
Fairbanks (August 31, 2011); and Anchorage (September 7, 2011).
Approximately 61 people attended the meetings. Additionally, park staff
were invited by stakeholder groups to discuss the draft plan at their
regular meetings. Park staff attended and presented at approximately
six stakeholder meetings.
The initial 60-day public comment period, August 1 through
September 30, 2011, was extended to October 31, 2011, in response to
numerous requests from the public and organizations. 324 pieces of
correspondence were received, containing 889 comments, during the 90-
day comment period.
A preferred alternative was not identified in the draft plan to
allow for refinement of the existing alternatives based on public
input. The preferred alternative in the final plan addresses many of
the comments and concerns that were received on the draft plan. The
Notice of Availability for the final plan/environmental impact
statement was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2012 (FR
39253).
The NPS selected Alternative D (NPS Preferred Alternative). With
the implementation of this alternative the number of vehicles, their
schedules, and behavior will be managed to meet visitor demand while
maintaining standards for desired resource conditions and visitor
experience. Several times each season, key indicators will be monitored
to assess the success of current traffic levels, behavior, and patterns
to determine whether the set standards are being met.
Comprehensive monitoring will also be conducted at regular
intervals to specifically address the impacts of traffic on wildlife,
wilderness, and the visitor experience. A Before-After Control Impact
(BACI) study will be conducted within the first five years of the
plan's implementation to affirm the selection of key indicators and to
distinguish impacts due to changes in current traffic patterns and
traffic levels. Data from long-term inventory and monitoring programs
may also be used to evaluate whether changes in the resource condition
are occurring.
In addition to managing for desired conditions, the maximum level
of vehicle use on the restricted section of the Park Road will be 160
vehicles per 24-hour period. This limit includes all motor vehicles
counted westbound at the Savage River Check Station. The 160-vehicle
limit is derived from traffic model simulation results and extensive
scientific research on visitor preferences and resource condition.
Dated: February 14, 2013.
Joel L. Hard,
Deputy Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2013-09675 Filed 4-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-EF-P
