National Park Service July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act that meetings of the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission will be held to discuss the development of the Park's general management plan. Dates and Locations: September 21, 2006 at the Warren County Government Center, 220 N. Commerce Ave., Front Royal VA; November 16, 2006 at the Strasburg Town Hall Council Chambers, 174 East King St., Strasburg, VA; January 18, 2007 at the Middletown Town Hall Council Chambers, 7875 Church St., Middletown, VA; March 15, 2007, at the Warren County Government Center; May 17, 2007 at the Strasburg Town Hall; and July 19, 2007 at the Middletown Town Hall. All meetings will convene at 9 a.m. and are open to the public.

Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the National Park Service invites comments on a proposed new collection of information (1024-xxxx).

Notice is given that that the western boundary of Fire Island National Seashore is revised to include Tract No. 17-04 as depicted on map number 615/81,487 prepared by the National Park Service in October 2005. This map and other supporting documentation are available for inspection at the National Park Service, Northeast Region, Land Resources Division, New England Office, 222 Merrimack Street, Suite 400E, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852, and in the Offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared an abbreviated final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed General Management Plan (GMP) for Minidoka Internment National Monument located in southern Idaho. This FEIS describes and analyzes four GMP alternatives that respond to both NPS planning requirements and to the public's concerns and issues, identified during the extensive scoping and public involvement process. Each alternative presents management strategies for resource protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of the national monument. The potential environmental consequences of all the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are identified and analyzed in the FEIS. In addition to a ``no-action'' alternative, an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative is identified. Background: A Notice of Intent formally initiating the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process was published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2002. Early public involvement methods included news releases, public meetings and workshops, presentations and meetings with interested publics, newsletter mailings, and Web site postings. This strong public outreach was deemed necessary for successful planning, given the nature and sensitivity of the national monument's history, the speed in which the national monument was established, as well as its remote location. Preceding the formal planning process, NPS staff conducted informational meetings about the national monument with Japanese American organizations, community organizations, various governmental entities, potential stakeholder groups, and individuals during the spring, summer and early fall of 2002. Approximately 50 meetings were held in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska during this time, and approximately 2,000 people were contacted. The purpose of these initial meetings was to provide information about the establishment of Minidoka Internment National Monument as a new unit of the National Park System and to help characterize the scale and extent of the conservation planning process. The NPS encouraged public involvement during three phases of the EIS process. The initial scoping phase was intended to elicit issues, concerns, and suggestions deemed necessary to address during the overall planning. Nine public workshops were held in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in November 2002 (250 people provided comments in workshops, and another 225 people provided written comments). In the second phase the NPS engaged the public in developing preliminary alternatives; these alternatives were intended to address the specific issues and concerns that surfaced during the public scoping. Eleven public workshops were held in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in July and August 2003 (215 people provided comments in the workshops, and another 50 people provided written comments). The third phase of involvement afforded the opportunity for public review of the Draft EIS/GMP, which was released on June 21, 2005. Government entities and the public were invited to submit comments by regular mail, e-mail, fax, and online. In addition, the NPS held ten public meetings in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California in July and August 2005 to provide further opportunity to learn about the proposed plan and to offer comments; over 200 people attended these meetings. During the formal public comment period, which closed on September 19, 2005, the NPS received comments from over 365 individuals and organizations, including 150 written responses (all substantive comments, and responses, are documented in the abbreviated Final EIS). Throughout the planning process, the public's comments and recommendations have provided the foundation for the new GMP, represented in the national monument's purpose, significance, interpretive themes, alternatives, and