Everglades General Management Plan/East Everglades Wilderness Study, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National Park, Florida, 52337 [2015-21358]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Notices Dated: August 3, 2015. Michael A. Caldwell, Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service. Park Planner, Fred Herling, at the address and telephone number shown above, or via email at Fred_Herling@ nps.gov. [FR Doc. 2015–21357 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping for the GMP was initiated in 2003. The EEWS was added to the scope of the project in 2006. Public meetings, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR five newsletters, and internet updates kept the public informed and involved National Park Service throughout the planning process. The [NPS–SER–EVER–16068; PXPD078991D001] Draft GMP/EEWS/EIS was distributed to other agencies, interested organizations, Everglades General Management Plan/ and individuals for their review and East Everglades Wilderness Study, comment in February of 2013. Nine Final Environmental Impact Statement, public meetings and many additional Everglades National Park, Florida stakeholder meetings were held on the draft plan in southern Florida. A AGENCY: National Park Service, wilderness hearing was held as part of Department of the Interior. each of the public meetings. ACTION: Notice of Availability. The draft document was revised as a result of public and agency feedback SUMMARY: The National Park Service received during the public comment (NPS) announces the availability of a period. The Final GMP/EEWS/EIS Final Environmental Impact Statement provides a framework for management, for the General Management Plan/East Everglades Wilderness Study (EIS/GMP/ use, and development options of the national park for the next 20 or more EEWS) for Everglades National Park, years. The EIS presents and analyzes the Florida. The last comprehensive environmental impacts of four planning effort for Everglades National alternatives: alternative 1 (no action), Park was completed in 1979. Much has changed since then—patterns and types alternative 2, the NPS preferred alternative and alternative 4. of visitor use have changed, the (Alternative 3 was dismissed from Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was approved, and in 1989 the East detailed analysis.) The alternatives Everglades Addition (109,506 acres) was present a range of resource protection directions, visitor opportunities, visitor added to restore Northeast Shark River facilities, and proposed wilderness. Slough. Recent studies have enhanced • Alternative 1 (no action) provides a the NPS’s understanding of resources, baseline for evaluating changes and resource threats, and visitor use in the impacts of the three action alternatives. national park. This GMP will provide Under this alternative the current updated management direction for the management framework would continue entire park, including the East and no wilderness would be proposed Everglades Addition. The EEWS for the East Everglades Addition. provides a forum for evaluating lands • Alternative 2 would strive to within the East Everglades Addition for maintain and enhance visitor possible recommendation to Congress opportunities and protect natural for inclusion in the national wilderness systems while preserving many preservation system. traditional routes and ways of visitor DATES: The NPS will execute a Record access. It proposes 39,500 acres for of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 designation as wilderness within the days following publication by the East Everglades Addition. Environmental Protection Agency‘s • The NPS preferred alternative, Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in would support restoration of natural the Federal Register. systems while providing improved ADDRESSES: The document will be opportunities for quality visitor available for public review online at experiences. It proposes about 42,200 www.parkplanning.nps.gov/ever. A acres for designation as wilderness and limited number of CDs and hard copies about 43,100 acres for designation as will be made available at Everglades potential wilderness within the East National Park headquarters. You may Everglades Addition. Elements of this request a copy by contacting alternative would support the resilience Supervisory Park Planner, Fred Herling, of the Everglades National Park to at Everglades National Park, 40001 State climate change concerns, such as sea Road 93363, Homestead, FL 33034; level rise, coastal erosion, and higher telephone 305–242–7704. storm surges, all of which may affect cultural and natural resources as well as FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: visitor experience at the park. Everglades National Park Supervisory Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:19 Aug 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52337 • Alternative 4 would provide a high level of support for protecting natural systems while improving opportunities for certain types of visitor activities. Alternative 4 would eliminate commercial airboat tours within the park. It proposes 42,700 acres for designation as wilderness and 59,400 acres for designation as potential wilderness within the East Everglades Addition. The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional Director, Southeast Region, NPS 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Dated: August 6, 2015. Barclay C. Trimble, Acting, Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2015–21358 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JD–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR03042000, 15XR0680A1, RX.18786000.1501100] Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection (OMB Control Number 1006–0014) Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: We, the Bureau of Reclamation, have forwarded the following Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Lower Colorado River Well Inventory, OMB Control Number 1006– 0014. The Information Collection Request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost burden. DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove this information collection request, but may respond after 30 days; therefore, public comments must be received on or before September 28, 2015. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, via facsimile to (202) 395–5806, or email to oira_submission@ omb.eop.gov. A copy of your comments should also be directed to Paul Matuska, Water Accounting and Verification Group Manager, LC–4200, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Office, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 52337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SER-EVER-16068; PXPD078991D001]


