Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Wilderness Stewardship Plan for Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, 64091-64093 [2022-22971]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64091-64093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22971]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-ISRO-33985; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a Wilderness Stewardship Plan for Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

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) in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) for a Wilderness Stewardship Plan (WSP) for Isle 
Royale National Park (ISRO or the park).

DATES: The NPS requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis, 
and identification of relevant information, studies, and analyses. All 
comments must be received or postmarked by November 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
will only be accepted at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISROWilderness. 
Information will also be available at Isle Royale National Park, 800 
East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan and by request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Denice Swanke, Isle 
Royale National Park, Wilderness Stewardship Plan, 800 East Lakeshore 
Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, or by telephone at (906) 482-0984, or 
email at [email protected]. Individuals in the United States who 
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may 
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose of this plan is to outline strategies for preserving 
wilderness character, including the treatment of cultural resources in 
wilderness, while also providing for the use and enjoyment of the park 
by current and future generations. This plan would determine 
preservation and use of historic structures in potential and designated 
wilderness.
    The NPS identified the following needs for this WSP/EIS:
     NPS Management Policies 2006 requires that each park 
containing wilderness maintain an up-to-date and approved wilderness 
management plan (NPS 2006, section 6.3.4.2).
     The previous ISRO Backcountry Wilderness Plan and Final 
EIS (2011; no Record of Decision) did not provide a decision for 
treatments and use of historic structures in potential and designated 
wilderness.
     The 1998 General Management Plan (GMP) specified that a 
wilderness and backcountry management plan is needed to guide the 
management of wilderness resources and ensure consistency in such 
management over time.
     Preliminary inventory and monitoring of wilderness and 
backcountry resources indicate a difference between existing conditions 
and desired conditions. Changes in backcountry use, management actions, 
increasing visitation, and associated human-caused adverse impacts 
suggest an underlying need to more proactively manage human activities 
that directly or indirectly affect wilderness conditions.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The NPS's proposed action is to prepare and implement a Wilderness 
Stewardship Plan that provides the park with tools to enhance 
wilderness character with specific emphasis on improving the visitors' 
wilderness experience while maintaining the park's natural and 
wilderness qualities. This proposed action also provides for access 
opportunities consistent with the public purposes of wilderness. 
Treatment of historic structures in wilderness could include: 
preservation, stabilization or mouldering, or demolition.

Actions Common to All Alternatives

     Vegetation Clearing. In select locations, the park may 
clear vegetation around installations and structures for historic 
preservation. Vegetation would continue to be cleared around mine shaft 
fencing. Hazard trees would be removed in the vicinity of Senter Point 
powder house and steam hoist, and limited vegetation removal would be 
performed at Island Mine and Island Mine Cemetery. Vegetation 
overgrowth would be removed to maintain visibility at cemeteries and 
burial sites.
     Damaged or Destroyed Historic Structures. Damaged or 
destroyed historic structures may be removed following NPS Management 
Policies 2006.
     Management of Public Use in Wilderness. The park would 
continue to use boardwalks in order to minimize damage to wetlands and 
other natural wilderness qualities. The park may maintain picnic tables 
in some campgrounds when they are determined necessary for the 
protection of nearby vegetation and soils. Interpretive, educational 
and outreach programs would be provided to encourage park visitors to 
minimize their impacts to park resources and visitor experiences by 
applying the following principles of Leave No Trace.

Actions Common to All Action Alternatives

    The following actions are being considered within the WSP/EIS
     Trail Maintenance. Protecting fragile habitats from 
trampling, trail widening, and erosion as well as minimizing hazardous 
trail conditions would remain a primary objective of trail construction 
and maintenance.
     Administrative Overnight Use of Historic Structures in 
Wilderness (except Amygdaloid and Davidson). Historic structures in 
wilderness or potential wilderness may periodically be utilized for 
administrative overnight

