Written Determination: Bicycle Use on Visitor Center Connector Trail at Arches National Park, 6362-6363 [2021-01358]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6362-6363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-ARCH-DTS 31211; PPIMCANYA0 PPMPSAS1Z.Y00000 211]


Written Determination: Bicycle Use on Visitor Center Connector 
Trail at Arches National Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service determines that allowing bicycles on 
the newly constructed Visitor Center Connector Trail at Arches National 
Park is consistent with the protection of the Park's natural, scenic 
and aesthetic values, safety considerations and management objectives 
and will not disturb wildlife or Park resources.

DATES: Comments on this written determination must be received by 11:59 
MST on February 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/arch and 
click on the link entitled ``Open for Comment''.
    (2) By hard copy: Mail to Park Superintendent, Arches National 
Park, 2282 S West Resource Blvd., Moab, UT 84532.
    Document Availability: The Visitor Center Connector Trail 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact provide 
information and context for this written determination and are 
available at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=92060.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Trap, Superintendent, Arches 
National Park, (435) 719-2101, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Park Service (NPS) developed an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) that analyzed the impacts of allowing bicycles on a 
newly constructed 0.26-mile-long paved path (Visitor Center Connector 
Trail) that connects a shared use path outside the Arches National Park 
(Park) boundary to the Arches Visitor Center. Published on January 13, 
2020, the EA presented two alternatives for the Park and identified the 
alternative that would allow bicycle use on the path as the NPS 
preferred alternative. The Regional Director for Interior Regions 6, 7, 
and 8 signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on May 13, 2020 
that identified the preferred alternative (Alternative 2) in the EA as 
the selected alternative.
    Prior to designating an existing trail in a developed area for 
bicycle use, NPS regulations at 36 CFR 4.30 require a written 
determination that such use is consistent with the protection of the 
Park's natural, scenic, and aesthetic values, safety considerations and 
management objectives, and will not disturb wildlife or Park resources. 
After the 30-day public review period for this written determination 
and consideration of the comments submitted, the NPS Regional Director 
will evaluate whether to approve the written determination. If the 
written determination is approved by the Regional Director, the 
Superintendent may designate the trail for bicycle use and will provide 
notice of such designation under 36 CFR 1.7.

Written Determination

Park Significance, Purpose and Values

    In 1929, Arches National Monument was established by Presidential 
Proclamation 1875 to protect extraordinary examples of wind erosion in 
the form of gigantic arches, natural bridges, windows, spires, balanced 
rocks, and other unique wind-worn sandstone formations. The Monument

[[Page 6363]]

was enlarged in 1938 by Presidential Proclamation to include protection 
of prehistoric structures of historic and scientific interest. The 
Monument was enlarged two more times in 1960 by Presidential 
Proclamation 3360 and in 1969 by Presidential Proclamation 3887 stating 
that it would be ``in the public interest to add to Arches certain 
contiguous lands on which outstanding geological features of great 
scientific interest are situated and certain other lands adjacent to 
the monument which are essential to the proper care, management, and 
protection of the objects of scientific interest situated on such lands 
and on lands now comprising a part of the monument.'' In 1971, an act 
of Congress (Pub. L. 92-155) changed the designation of the area from a 
National Monument to a National Park and slightly reduced the total 
acreage of the Park. More recently, in 1998, the Park was enlarged 
again by an act of Congress (Pub. L. 105-329). Today, the Park 
encompasses 76,679 acres in southeastern Utah and receives over 1.5 
million annual visitors.
    A formal statement of the purpose and significance of the Park is 
set forth in the 2013 Foundation Document. This document establishes 
the resources and values that warrant designation of the site as a unit 
of the National Park System. The purpose of the Park is to protect 
extraordinary examples of geologic features including arches, natural 
bridges, windows, spires, balanced rocks, as well as other features of 
geologic, historic, and scientific interest and to provide 
opportunities to experience these resources and their associated values 
in their majestic natural settings.
    The Foundation Document also identifies the fundamental resources 
and values that warrant primary consideration during planning and 
management because they are critical to achieving the Park's purpose 
and maintaining its significance. The fundamental resources and values 
for the Park include geologic resources, clean air and scenic vistas, 
Colorado Plateau ecosystems, cultural features, and collaborative 
conservation, science, and scholarship.

Management Objectives

    The Park's General Management Plan (GMP), completed in 1989, 
provides guidance for managing the Park during its development. It 
identifies recreational activities appropriate for different experience 
zones in the Park. Bicycle touring is listed as appropriate in the 
front country sightseeing zone; this zone encompasses the entrance 
road, visitor center, main scenic drive and associated pull-outs, and 
all paved parking areas. Additionally, the GMP outlines five 
interpretive themes, one of which includes safety. When the Park 
entrance road was expanded in 2017, it did not include a shoulder lane 
nor a separate lane for bicyclists or pedestrians. Bicyclists accessing 
the Park from the nearby town of Moab, Utah ride on a shared use path 
for two miles from the trail hub in town and then exit the path and 
enter the Park along the narrow and unsafe shoulder of the 0.625-mile-
long entrance road. Allowing bicycle use on the newly constructed 
Visitor Center Connector Trail would meet the Park's management 
objective to provide safe and enjoyable recreational experiences for 
Park visitors as they access and leave the entrance area.

Wildlife and Park Resources

    The location of the Visitor Center Connector Trail is adjacent to 
the Park boundary, park entrance road, and US Route 191. This area has 
high levels of disturbance due to its proximity to a busy state highway 
and to the entrance road. The EA evaluated the potential impacts to 
Park resources from allowing bicycles on the trail and determined that 
this would have no significant impacts nor impair Park resources or 
values. Given the moderate and highly mobile nature of the majority of 
wildlife species in the area, the already disturbed nature of the area, 
and the narrow footprint of the trail, NPS concluded that the use of 
bicycles on the trail would not disturb wildlife. The NPS expects that 
wildlife encountering bicycles on the trail would disperse into more 
protected areas within the Park where there is preferential habitat.

Natural, Scenic and Aesthetic Values

    Bicycle use on the trail would not affect the Park's natural, 
scenic or aesthetic values because this activity would occur next to a 
busy road along an old transportation corridor (old entrance road) and 
directly adjacent to the existing Park entrance road. The area is 
already subject to visual impacts and noise from US Route 191 and Park 
operations. As a result, bicyclists would not substantially contribute 
to the existing impacts of human-caused sounds and sights in the area. 
Incremental effects would be negligible.

Safety Considerations

    The trail was constructed in accordance with national guidelines 
for shared use paths and therefore is well suited for bicycle use. It 
has an asphalt running surface (2'' asphalt travel surface over 6'' of 
imported base), a minimum path width of ten feet with a two-foot 
shoulder, a five percent maximum running slope grade, and a safety 
railing adjacent to steep slopes. Signage will be installed to warn 
trail users of safety hazards. The trail would provide a much safer 
alternative for bicyclists who now must enter the Park on the narrow 
shoulder of the entrance road. The NPS will monitor activities on the 
trail and make safety-related adjustments, as needed.

Determination

    Based upon the foregoing, the NPS determines that bicycle use on 
the Visitor Center Connector Trail is consistent with the protection of 
the Park's natural, scenic, and aesthetic values, safety 
considerations, and management objectives and will not disturb wildlife 
or Park resources.

Patricia S. Trap,
Superintendent.
[FR Doc. 2021-01358 Filed 1-19-21; 8:45 am]
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