National Park Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (the Commission) will be held on Monday, October 20, at 10 a.m., at the National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC. If the meeting must be continued, the meeting will resume at this same location on Friday, November 7, 2008, at 1 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss currently authorized and proposed memorials in the District of Columbia and its environs. In addition to discussing general matters and conducting routine business, the Commission will review three action items: 1. A request to extend the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Foundation's authority to establish the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial in Washington, DC. 2. H.R. 6195, a bill to authorize the Korean War Veterans Association to establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia near the Korean War Veterans Memorial to honor members of the Armed Forces who have served in Korea since July 28, 1953. 3. H.R. 6696, a bill to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor members of the Armed Forces who served in World War I. The meeting will be open to the public. Any person may file with the Commission a written statement concerning the matters to be discussed. Persons who wish to file a written statement or testify at the meeting or who want further information concerning the meeting may contact Ms. Nancy Young, Secretary to the Commission.

On April 9, 2008, the National Park Service (NPS) published a Public Notice of agency policy in the Federal Register with the above title (73 FR 19246-19248), clarifying the NPS definition of substantial restoration of natural quiet at Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) to distinguish between aircraft noise generated above and below 17,999 feet mean sea level (MSL), and requesting comments on the proposed clarification. Specifically, the NPS proposed the following clarification: (a) Substantial restoration of natural quiet at GCNP will be achieved when the reduction of noise from aircraft operations at or below 17,999 feet MSL results in 50% or more of the park achieving restoration of the natural quiet (i.e., no aircraft audible) for 75% to 100% of the day, each and every day; and (b) The NPS defines the substantial restoration of natural quiet from all aircraft above 17,999 feet MSL to mean that there will be an overall reduction in aviation noise generated above 17,999 feet MSL above the park over time through implementation of measures in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commitments. The NPS also clarified that 50% of the park is a minimum in the restoration goal. The public comment period was open from April 9 to May 9, 2008. The NPS received and analyzed 127 comments in response to the Public Notice. Comments were received from the National Air Transportation Association; environmental groups (e.g., Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and Grand Canyon Trust); air tour operators; and the general public. Comments beyond the scope of this clarification may be considered in the development of the Environmental Impact Statement for Special Flight Rules in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park (EIS).

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Committee on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will hold a meeting. Designated through an amendment to the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241), the new trail will consist of ``a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and in the District of Columbia,'' tracing the 1607-1609 voyages of Captain John Smith to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. This meeting is open to the public. Preregistration is required for both public attendance and comment. Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should register via e-mail at Christine_Luceron@nps.gov or telephone: (757) 898-2432. For those wishing to make comments, please provide a written summary of your comments prior to the meeting.

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 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan (SDEIS/GMP) for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. The document provides a framework for management, use, and development options for the CRNRA by the NPS for the next 15 to 20 years. The document describes six management alternatives for consideration, including a no-action alternative that continues current management policies, and analyzes the environmental impacts of those alternatives. The CRNRA includes a maximum of 10,000 acres of land in 16 units distributed along a 48-mile corridor between Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and Buford Dam. The CRNRA is linear corridor surrounded by rapidly developing urban and suburban areas.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan for Manassas National Battlefield Park (FEIS/GMP). The General Management Plan will guide management decisions related to cultural and natural resources, visitation, and park development for the next 15 to 20 years. The responsible official is Mr. Joseph M. Lawler, Regional Director, National Capital Region.

The Denali National Park Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) will meet to develop and continue work on National Park Service (NPS) subsistence hunting program recommendations and other related subsistence management issues. This 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. This meeting will be recorded and meeting minutes will be available upon request from the park superintendent for public inspection approximately six weeks after each meeting. The NPS subsistence resource commission 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.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Massachusetts. The existing GMP dates from 1983, when the park started operations, and needs major updates. An updated GMP will provide fundamental management guidance to enable the park to strategically plan for long-term resource management, visitor use, and partnerships. In cooperation with the Town of Brookline, MA, attention will also be given to resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. The plan will identify management alternatives for the site. Major issues include: (1) Developing strategies for the ongoing preservation of the structures, grounds, and collections; (2) providing functional dedicated space for interpretive and educational programs and media; (3) resolving parking and public access issues; (4) developing strategies for reaching diverse audiences; (5) providing archives reference facilities and services that meet present and future demands; (6) providing readily accessible archives storage facilities that meet the needs of the collection; (7) addressing facility needs for park headquarters and the shared park maintenance building; (8) developing strategies for conserving the adjacent historic setting and the larger historic context; (9) strengthening partnerships with related national and local nonprofit organizations and communities. The Draft EIS/General Management Plan is expected to be available for public review in 2010. After public and interagency review of the draft document, comments will be considered and a final GMP/EIS report will be prepared that contains a preferred alternative for management of the Frederick Law Olmsted NHS, followed by a Record of Decision.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c) the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Draft General Management Plan (GMP) for Fort Stanwix National Monument, located in the city of Rome, New York. Consistent with National Park Service rules, regulations, and policies, and the park's mission, the Draft GMP/EIS describes and analyzes two alternatives to guide the management and development of Fort Stanwix National Monument over the next 15 to 20 years. The alternatives incorporate various management prescriptions to ensure protection and enjoyment of the park's resources. 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. NPS regional planning staff and staff at Fort Stanwix NM collaborated in the development of the Draft GMP/EIS. The main issues that the Draft GMP/EIS has focused on have included protection of cultural resources, visitor services, partnership opportunities, carrying capacity, and the lack of a properly defined boundary. Alternative 1: No Action focuses on basically maintaining current management, protection, and interpretive practices and interpreting the siege of Fort Stanwix in the Revolutionary War. Alternative 2: Action Alternative seeks to broaden interpretation of Fort Stanwix in the context of the Northern Frontier, the Mohawk Valley, and American Indian history; forge new partnerships; upgrade exhibits and waysides; expand the interpretive role of the Marinus Willett Center; and develop an 18th-century cultural landscape treatment plan for the site. After public review of the Draft GMP/EIS, the National Park Service will consider public comments, and a Final GMP/EIS will be prepared. The Final GMP/EIS is scheduled for completion in 2008.