Everglades General Management Plan/East Everglades Wilderness 
Study, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National Park, 
Florida

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan/
East Everglades Wilderness Study (EIS/GMP/EEWS) for Everglades National 
Park, Florida. The last comprehensive planning effort for Everglades 
National Park was completed in 1979. Much has changed since then--
patterns and types of visitor use have changed, the Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan was approved, and in 1989 the East 
Everglades Addition (109,506 acres) was added to restore Northeast 
Shark River Slough. Recent studies have enhanced the NPS's 
understanding of resources, resource threats, and visitor use in the 
national park. This GMP will provide updated management direction for 
the entire park, including the East Everglades Addition. The EEWS 
provides a forum for evaluating lands within the East Everglades 
Addition for possible recommendation to Congress for inclusion in the 
national wilderness preservation system.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency`s 
Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review online at 
www.parkplanning.nps.gov/ever. A limited number of CDs and hard copies 
will be made available at Everglades National Park headquarters. You 
may request a copy by contacting Supervisory Park Planner, Fred 
Herling, at Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 93363, 
Homestead, FL 33034; telephone 305-242-7704.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Everglades National Park Supervisory 
Park Planner, Fred Herling, at the address and telephone number shown 
above, or via email at Fred_Herling@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping for the GMP was initiated in 
2003. The EEWS was added to the scope of the project in 2006. Public 
meetings, five newsletters, and internet updates kept the public 
informed and involved throughout the planning process. The Draft GMP/
EEWS/EIS was distributed to other agencies, interested organizations, 
and individuals for their review and comment in February of 2013. Nine 
public meetings and many additional stakeholder meetings were held on 
the draft plan in southern Florida. A wilderness hearing was held as 
part of each of the public meetings.
    The draft document was revised as a result of public and agency 
feedback received during the public comment period. The Final GMP/EEWS/
EIS provides a framework for management, use, and development options 
of the national park for the next 20 or more years. The EIS presents 
and analyzes the environmental impacts of four alternatives: 
alternative 1 (no action), alternative 2, the NPS preferred alternative 
and alternative 4. (Alternative 3 was dismissed from detailed 
analysis.) The alternatives present a range of resource protection 
directions, visitor opportunities, visitor facilities, and proposed 
wilderness.
     Alternative 1 (no action) provides a baseline for 
evaluating changes and impacts of the three action alternatives. Under 
this alternative the current management framework would continue and no 
wilderness would be proposed for the East Everglades Addition.
     Alternative 2 would strive to maintain and enhance visitor 
opportunities and protect natural systems while preserving many 
traditional routes and ways of visitor access. It proposes 39,500 acres 
for designation as wilderness within the East Everglades Addition.
     The NPS preferred alternative, would support restoration 
of natural systems while providing improved opportunities for quality 
visitor experiences. It proposes about 42,200 acres for designation as 
wilderness and about 43,100 acres for designation as potential 
wilderness within the East Everglades Addition. Elements of this 
alternative would support the resilience of the Everglades National 
Park to climate change concerns, such as sea level rise, coastal 
erosion, and higher storm surges, all of which may affect cultural and 
natural resources as well as visitor experience at the park.
     Alternative 4 would provide a high level of support for 
protecting natural systems while improving opportunities for certain 
types of visitor activities. Alternative 4 would eliminate commercial 
airboat tours within the park. It proposes 42,700 acres for designation 
as wilderness and 59,400 acres for designation as potential wilderness 
within the East Everglades Addition.
    The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, NPS 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: August 6, 2015.
Barclay C. Trimble,
Acting, Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-21358 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JD-P

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