particularly as incorporated in the proposed action. Proposed Plan and Alternatives: Alternative A is the ``no-action'' alternative and would continue current management practices, maintaining general management guidance for incremental and minimal changes in park operations, staffing, visitor services, and facilities to accommodate visitors. While the historic resources of the site would continue to be protected, only minor additional site work would be anticipated. The ``no-action'' alternative is the baseline for evaluating and comparing the changes and impacts of the three ``action'' alternatives. Alternative B emphasizes the development and extensive use of outreach and partnerships to assist NPS staff in telling the Minidoka story to the American people. Off-site visitor education and interpretation would be conducted through diverse comprehensive programs developed in cooperation with partners, including school districts, museums, and educational and legacy organizations and institutions. Alternative B would focus on identifying off-site facilities for education and interpretation with minimal new development at the national monument site. Historic structures would be adaptively reused for visitor and monument functions and for minimal administrative and operational needs. Key historic features would be delineated, restored, or rehabilitated. On-site education and interpretation would be accomplished through a range of self- exploratory visitor experiences. Alternative C, the NPS's proposed action, emphasizes on-site education and interpretation and the extensive treatment and use of cultural resources in telling the Minidoka story. On-site education and interpretation would be accomplished through a wide range of visitor experiences, including immersion into the historic scene, interaction with a variety of educational and interpretive media and personal services, and participation in creative and self-directed activities. Off-site visitor education and interpretation would be conducted through diverse programs developed in cooperation with partners, including school districts, museums, and educational and legacy organizations and institutions. The proposed plan would use various preservation techniques to protect and enhance historic resources, such as delineation, stabilization, restoration, rehabilitation, and limited reconstruction. These historic resources would be used for interpretive purposes to accurately and authentically convey the history and significance of the national monument. The establishment of one complete barracks block exhibit in its original location and configuration would be the cornerstone of interpretive services and facilities at the national monument, essential for understanding and appreciation of the incarceration experience and the significance of the national monument. A visitor contact facility and maintenance area would be developed by adaptively reusing existing historic buildings. There would be minimal new development. Alternative C is also the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative. The proposed plan would require congressional legislation to authorize a boundary adjustment to include areas where barracks historically stood in order to reestablish a complete residential block in an original historic location. Additionally, the NPS would request congressional legislation to transfer the historic Minidoka Relocation Center landfill, located 1 mile north of the national monument, from the BLM to the NPS. Alternative C recommends a name change to Minidoka National Historic Site, to be more reflective of its historic value. Alternative D identifies several actions that would focus on education and interpretation on-site, specifically through the development of new visitor facilities. The east end site would be used to develop new facilities and to provide space for a new visitor center, education and research functions, along with a new Issei memorial and garden. On-site education and interpretation would be accomplished through a wide range of visitor experiences, including interaction with a variety of educational and interpretive media, participation in creative and self-guided activities, and limited access of the historic scene. Visitor education programs, adaptive reuse of historic structures for park use, and the establishment of formal partnerships for education and outreach purposes would complement the new construction. Alternative D would focus on sound cultural resource management through preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of certain historic features. Several actions would provide for the protection and enhancement of natural and scenic resources. Other actions would establish administrative and operational capabilities in terms of facilities and staffing. Most national monument staff activities would be on-site to manage resources and provide for visitor understanding and appreciation of the national monument. However, some off-site educational programs would complement the on-site programs through partnerships. Copies: The Abbreviated Final EIS/GMP is now available. This document's abbreviated format requires that the material presented therein be integrated with the Draft EIS to fully describe the proposed GMP, potential environmental impacts, and public comments that have been received and evaluated. Interested