National Park Service – 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 is preparing an environmental impact statement for the general management plan for Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah. The Regional Director, Intermountain Region, will approve the environmental impact statement. Golden Spike National Historic Site is in Box Elder County, Utah. The national historic site was authorized by Congress on July 30, 1965. Congress charged the Secretary with acquisition of lands `` * * * for the purpose of establishing a national historic site commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States * * *'' The enabling legislation also states that ``the National Park Service * * * shall administer, protect, and develop such historic site, subject to the provisions of the Act entitled `An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes' '' approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 525), as amended and supplemented, and the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes,'' approved August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), as amended. The general management plan will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained in the national historic site over the next approximately 20 years. The clarification of what must be achieved according to law and policy will be based on review of the park's purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of law and policies directing the park management. Management decisions to be made where law, policy, or regulations do not provide clear guidance or limits will be based on the purposes of the park; the range of public expectations and concerns; resource analysis; an evaluation of the natural, cultural, and social impacts of alternative courses of action; and consideration of long-term economic costs. Based on determinations of desired conditions, the general management plan will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, land acquisition, and development that would be appropriate in the park in the future. Alternatives will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, no-action and the preferred alternative. Major issues may include, but are not limited to, the need to identify desired conditions and future management strategies for cultural and natural resources, the need to address visitor use and experience issues, and site operations concerns.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on an extension of a currently approved collection of information (OMB 1024- 0018).

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, 5 U.S.C. App 1, section 10), of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Off-Road Vehicle Management at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. (See DATES section.)

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, is announcing the availability of, and accepting comments on, the draft FLAG Phase I ReportREVISED. The Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG) was formed (1) to develop a more consistent and objective approach for the Federal Land Managers (FLMs), i.e., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, to evaluate air pollution effects on their air quality related values (AQRVs); and (2) to provide State permitting authorities and potential permit applicants consistency on how to assess the impacts of new and existing sources on AQRVs. The FLAG effort focuses on the effects of the air pollutants that could affect the health and status of resources in areas managed by the three agencies, primarily such pollutants as ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates, and sulfates. FLAG formed subgroups that concentrated on four issues: (1) Terrestrial effects of ozone; (2) aquatic and terrestrial effects of wet and dry pollutant deposition; (3) visibility; and (4) process and policy issues. In December 2000, after undergoing a public review and comment process that included a 90-day public comment period announced in the Federal Register and a public meeting, the FLMs published a final Phase I report (FLAG 2000), along with an accompanying ``Response to Public Comments'' document. FLAG 2000 has been a useful tool to the FLMs, State permitting authorities, and permit applicants. It was intended to be a working document that would be revised as necessary as the FLMs learn more about how to better assess the health and status of AQRVs. Based on knowledge gained and regulatory developments since FLAG 2000, the FLMs believe certain revisions to FLAG 2000 are now appropriate. The draft revised report now available for public review and comment (FLAG 2008) reflects those changes. The most significant changes proposed in the draft FLAG 2008 revision are summarized as follows: Adopts similar criteria derived from EPA's 2005 Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) guidelines for the Regional Haze Rule to screen out from AQRV review those sources with relatively small amounts of emissions located a large distance from a Class I area (i.e., Q/D

This notice sets forth the date of the August 2, 2008 meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

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 John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS, Massachusetts. In cooperation with the Town of Brookline, MA, attention will be given to resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS. The plan will identify management alternatives for the site. Major issues include the need to provide fundamental management guidance and to enable the park to strategically plan its long term resource management, visitor use, and partnership goals and objectives. This would be the first GMP for the John F. Kennedy NHS since its establishment in 1969. GMP issues include: (1) Creating strategies for resolving critical facility and visitor experience issues related to the small size of the site; (2) addressing the needs and expectations of a rapidly changing demographic audience; (3) developing a comprehensive resource management strategy for the site; (4) addressing alternative outreach and partnership program options, including interpreting the historic neighborhood where the Kennedy home is located; (5) improving the park's relationships with other presidential sites and other John F. Kennedy sites. The Draft EIS/General Management Plan is expected to be available for public review in early 2010. After public and interagency review of the draft document, comments will be considered and a final GMP/EIS will be prepared that contains a preferred alternative for management of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS (the GMP), followed by a Record of Decision.

In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.), the National Park Service (NPS) will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for transferring jurisdiction of a portion of NPS property within Fort Dupont Park, part of the Fort Circle Parks, to the District of Columbia (the District) for development of recreational facilities which may result in amending the NPS' 2004 Final Management Plan for Fort Circle Parks. This also serves as an announcement of a public scoping comment period to run until July 24, 2008. Comments submitted to the Park or through Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) during the public scoping period and at public meetings for this EA will be considered as part of the planning process for the current proposed action. Comments submitted at the public meeting held May 12, 2008, will be considered as part of the planning process for the current proposed action and do not need to be resubmitted. There is the possibility that the NPS might proceed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in which case written comments submitted now on the scope of the alternatives and impacts will continue to be considered.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Memorial). The GMP/EIS will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained at the Memorial over the next 15 to 20 years. To facilitate sound planning and environmental assessment, the NPS intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the GMP/ EIS and obtain suggestions and information from other Agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the GMP/EIS. Comments and participation in this scoping process are invited. Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and facilitated by various means, including newsletters and public meetings. The NPS will conduct public scoping meetings to explain the planning process and to solicit opinion about issues to address in the GMP/EIS. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the local press and in the NPS newsletters.

