Evaluation and Authorization Procedures for Fixed Anchors and Fixed Equipment in National Park Service Wilderness Areas, 80333-80334 [2023-25142]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices regulations (43 CFR 46), and the DOI’s Departmental Manual (516 DM 8.5(C)(2)). To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. Proposed Project The applicants request a 50-year ITP to take ABM by converting approximately 1.24 acre (ac) of occupied ABM foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to the construction of a 29unit multifamily development located on two parcels totaling 1.50 ac in Baldwin County, Alabama. The western parcel has already been developed (0.26 ac) and the remaining portion of the project area (1.24 ac) is ABM habitat. Even though the parcels consist of highly degraded secondary dune habitat, it is occupied by ABM. The applicants proposed to mitigate for the take of the ABM through a contribution to the City of Gulf Shores Dune Enhancement Fund at a rate of $250 per unit ($7,250 annually) for the life of the permit (50 years). Contributions to the Gulf Shores Dune Enhancement Fund are directed towards the maintenance of suitable dune habitat for the ABM within the Gulf Shores City jurisdiction. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Our Preliminary Determination The Service has made a preliminary determination that the applicants’ project, including land clearing, infrastructure building, landscaping, and the proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would individually and cumulatively have a minor effect on the Alabama beach mouse and the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily determined that the proposed ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit would be a low-effect ITP that individually or cumulatively would have a minor effect on the Alabama beach mouse and may qualify for application of a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations, DOI’s NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. A low-effect incidental take permit is one that would result in (1) minor or nonsignificant effects on species covered in the HCP; (2) nonsignificant effects on the human environment; and (3) impacts that, when added together with the impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions, would not result in significant cumulative effects to the human environment. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:57 Nov 16, 2023 Jkt 262001 Next Steps Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made available to the public. While you may request that we withhold your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.32) and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508 and 43 CFR 46). William J. Pearson, Field Supervisor, Alabama Ecological Service Field Office. [FR Doc. 2023–25435 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–VRP–WS–NPS36769; PPWOVPADW0–244–PPMPRLE1Y.LB0000] Evaluation and Authorization Procedures for Fixed Anchors and Fixed Equipment in National Park Service Wilderness Areas National Park Service, Interior. Notice of availability; request for comment. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a draft Wilderness Stewardship Reference Manual 41 guidance governing the management of climbing activities in wilderness areas in the National Park System. We invite comments from the public, and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies. SUMMARY: Frm 00065 We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 11:59 p.m. ET on January 16, 2024. ADDRESSES: Document availability: The draft guidance is available online at: https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/RM41_fixed_ anchors. Comment Submission: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: • Electronically: https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/RM41_fixed_ anchors. • Mail or hand deliver to: Fixed Anchors, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, MS–2457 Washington, DC 20240. Instructions: Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any way other than those specified above. Comments delivered on external electronic storage devices (flash drives, compact discs, etc.) will not be accepted. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Semler, Wilderness Stewardship Division Manager, National Park Service, (202–430–7615), fixed_ anchors@nps.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: The Service will evaluate the application and the comments received to determine whether to issue the requested permit. We will also conduct an intra-Service consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA to evaluate the effects of the proposed take on the species. We will consider all of the above in determining whether the permit issuance criteria of section 10(a)(l)(B) of the ESA have been met. If met, the Service will issue ITP number PER4215073 to Christopher Johnson and Gator Wood Properties, LLC. PO 00000 80333 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Background The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964 and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System ‘‘ . . . for the permanent good of the whole people.’’ The Wilderness Act directs Federal land management agencies, including the NPS, to manage wilderness areas and preserve wilderness character. To support the mandates of the Wilderness Act, the NPS developed specific policies to address wilderness management and stewardship. NPS Management Policies 2006, Chapter 6, and Director’s Order 41 (2013) help managers understand why wilderness is important and how they can effectively manage these areas to preserve wilderness character. The Wilderness Stewardship Reference Manual 41 (RM 41) expands on policies for managing wilderness and offers comprehensive guidance to NPS employees responsible for managing and preserving wilderness character and the wilderness resource throughout the National Park System. RM41 addresses the management of recreational climbing activities in wilderness, including the evaluation and authorization process for fixed anchors and fixed equipment associated with climbing activities in NPS administered wilderness areas. E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1 80334 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices The NPS updates Reference Manuals on a periodic basis to improve park administration. In response to the growing popularity of climbing on public lands, coupled with concerns regarding increasing impacts to wilderness resources and character, the NPS has identified the need to update its policy to provide consistent guidance to park managers and engage the public to help make informed decisions regarding climbing activities in wilderness areas. For these reasons, the NPS has drafted a proposed guidance for inclusion in RM 41 to provide a more comprehensive and consistent framework for evaluating potential actions taken by national parks to authorize the placement and replacement of fixed anchors and fixed equipment for recreational climbing in NPS wilderness areas. This includes guidance for implementing a minimum requirements analysis (MRA) to determine whether fixed anchors are necessary to preserve wilderness character and further wilderness values, including recreation. The guidance will clarify NPS policy on the management of climbing activities in wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(c)). khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Tribal Consultation As expressed in Executive Order 13175, ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,’’ the Department is committed to honoring the unique government-to-government political relationship that exists between the Federal Government and federally recognized Indian Tribes as listed at 87 FR 4636 (January 28, 2022). Secretary of the Interior Order No. 3403 (November 15, 2021) affirmed the principle that the Native Hawaiian Community has a government-tosovereign relationship with the Federal Government and uses Native Hawaiian organizations as its informal representatives. Consistent with these commitments and principles, the NPS initiated Tribal consultation in March 2023. The NPS held three virtual Tribal consultation sessions and accepted written comments from Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations for 71 days. The NPS developed this draft guidance after consulting with federally recognized Indian Tribes, and the guidance reflects Tribal input. Michael P. Michener, Deputy Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2023–25142 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:57 Nov 16, 2023 Jkt 262001 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 337–TA–1328] Certain Pillows and Seat Cushions, Components Thereof, and Packaging Thereof; Notice of a Commission Determination To Issue a General Exclusion Order, a Limited Exclusion Order, and Cease and Desist Orders; Termination of Investigation U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has determined to issue a limited exclusion order (‘‘LEO’’) directed to Foshan Dirani Design Furniture Co., Ltd. (‘‘Dirani Design’’) barring entry of certain pillows and seat cushions, components thereof, and packaging thereof that infringe certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,863,837 (‘‘the ’837 patent’’); a general exclusion order (‘‘GEO’’) barring entry of certain pillows and seat cushions, components thereof, and packaging thereof that infringe certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,772,445 (‘‘the ’445 patent’’); and cease and desist orders (‘‘CDOs’’) directed to respondents Dirani Design, Dongguan Jingrui Silicone Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Lydia Sports Goods Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Leadfar Industry Co., Ltd. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward S. Jou, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–3316. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email EDIS3Help@usitc.gov. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205–1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation on September 13, 2022, based on a complaint (the ‘‘Complaint’’) filed by Purple Innovation, LLC of Lehi, Utah (the ‘‘Complainant’’). 87 FR 56086–88 (Sept. 13, 2022). The Complaint alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, based upon the importation, the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation of certain pillows and seat cushions, components thereof, and packaging thereof by reason of infringement of the sole claim of U.S. Design Patent No. D909,092 (‘‘the D’092 patent’’); claims 1–16, 18, 19, 21–33, and 35 of U.S. Patent No. 10,772,445 (‘‘the ’445 patent’’); claims 1–4, 6, 10–12, 19, and 20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,863,837 (‘‘the ’837 patent’’); U.S. Trademark Registration No. 5,661,556 (‘‘the ’556 mark’’); and U.S. Trademark Registration No. 6,551,053 (‘‘the ’053 mark’’). Id. at 56086–87. The Complaint further alleged the existence of a domestic industry. Id. The Complaint also alleged violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, or sale of certain products identified above by reason of trade dress infringement, the threat or effect of which is to destroy or substantially injure an industry in the United States. Id. The Commission’s notice of investigation named forty-one (41) respondents: Bedmate-U Co., Ltd. (‘‘Bedmate-U’’) of Gyeonggi-do, Korea; Chuang Fan Handicraft Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang, China; Dongguan Bounce Technology Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, China; Dongguan Jingrui Silicone Technology Co., Ltd. (‘‘Dongguan Jingrui’’) of Guangdong, China; Dirani Design of Guangdong, China; Global Ocean Trading Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, China; Guang An Shi Lin Chen Zai Sheng Wuzi Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang, China; Guang Zhou Wen Jie Shang Mao Youxian Gongsi Co., Ltd. of Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Epsilon Import and Export Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, China; Guangzhoushi Baixiangguo Keji Youxian Gongsi Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, China; Haircrafters LLC of Chattanooga, TN; Hangzhou Lishang Import & Export Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang, China; Hangzhou Lydia Sports Goods Co., Ltd. (‘‘Hangzhou Lydia’’) of Zhejiang, China; Hebei Zeyong Technology Co., Ltd. of Hebei, China; Henson Holdings, LLC (‘‘Henson Holdings’’) of Lafayette, Louisiana; Hetaibao of Anhui, China; Hubei Sheng Bingyi Dianzi Keji Youxian Gongsi Co., Ltd. of Hubei, China; Kaifeng Shi Long Ting Qu Chen Yi Shangmao Youxian Gongsi Co. Ltd. of Henan, China; Lankao Junchang Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd. of Henan, China; Lei Lei Wang of Anhui, China; Liu Lin Xian Xu Bin Dian Zi Chan Pin Dian of Shanxi, China; Nanchang Shirong Bao Er Guanggao Youxian Gongsi Co., Ltd. of Jiangxi, China; Ningbo Bolian Import & Export Co., Ltd. (‘‘Ningbo Bolian’’) of Beijing E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80333-80334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25142]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-VRP-WS-NPS36769; PPWOVPADW0-244-PPMPRLE1Y.LB0000]


