Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Visitor Use Management Plan for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 45231 [2015-18593]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 45231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18593]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NER-DEWA-18330]; [PX.DDEWA0014.001]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Visitor Use Management 
Plan for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Visitor Use Management Plan for Delaware 
Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), in New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania. This effort will examine current and potential visitor 
opportunities and will develop long-term strategies for protecting 
resources while providing access, connecting visitors to key visitor 
experiences, and managing use. The planning process will also involve 
evaluating the zones in the 1987 General Management Plan (GMP), and may 
include updating the zoning scheme as needed through a GMP amendment. 
This notice initiates the public participation and scoping process for 
the EIS. The public is invited to comment on the purpose, need, 
objectives, preliminary management options, or any other issues 
associated with the proposal.

DATES: The public scoping period will commence on the date this notice 
is published in the Federal Register and last for at least 30 days. The 
NPS will hold public meetings near the park and surrounding region to 
provide the public an opportunity to review the proposal and project 
information. The place and time of public scoping meetings will be 
announced by the NPS in local newspapers serving the area. Scoping and 
other periodic public meeting notices and information regarding the 
visitor use management plan will also be placed on the PEPC Web site at 
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/dewa for continuing public review and 
comment.

ADDRESSES: A scoping brochure and other materials describing the 
overall purpose, issues, and possible management strategies may be 
obtained from the PEPC Web site: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/dewa, from 
the national recreation area's Information Desk at Delaware Water Gap 
National Recreation Area, Headquarters, 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 
18324; or via telephone at (570) 426-2452.
    If you wish to comment on the scoping brochure or any other issues 
associated with the Plan, you may mail or hand-deliver comments to 
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Attn: VUM Plan, 1978 River 
Road, Bushkill, PA 18324; or comment via the Internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/dewa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Morlock, Chief of Strategic 
Planning and Project Management, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation 
Area, 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324, telephone (570) 296-6952 
extension 10, or by email at leslie_morlock@nps.gov; or Ericka Pilcher, 
Visitor Use Management Specialist, Denver Service Center Planning 
Division, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Littleton, CO 80228, telephone 
(303) 969-6673, or by email at ericka_pilcher@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In recent years, areas within Delaware Water 
Gap National Recreation Area have experienced changes in the amounts 
and patterns of use by visitors and local residents. This use is 
affecting park natural and cultural resources in ways unanticipated 
since the finalization of the park's General Management Plan in 1987. 
As a result, and pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the NPS is beginning a comprehensive 
planning and environmental impact statement process to determine how 
best to protect park resources and values while providing appropriate 
opportunities for visitor use, experience, and enjoyment of the 
recreation area. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 
encompasses a portion of a national scenic trail and a wild and scenic 
river.
    Several statutes, including the National Parks and Recreation Act, 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and National Trails System Act, expressly 
require federal agencies to address visitor capacity. Therefore, the 
comprehensive understanding of visitor use throughout the park would 
also assist in setting visitor capacities for the river and feed into 
future planning. This Plan will: (1) Be grounded in the recreation 
area's purpose, significance, and fundamental and other important 
resources and values; (2) clearly define the necessary conditions for 
park visitors to understand, enjoy, and appreciate these resources and 
values; (3) identify the desired conditions for visitor experiences 
linked to these resources and values; (4) establish indicators, 
standards, and management strategies for maintaining these desired 
conditions; and (5) establish visitor capacities where needed.
    A range of management strategies, including the potential rezoning 
of some park areas, will be developed to address long term management 
of visitor use and protection of natural and cultural resources in the 
national recreation area. These will be presented for public comment 
during public scoping to help develop alternatives, including a ``no-
action alternative,'' for the Plan. The Plan will also explore 
management approaches that can be adapted to changing conditions, 
identifying indicators and thresholds, develop monitoring systems to 
assure the protection of resources, and continue to provide a quality 
visitor experience.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in any 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.

    Dated: June 1, 2015.
Michael A. Caldwell,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18593 Filed 7-28-15; 8:45 am]
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