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use by NPS staff, tribal partners, volunteers, park partners, 
researchers, and roving caretakers.
     Fire Management for Historic Structures. The park would 
develop Defensible Spaces standard operating procedures as it relates 
to protecting NPS infrastructure from wildfire.
     Backcountry Office and Processing Fees. A mainland-based 
backcountry office would be established.
     Campground/Campfire Management. Campfires contained within 
designated campfire rings may be allowed in designated areas provided 
that enough down and dead wood is available within a collectable 
distance and campfire rings may be rotated periodically.
     Human Waste Management. Privies would be retained for use 
and the appropriate number and location would be determined through 
this process. Privies are associated with existing campgrounds, 
administrative sites or historic structures and are necessary for the 
health and safety of wilderness users and to limit impacts from human 
waste on the natural quality of wilderness.
     Wilderness Interpretation and Public Signage. The NPS 
would review current signage and limit to only those necessary for 
safety or protection of resources, such as route markers, distance and 
directions, and hazard signage. Some signage would be removed.

Alternative A--No Action Alternative--Current Management

    The ``no-action alternative'' describes the continuation of 
existing management practices as described in the 1998 GMP and as 
implemented through the compendium. The GMP does not include an 
overarching stewardship component designed to enhance wilderness 
character. There would be no formal priority or treatment distinction 
for historic structures in wilderness.

Alternative B--Enhancing Wilderness Character While Improving the 
Visitor Wilderness Experience (Proposed Action)

    Alternative B focuses on enhancing wilderness character with 
specific emphasis on improving the wilderness experience while 
maintaining Isle Royale's natural and untrammeled wilderness qualities. 
This alternative would provide for additional access opportunities 
consistent with the public purposes of wilderness, including additional 
trails, a new campground, and additional campsites in existing 
campgrounds.
    The alternative designates day use group size limitations by zones 
to enhance opportunities for unconfined recreation and solitude, while 
providing opportunities and access for more family groups. The 
alternative would provide flexibility for managers to reroute trails 
and bridges in order to avoid sensitive species and address changes in 
the environment, benefiting Isle Royale's natural quality.
    Isle Royale wilderness includes a number of historic structures, 
most of which are Nationally Significant and listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places. Many of these structures contribute to the 
cultural and historic value of Isle Royale's wilderness. Treatment of 
historic structures in wilderness would include preservation, 
stabilization, mouldering, or demolition.
    Groups of 9 to 12 people would be required to register for group 
campsite reservations in advance. Groups from the same organization 
would not be allowed to camp in the same campground at the same time. 
Tents would be required to be placed within designated tent pads. If a 
group exceeds 12 people they must split into 2 parties, each 
independent and traveling on separate itineraries. Organizations may 
not have more than 24 people camping on the island at one time. The 
park would implement monitoring to determine if changes to the group 
size limits should be adjusted.
    In order to reduce visitor conflict and provide for opportunities 
for solitude in the pristine and backcountry zone, the following day 
use groups size limits would apply:
     Front Country Zone: Group size limit of 40. The Front 
Country Zone includes limited areas within wilderness and most of the 
areas outside of wilderness. Attractions such as Edisen Fishery, 
Scoville Point, Raspberry Island, Passage Island trail, and Suzy's Cave 
are in this zone.
     Wilderness Portal, Backcountry, and Primitive Zone Trails: 
Group size limit of 24 (2 groups of 12 or fewer). This includes most 
trails and campgrounds. Group sizes of up to 40 people would be allowed 
at the following locations: Hidden Lake, Lookout Louise, McCargoe Cove, 
and the Minong.