persons and organizations wishing to express any concerns or provide relevant information may obtain the Abbreviated Final EIS/GMP by contacting the Superintendent, Minidoka Internment National Monument, P.O. Box 570, Hagerman, Idaho 83332-0570, or via telephone at (208) 837-4793 (copies of the Draft EIS are also available, if needed). This document may also be reviewed at area libraries, or obtained electronically via the following Web site at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/miin. Please note that names and addresses of all respondents will become part of the public record. It is our practice to make comments, including names, home addresses, home phone numbers, and email addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their names and/or home addresses, etc., but if you wish us to consider withholding this information you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. In addition, you must present a rationale for withholding this information. This rationale must demonstrate that disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. Unsupported assertions will not meet this burden. In the absence of exceptional, documentable circumstances, this information will be released. We will always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Decision Process: Following release of the Abbreviated Final GMP/ EIS, a Record of Decision will be prepared and approved not sooner than 30 days after the EPA has published its notice of filing of the document in the Federal Register. A notice of the approved GMP would be similarly published. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently, the official responsible for implementing the approved GMP would be the Superintendent, Minidoka Internment National Monument.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) on the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP), Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana. The Midwest Regional Director approved the ROD for this final GMP/EIS on June 20, 2006. Specifically, the NPS has selected the preferred alternative as described in the GMP/ EIS. Under the selected action, the NPS would emphasize a greater array of interpretive opportunities, with the focus on the history of the Lincoln family in southern Indiana, and on the natural and sociopolitical environment of the times. The Lincoln Living Historical Farm would retain its current character, but the interpretive program would provide visitors with interpretive opportunities and demonstrations directly related to the Lincoln story and the way in which the family likely lived in Indiana. The memorial building and court would remain largely unchanged, but new administrative offices would be added to the rear of the structure. Where possible, some elements of the cloister could be returned to their original design. The new addition or structure would harmonize in size, scale, proportion, and materials with the extant structure and would not intrude on the historic scene. The selected action and two other alternatives were analyzed in the draft and final EIS. A full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. Among the alternatives the NPS considered, the selected action best protects Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial's natural and cultural resources, while also providing a range of quality interpretive and educational experiences. It also meets the NPS goals for managing the memorial and meets national environmental policy goals. The preferred alternative will not result in the impairment of resources and values. The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the rationale for why the selected action is the environmentally preferred alternative, a finding of no impairment of park resources and values, and an overview of public involvement in the decisionmaking process.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the SRC meeting schedule for the following NPS areas: Aniakchak National Monument and Lake Clark National Park. The purpose of each meeting is to develop and continue work on subsistence hunting program recommendations and other related subsistence management issues. Each meeting is open to the public and will have time allocated for public testimony. The public is welcomed to present written or oral comments to the SRC. The NPS SRC program is authorized under Title VIII, Section 808, of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Public Law 96-487, to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Draft meeting minutes will be available upon request from each Superintendent for public inspection approximately six weeks after each meeting.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 9.52(b) of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 9, Subpart B, that the National Park Service (NPS) has received from Kerr McGee Oil and Gas Onshore LP, a Plan of Operations to conduct the Kountze 3-D ``Cable-Only'' Seismic Survey within the Big Sandy Creek Corridor, Lance Rosier, Turkey Creek and Village Creek Corridor Units of Big Thicket National Preserve, in Hardin County, Texas. The NPS has prepared a Categorical Exclusion on this proposal.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability for the Abbreviated Final General Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Pea Ridge National Military Park (Pea Ridge).

