National Park Service November 24, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director's Order Number 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order Number 12 (Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision- making), the NPS announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the GMP/WS/ORV Plan for the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition, Florida. The 1991 GMP for the original Preserve contains no guidance for the approximately 147,000 acres added to the Preserve in 1988 by Public Law 100-301 (the Addition). A GMP is needed to clearly define resource conditions and visitor experiences to be achieved in the Addition.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) on the Harvest of Glaucous-Winged Gull Eggs by Huna Tlingit in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The Record of Decision (ROD) documents the NPS determination that harvest of glaucous-winged gull eggs could be authorized in Glacier Bay National Park without impairing the biological sustainability of the Park's glaucous-winged gull population or impacting other Park purposes and values. Implementation of the decision would require promulgation of public law and regulations, revising Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Section 4 of the Glacier Bay National Park Resource Management Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-455) directed the NPS to ``* * * undertake a study of sea gulls living within the park to assess whether sea gull eggs can be collected on a limited basis without impairing the biological sustainability of the sea gull population in the park.'' The legislation also states that if the study determines collection could occur without impairing the biological sustainability of the gull population in the park, `` * * * the Secretary shall submit recommendations for legislation * * *'' to the House and Senate authorizing committees. The ROD documents the NPS selection of Alternative 3 (Two Annual Harvest Visits to Five Locations) based on consideration of the Park's purposes and mission, NPS policies, resource information and values analyzed in the Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (FLEIS), and comments received throughout the LEIS process. The FLEIS analysis determined this alternative would not adversely impact Park purposes and resources. Disturbance to nesting gulls is expected to be minimal. The FLEIS analysis concluded that these effects would be minor and would not affect sustainability of gull populations in the Park. The basis for the decision stems from Park objectives and purposes and the need to respond to Section 4 of Public Law 106-455. Specifically, the decision was based on the following objectives: