National Park Service May 31, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)), and the Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental impact statement for a general management plan amendment, including a wilderness study, for Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The environmental impact statement will be approved by the Regional Director, Alaska Region. The general management plan amendment will establish the overall direction for both the park and preserve (referred to hereafter as the park), setting broad management goals for managing the area during the next 15 to 20 years. The plan will prescribe desired resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained throughout the park based on such factors as the park's purpose, significance, special mandates, the body of laws and policies directing park management, resource analysis, and the range of public expectations and concerns. The plan also will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, and developments that would be appropriate in the park in the future. In addition, the plan will generally address visitor-use related issues and provide management direction for the three designated wild rivers within the park. The wilderness study will evaluate portions of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve for possible designation as wilderness. The wilderness study will be included as part of the general management plan. A range of reasonable alternatives for managing the park will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, a no-action and an NPS-preferred alternative. Major issues the plan will address include: Visitor access and use of the park; the adequacy and sustainability of existing visitor facilities and park operations; and the management of wilderness, natural and cultural resources, commercial services, and cabins. The environmental impact statement will evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the alternative management approaches and the possible designation of wilderness within the park. All interested persons, organizations, and agencies are encouraged to submit comments and suggestions on issues and concerns that should be addressed in the general management plan amendment/wilderness study/ environmental impact statement, and the range of appropriate alternatives that should be examined.