National Park Service April 7, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Record of Decision for the Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) covering all units of the National Park System. On March 5, 2010, the Deputy Director of the National Park Service approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative contained in the FEIS issued on November 27, 2009. Three alternatives were evaluated in the FEIS, each of which would clarify the rights and responsibilities of researchers and NPS management in connection with the allocation of benefits from valuable discoveries, inventions, and other developments that result from research involving specimens lawfully collected from units of the National Park System. The No Action Alternative allows scientists to use material originating as National Park Service research specimens to conduct research that may lead to commercial products but without any obligation to share the benefits with the National Park Service. Another alternative prohibits scientific research involving National Park Service research specimens that is in any way associated with the development of commercial products. A third alternative, the Environmentally Preferred Alternative, allows the National Park Service and researchers who study material associated with a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit to enter into benefits-sharing agreements on a case-by-case basis before using their research results for any commercial purpose. This Environmentally Preferred Alternative has three considerations regarding the disclosure of financial information: Always disclose, never disclose, or comply with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure. The Preferred Alternative implements the benefits-sharing agreement requirement, while complying with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure of royalty rate or related information.

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Final GMP/EIS for the CRNRA, Georgia.