Evaluation and Authorization Procedures for Fixed Anchors and 
Fixed Equipment in National Park Service Wilderness Areas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a draft Wilderness Stewardship Reference Manual 41 guidance governing 
the management of climbing activities in wilderness areas in the 
National Park System. We invite comments from the public, and local, 
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
11:59 p.m. ET on January 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Document availability: The draft guidance is available online at: 
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RM41_fixed_anchors.
    Comment Submission: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Electronically: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RM41_fixed_anchors.
     Mail or hand deliver to: Fixed Anchors, National Park 
Service, 1849 C Street NW, MS-2457 Washington, DC 20240.
    Instructions: Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in 
any way other than those specified above. Comments delivered on 
external electronic storage devices (flash drives, compact discs, etc.) 
will not be accepted. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or 
electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Semler, Wilderness Stewardship 
Division Manager, National Park Service, (202-430-7615), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964 and signed into law by 
President Lyndon B. Johnson. This Act established the National 
Wilderness Preservation System `` . . . for the permanent good of the 
whole people.'' The Wilderness Act directs Federal land management 
agencies, including the NPS, to manage wilderness areas and preserve 
wilderness character. To support the mandates of the Wilderness Act, 
the NPS developed specific policies to address wilderness management 
and stewardship. NPS Management Policies 2006, Chapter 6, and 
Director's Order 41 (2013) help managers understand why wilderness is 
important and how they can effectively manage these areas to preserve 
wilderness character. The Wilderness Stewardship Reference Manual 41 
(RM 41) expands on policies for managing wilderness and offers 
comprehensive guidance to NPS employees responsible for managing and 
preserving wilderness character and the wilderness resource throughout 
the National Park System. RM41 addresses the management of recreational 
climbing activities in wilderness, including the evaluation and 
authorization process for fixed anchors and fixed equipment associated 
with climbing activities in NPS administered wilderness areas.