Pursuant to section102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) on the final General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for the First Ladies National Historic Site, Ohio. On May 22, 2006, the Regional Director, Midwest Region, approved the ROD for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement the preferred alternative contained in the final GMP/EIS issued on April 7, 2006. The following course of action will occur under the preferred alternative. Cultural resources will be preserved and various types of interpretive programs will be developed to encourage visitors to learn about the importance of the First Ladies and the historic events associated with First Ladies. Interpretive programs will focus on the roles of First Ladies in both their public and private lives. Partnerships will be pursued with a wide variety of agencies and organizations to publicize the site and to share programming, information, and exhibits. Most of the Saxton House (House) will be managed as an historic zone. Visitor access would be limited mostly to interpretive tours. The story of the First Ladies will be interpreted at both the House and the Education and Research Center (ERC). Exhibits of artifacts will support the interpretive program. Onsite interpretation will be provided at the House through guided tours, with further information available in programs in the ERC Theater and during special programs. Most of the ERC will be managed as a library zone, where resources are maintained at a high level of preservation. Visitor use will be restricted to portions of two floors. Implementing this alternative will cost approximately $395,000 in one-time upgrade and construction expenses. This course of action and three other alternatives were analyzed in the draft and final GMP/EIS. The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed and appropriate mitigating measures were identified. The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the environmentally preferred alternative, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to minimize environmental harm, an overview of public involvement in the decision making process, and a conclusion.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Commission Act that a meeting of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Advisory Commission will be held at 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following location and date.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve announces a meeting of the Great Sand Dunes National Park Advisory Council, which was established to provide guidance to the Secretary on long-term planning for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190) and Council on Environmental Quality's implementing regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)), the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS), is initiating the scoping phase of the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process for updating the General Management Plan (GMP) for lava Beds National Monument (Monument). Following the scoping phase and consideration of public concerns and other agency comments, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the GMP will be prepared and released for public review. The GMP will address desired conditions for the Monument, uses or treatment needs for resource protection, visitor use and other management goals; it will serve as a ``blueprint'' to guide future management for the next 15-20 years. The purpose of the scoping outreach efforts is to elicit early public comment regarding issues and concerns, the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts (and as appropriate, mitigation measures), and alternatives which should be addressed in the plan update. Consistent with NPS Planning Program Standards the updated GMP will: (1) Describe the Monument's purpose, significance, and primary interpretive themes; (2) identify the fundamental resources and values of the Monument, its other important resources and values, and describe the condition of these resources; (3) describe desired conditions for cultural and natural resources and visitor experiences throughout the Monument; (4) develop management zoning to support these desired conditions; (5) develop alternative applications of these management zones to the Monument landscape (i.e., zoning alternatives); (6) address user capacity; (7) analyze potential boundary modifications; (8) ensure that management recommendations are developed in consultation with interested stakeholders and the public and adopted by NPS leadership after an adequate analysis of the benefits, environmental impacts, and economic costs of alternative courses of action; and (9) identify and prioritize subsequent detailed studies, plans and actions that may be needed to implement the updated GMP. Scoping: Through the outreach activities planned in the scoping phase, the NPS welcomes information and suggestions from the public regarding resource protection, visitor use, and land management. This notice formally initiates the public scoping comment phase for the EIS process for the GMP update. All scoping comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than September 2, 2006. All written responses should be submitted to the following address: General Management Plan, Lava Beds National Monument, Attn.: Craig Dorman, Superintendent, 1 Indian Well Headquarters, Tulelake, CA 96134. As noted, a key purpose of the scoping process is to elicit early public comment on matters which should be considered in updating the GMP in order to inform the development of the Draft EIS. At this time it is expected that three public meetings will be hosted in towns near the Monument during June 5-8, 2006. Detailed information regarding these meetings will be posted on the GMP Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/labe). All attendees will be given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments to the planning team. The GMP Web site will provide the most up-to-date information regarding the project, including project description, planning process updates, meeting notices, reports and documents, and useful links associated with the project. It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments, including names and addresses of respondents who provide that information, available for public review. NPS will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organzations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Individuals may request that the NPS withhold their name and/or address from public disclosure. If you wish to do this, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Respondents using the Web site can make such a request by checking the box: ``keep my contact information private.'' NPS will honor such requests to the extent allowable by law, but you should be aware that NPS may still be required to disclose your name and address pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, Sec. 102(2)(c), and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and its cooperating agency have completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed reconstruction of the Furnace Creek Water Collection System. This water collection system reconstruction project is located in the Furnace Creek area of Death Valley National Park, California. The proposed project would rebuild the outdated water collection system in the Furnace Creek area to deliver a safe and reliable potable and nonpotable water supply to the park's main visitor use area. The FEIS was prepared in accordance with the National Park Service NEPA guidelines (Director's Order 12).

Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the National park Service (NPS) invites public comments on an extension of a currently approved information collection (OMB 1024-0125).