Department of the Interior November 26, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service (NPS) is announcing its intent to prepare a General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Memorial), South Dakota. This effort will update the 1980 GMP. The GMP/EIS will establish the overall direction for the Memorial, setting broad management goals for managing the area over the next 15 to 20 years. The GMP/EIS will prescribe desired resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained throughout the Memorial based on such factors as the Memorial's purpose, significance, special mandates, the body of laws and policies directing Memorial management, resource analysis, and the range of public expectations and concerns. The GMP/EIS also will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, and developments that would be appropriate in the Memorial in the future. A range of reasonable alternatives for managing the Memorial will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, a no-action and a preferred alternative. Major issues the GMP/ EIS will address include changes in visitor use patterns and special events, adequacy and sustainability of existing facilities for visitor opportunities and activities and for Memorial operations, and partnership roles and opportunities. The need for new facilities such as maintenance, museum curation and storage, and interpretation will be examined. The GMP/EIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects of the alternative management approaches. As the first phase of the planning process, the NPS is beginning to scope the issues to be addressed in the GMP/EIS. All interested persons, organizations, Agencies, and Tribes are encouraged to submit comments and suggestions on issues and concerns that should be addressed in the GMP/EIS, and the range of appropriate alternatives that should be examined.

Pursuant to section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, Virginia. Consistent with National Park Service laws, regulations, policies, and the purposes of the National Historical Park, the Draft GMP/EIS describes and analyzes four alternatives (A-D) to guide the management of the park over the next 20 years. The alternatives incorporate various management prescriptions to addresss the following issues: protecting park resources and values, interpretation, visitor facilities and services, access and circulation, related resources, partnership collaboration, and technical assistance. Alternative A is continuation of current management practices. Visitors would experience the park at sites owned and independently managed by the Key Partners. The NPS would provide technical assistance and bring national recognition and visibility to the park by virtue of being part of the national park system. Under Alternative B, visitors would experience the park at sites owned by the Key Partners and through electronic media and NPS ranger led tours and programs. Visitors would access the park via auto-touring routes and a few non-motorized trails located on Key Partner properties. The primary NPS role would be to provide interpretive programs and technical assistance. The Key Partners would have the responsibility for land and resource protection. There would be increased collaboration among the NPS and the Key Partners, with the NPS serving as a coordinator for resource and planning issues. Under Alternative C, visitors would experience the park at a NPS- developed and managed visitor center and at visitor focal areas owned and managed by the NPS and the Key Partners. The NPS and the Key Partners would coordinate interpretive programs at these sites. Visitors would access the park via auto-touring routes and a system of non-motorized trails that provides opportunities for interpretation. The NPS and the Key Partners would develop a coordinated land protection plan focused on protection of key historic sites that would become focal areas. The NPS and the Key Partners would develop formal agreements to undertake special projects and general park management. Alternative D is the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, visitors would experience the park at a NPS-developed and managed visitor center and at visitor focal areas owned and managed by the NPS and the Key Partners. The NPS and the Key Partners would coordinate interpretive programs at these sites. Visitors would access the park via auto-touring routes and an extensive system of non-motorized trails that provides opportunities for interpretation and recreation, that connect focal areas, and that tie to communities and resources outside the park. The NPS and the Key Partners would develop a coordinated land protection plan focused on protection of cultural landscapes, sensitive natural resource areas, and lands providing connections between NPS and Key Partner properties. The NPS and the Key Partners would develop formal agreements that define responsibilities for special projects, programs, events, and specific park operations. The Draft GMP/EIS evaluates the potential environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Impact topics include the cultural, natural, and socioeconomic environments. This notice also announces that public meetings will be held to solicit comments on the Draft GMP/EIS during the public review period. Dates, times, and locations will be announced on the agency's planning Web site https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/cebe, in local papers, and can be obtained by calling the park office at (540) 868-9176. Public Review: There are several ways to view the document: An electronic version of the document will be available for download, review, and comment on the agency's planning Web site https://parkplanning.nps.gov/cebe. CDs and a limited number of printed copies can be requested by contacting the park at (540) 868-9176 or by e-mailing park planner Christopher Stubbs at chris_stubbs@nps.gov. The document will be available for review at the park office at 7718\1/2\ Main St., Middletown, VA 22645. The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft GMP/EIS from the public for a period of 90 days following publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Interested persons may check the planning Web site at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/cebe for dates, times, and places of public meetings to be conducted by the NPS, or by calling (540) 868-9176. If you wish to comment, you may do so by any one of several methods. The preferred method of comment is via the internet at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/cebe. You may mail your comments to Superintendent Diann Jacox, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP, P.O. Box 700, Middletown, VA 22645. You may also hand deliver your comments to the National Park Service office at 7718\1/2\ Main St., Middletown, VA. If you include your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay 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.