[[Page 80334]]

    The NPS updates Reference Manuals on a periodic basis to improve 
park administration. In response to the growing popularity of climbing 
on public lands, coupled with concerns regarding increasing impacts to 
wilderness resources and character, the NPS has identified the need to 
update its policy to provide consistent guidance to park managers and 
engage the public to help make informed decisions regarding climbing 
activities in wilderness areas. For these reasons, the NPS has drafted 
a proposed guidance for inclusion in RM 41 to provide a more 
comprehensive and consistent framework for evaluating potential actions 
taken by national parks to authorize the placement and replacement of 
fixed anchors and fixed equipment for recreational climbing in NPS 
wilderness areas. This includes guidance for implementing a minimum 
requirements analysis (MRA) to determine whether fixed anchors are 
necessary to preserve wilderness character and further wilderness 
values, including recreation. The guidance will clarify NPS policy on 
the management of climbing activities in wilderness in accordance with 
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(c)).

Tribal Consultation

    As expressed in Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,'' the Department is 
committed to honoring the unique government-to-government political 
relationship that exists between the Federal Government and federally 
recognized Indian Tribes as listed at 87 FR 4636 (January 28, 2022). 
Secretary of the Interior Order No. 3403 (November 15, 2021) affirmed 
the principle that the Native Hawaiian Community has a government-to-
sovereign relationship with the Federal Government and uses Native 
Hawaiian organizations as its informal representatives. Consistent with 
these commitments and principles, the NPS initiated Tribal consultation 
in March 2023. The NPS held three virtual Tribal consultation sessions 
and accepted written comments from Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
Organizations for 71 days. The NPS developed this draft guidance after 
consulting with federally recognized Indian Tribes, and the guidance 
reflects Tribal input.

Michael P. Michener,
Deputy Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, National 
Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25142 Filed 11-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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