National Park Service March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces two public meetings of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2).

Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ellis Island Development Concept Plan, Statute of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, New York and New Jersey. The primary purpose of the FEIS is to finalize the documentation of the environmental consequences of alternative management strategies for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 30 deteriorating buildings on Ellis Island, and the limited service and emergency access that are described in the preferred alternative of the Development Concept Plan. The Development Concept Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (DCP/FEIS) evaluates three (3) alternatives regarding the future of the vacant historic buildings of Ellis Island. ``Alternative 1: No Action Continutation of Existing Management Direction,'' describes the conditions after only temporary stabilization of the buildings and the existing vehicular service bridge. The eventual result of the no action alternative is the complete or near-complete loss of these resources as the effects of temporary stabilization expire. This alternative provides the basis of comparison to judge the potential impacts of the two ``action'' alternatives. Both action alternatives would include a new service bridge to New Jersey for emergency and service vehicles; the no action alternative would not. ``Alternative 2: Ellis Island PartnersDay Use Only,'' describes conditions that would result after the buildings are rehabilitated as a campus for multiple non-profit/ institutional uses complimenting the historic of Ellis Island ``Alternative 3: Ellis Island Institute with Overnight Accommodations'' (the preferred alternative), describes the conditions if the buildings were rehabilitated as an educational, non-profit institute with an associated conference/retreat center. The facilities would include overnight accommodations to host meetings, retreats, and workshops primarily focusing on issues such as immigration, world migration, public health, family history, historic preservation, and the environment. The preferred alternative would accomplish the goals and objectives set forth in the NPS 1982 Statute of Liberty National Monument General Management Plan which identified several major buildings on the north side of the island for rehabilitation and reuse by the NPS for interpretation, visitor services and administration (subsequently completed utilizing private funds raised by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation), and proposed that the balance of the buildings on the island, including all of the south-side buildings, be preserved on the exteriors and adapted for reuse by either the NPS or a private organization under a lease agreement or concession contract. The DCP/FEIS documents the project's requirements to comply with NPS Director's Order 21 and the Partnership Construction Process, as well as the requirement for additional analysis to confirm the economic and programmatic viability of the proposed action. The results of these studies will guide the scope, design and build-out of this project. If the project is determined by the NPS to not be economically feasible, the NPS will consider alternatives for management of Ellis Island taking into account the information gained from said market analysis and feasibility studies and other facts then available. This further consideration of alternatives will be conducted in accordance with applicable requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended). The release of the Development Concept Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement in June 2003, and publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on June 25, 2003 began a 60-day review period of the draft document. During that review period, the National Park Service held two public meetings to provide agencies and the public an opportunity to comment on the draft document. During the public comment period on the draft document, comments were received in the form of letters, cards, and emails. Written and verbal comments were submitted at public hearings. All substantive comments have been addressed in the ``Consultation and Coordination'' chapter of the DCP/ FEIS.

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to add a regulation governing parking violations. The addition is needed to address situations in which the vehicle's operator is absent when the vehicle is illegally parked. The proposed amendment provides that a parking citation is subject to fine, allows the citation to name the registered owner if the operator is not present, and creates a rebuttable prima facie presumption that the registered owner of the illegally parked vehicle was the person who committed the violation. This proposed rule is similar to provisions in the parking laws of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland.

Pursuant to the terms of the existing contract, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to continue the following expiring concession contract until October 1, 2007, or until such time as a new contract is effective, whichever occurs sooner.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania. An electronic version of the document is currently available for public review on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. However, printed copies of the document will not be available until on or about February, 2007.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona.

Pursuant to the California Wilderness Act of 1984, and in accordance with National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2006 section 6.2.1, the NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment (assessment) to determine if the Mineral King, Chimney Rock (AKA Jennie Lakes), and Dillonwood additions to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks meet criteria indicating suitability for preservation as wilderness. The assessment divided the Mineral King addition into two segments, the ``backcountry'' or undeveloped/unroaded segment, and the ``developed'' segment, which includes the Mineral King Road and its associated developments. Each of these two segments was separated evaluated for wilderness suitability. The assessment found that the ``backcountry'' segment of the Mineral King Addition, and the Chimney Rock Addition: (1) Are predominantly roadless and undeveloped; (2) are greater than 5000 acres in size or of sufficient size as to make practicable their preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (3) meet the five wilderness character criteria listed in the 2006 NPS Management Policies. The assessment also found that the ``developed'' segment of the Mineral King Addition, and the Dillonwood Addition: (1) Are not predominantly roadless and undeveloped; (2) are not greater than 5000 acres in size or of sufficient size as to make practicable their preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (3) do not meet the five wilderness character criteria listed in the 2006 NPS Management Policies. Based on the findings of this Assessment, the NPS has concluded that the ``backcountry'' segment of the Mineral King Addition and the Chimney Rock Addition meet the criteria necessary for wilderness designation and therefore warrant further study for inclusion in wilderness. The NPS has also concluded that based on the findings of this Assessment, the ``developed'' segment of the Mineral King Addition and the Dillonwood Addition do not meet the criteria necessary for wilderness designation and therefore do not warrant further study for inclusion in wilderness. A transition zone between the Suitable (non- developed) and Non-Suitable (developed) segments in the Mineral King Addition, to allow for existing non-wilderness uses, is appropriate to consider in boundary delineation during the wilderness study process.

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission will be held at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, April 13, 2007, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-109 section 102(2)(C)), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft General Management Plan (GMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (NHS), located in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York. Consistent with National Park Service rules, regulations, and policies, and the park's mission, the Draft GMP/EIS describes and analyzes two action alternatives to guide the management and development of Sagamore Hill NHS over the next 15 to 20 years. The action alternatives incorporate various management prescriptions to ensure protection and enjoyment of the park's resources. A status quo alternative (see below) is also evaluated. The Draft GMP/EIS evaluates potential environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Impact topics include cultural and natural resources, visitor experience, park operations, and the socioeconomic environment.

Under 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 collection of information (OMB No. 1024-0021).

Pursuant to 36 CFR part 51, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to award a temporary concession contract for continuation of visitor reservations and cabin rental in the Great Island cabin area on South Core Banks (Banks), Cape Lookout National Seashore and ferry service to and from the community of Davis, North Carolina to the Banks for a term not to exceed December 31, 2007.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the availability of the draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Pipestone National Monument.