Alternative C--Enhancing Wilderness Character While Improving Solitude

    Like alternative B, alternative C focuses on enhancing wilderness 
character, but does so by focusing primarily on improving solitude. 
Solitude is generally preserved or improved by management actions that 
reduce visitor encounters, signs of modern civilization inside 
wilderness, facilities, and management restrictions on visitor 
behavior. The alternative emphasizes solitude by decreasing day use 
group size, reducing the number of campsites within campgrounds, 
eliminating trails, allowing winter public use, and implementing a 
camping permit system. The alternative proposes eliminating commercial 
use within Isle Royale wilderness which would enhance solitude through 
reducing visitor encounters with large groups. The alternative would 
also remove shelters and structures in wilderness to improve the 
primitive and unconfined recreation qualities, natural, and undeveloped 
qualities of wilderness character. Like alternative B, historic 
structures in wilderness could be classified for treatment as 
preservation, stabilization, mouldering, or demolition.
    Under this alternative, overnight group size would remain unchanged 
from current conditions (alternative A). Day use group size limits 
would be limited to:
     Front Country Zones: Group size limit of 20. The Front 
Country Zone includes limited areas within wilderness and most of the 
areas outside of wilderness including attractions such as Edisen 
Fishery, Scoville Point, Raspberry Island, Passage Island trail, and 
Suzy's Cave.
     Wilderness Portal, Backcountry, and Primitive Zone: Group 
size limit of 10. This includes most trails and campgrounds. Hidden 
Lake, Lookout Louise, McCargoe Cove and the Minong Mine would be 
exceptions, with group sizes of up to 20 people allowed.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The proposed action alternatives are expected to result in 
improvements to wilderness character. Changes to camping practices, 
including proposed permitting changes, additional trails, and changes 
in campgrounds would improve the opportunity for solitude in the 
wilderness, reduce visitor conflicts and address overcrowding and 
capacity concerns. Some of the alternatives include elements that 
detract from opportunities for unconfined recreation, including 
reservations systems, permitting, designated camping areas, and other 
features associated with campgrounds. However, these generally improve 
other aspects of wilderness character, including the opportunity for 
solitude and they reduce the extent of impacts to natural and cultural 
features in the park. Alternatives including the retention and 
preservation of Nationally Significant historic structures enhance 
cultural and historic values of wilderness. The preservation of these

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structures, however, detract from the undeveloped quality of 
wilderness. Seasonal closure of the Park detracts from the opportunity 
for unconfined wilderness recreation.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    The NPS anticipates informally consulting with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for 
unlikely impacts to threatened and endangered species. The NPS will use 
and coordinate the NEPA public scoping process to help fulfill the 
public involvement requirements under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
    NPS initiated consultation for this undertaking in compliance with 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act regarding the 
treatments of historic properties in wilderness beginning in 2010. 
These consultation efforts and documented meetings will be used to 
inform this effort, as well as continuing consultation efforts.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

     Agencies have two years from the date of the issuance of 
the notice of intent, to the date a record of decision is signed, to 
complete an Environmental Impact Statement (40 CFR 1501.10).
     The NPS expects to make the Draft EIS available to the 
public in Fall 2022.
     After public review and comment, the NPS expects to make 
the Final EIS available to the public in Spring 2023.
     At least 30 days after the Final EIS is available, the 
record of decision will be completed in accordance with applicable 
timeframes established in 40 CFR 1506.11.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. Written comments may be submitted at any 
time during the scoping process. See the ADDRESSES section (above) and 
the Submitting Comments section (below) for more information. There 
will be no public meetings during the public scoping period.

Reasonable Accommodations

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations should contact the park, 
using one of the methods listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section as soon as possible.

Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and 
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action

    The NPS requests possible alternatives, information, and analyses 
from all interested parties. The NPS will consider these comments in 
developing the Draft EIS. Specifically, the NPS is seeking:
     Potential effects that the alternatives could have on 
other aspects of the human environment, including ecological, 
aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, environmental justice, 
or health effects;
     Other possible reasonable alternatives that the NPS should 
consider, including additional or alternative avoidance, minimization, 
and mitigation measures;
     Other information relevant to the Wilderness Stewardship 
Plan and its impacts on the human environment.

Submitting Comments

    If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by the methods 
listed above in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will not be accepted by 
fax, email, or by any method other than those specified above. Bulk 
comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of 
others will not be accepted. Comments must be provided prior to the 
close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the 
reviewer's concerns and contentions.

Public Availability of Comments

    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 identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered.

Decision Maker

    The Decision Maker is the NPS Regional Director for Interior 
Regions 3, 4, and 5.

Termination of 2001 EIS Process

    This notice also terminates the EIS for a Wilderness Management 
Plan initiated by the NPS on October 2, 2001 (66 FR 50207).

Herbert Frost,
Regional Director, DOI Interior Regions 3, 4, and 5.
[FR Doc. 2022-22971 Filed 10-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P