The National Park Service, in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider suitable means for restoration of a wetland and stream corridor at Prisoners Harbor and lower Canada del Puerto drainage on Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara County, California. The Prisoners Harbor area is part of Channel Islands National Park managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The EIS will analyze alternatives for ecological restoration of the wetland and lower stream corridor, ensuring public access, and protecting cultural and historical resources. Background: Channel Islands National Park is headquartered in Ventura, California. Congress established the park ``[i]n order to protect the nationally significant natural, scenic, wildlife, marine, ecological, archeological, cultural, and scientific values of the Channel Islands'' (Pub. L. 96-199). The park proposes to restore a functional, self-sustaining ecosystem at a former 9-acre backbarrier coastal wetland site known as Prisoners Harbor and an associated 40- acre stream corridor in the lower Canada del Puerto watershed on Santa Cruz Island. The proposed wetland restoration site includes what was once the largest backbarrier coastal wetland on the Channel Islands. The wetland and stream corridor have been extensively modified over the past 150 years by filling of wetlands, intentional planting and accidental introduction of non-native vegetation such as stone pines, eucalyptus, and kikuyu grass in the area, and construction of a levee, buildings, corral, and unsurfaced roads. These modifications to the creek and floodplain have altered channel hydraulics, resulting in reduced ecosystem function, and contributed to the estimated 95% decline of California's wetlands statewide. The loss of natural wetland and riparian ecosystems in the Prisoners Harbor area has resulted in locally diminished habitat for federally listed Santa Cruz Island barberry, Santa Cruz Island silver lotus, Santa Cruz Island gooseberry, endemic Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, Santa Cruz Island deer mouse, the rare Channel Islands slender salamander, western harvest mouse, loggerhead shrike, other passerine birds, and migratory waterfowl. Proliferation of non-native eucalyptus trees in the riparian corridor has severely reduced plant and wildlife- diversity and negatively affected habitat for species of special concern and passerine birds. Preliminary Alternatives and Environmental Issues: The park proposes to restore wetland and riparian ecosystem function by removing fill from the historic wetland, reconnecting the Canada del Puerto stream with its floodplain, removing non-native eucalyptus and other vegetation in the lower drainage, and recreating habitat for special status species (both flora and fauna), passerine birds, and migratory waterfowl. Additionally the project proposes to protect significant cultural resources, and provide for an enhanced visitor experience. A successful project would meet the following goals: Restore functional wetland and riparian ecosystems and reduce the impact of non-native species on local biological diversity. Consistent with restoring functional ecosystems, recreate and maintain habitat adequate to support populations of special status species, passerine birds, and migratory waterfowl. Develop a restoration design that identifies and, to the extent possible, mitigates factors that reduce the site's full restoration potential. Protect archaeological resources from erosion during both normal and flood conditions. Provide access to the Central Valley inland from the affected area, NPS property east of Prisoners Harbor, and Nature Conservancy inholdings on NPS property upstream from the area of potential effect. Reduce risk of exposure to flooding that could damage the roadway and historic buildings. Provide visitor access and resource interpretation that are compatible with protection of resources. Enhance visitor knowledge and understanding of the prehistory, recent human history, and natural history of the Prisoners Harbor area. Channel Islands National Park seeks public input to assist with identifying issues and developing a suitable range of alternatives for restoration of the lower Canada del Puerto watershed and Prisoners Harbor wetlands area. Restoration methods could include topographic alterations aimed at recovering natural hydrologic and ecological processes. These potential alterations could change the current hydrologic regime within the proposed project area, leading to either resumption of seasonal flooding of a fully restored wetland/floodplain or limited flooding of a partially restored wetland/floodplain. A ``no- action'' alternative, entailing no changes in current hydrologic regime, will also be assessed. An archeological site and some historic structures are located within the area of potential effect. Any restoration actions undertaken would be designed to ensure flood risks to the archeological site and historic resources will not be aggravated beyond current conditions and that influence of non-native species, including eucalyptus, on a restored ecosystem dominated by native species is reduced. As part of the effort to develop preliminary alternatives, the NPS will explore options for improved public access and enhacing educational opportunities consistent with ecosystem restoration. Preliminary public outreach was initiated by the park in 2007. Concern was expressed about the possibility of removing cattle corrals constructed on filled coastal wetland. The corrals were built in the 1950's as part of rancher Carrie Stanton's conversion to a cattle operation. The corrals are considered a ``small scale feature'' in the 2004 Cultural Landscape Inventory and deemed to be a contributing element to the eligibility of the Santa Cruz Island Ranching District to the National Register of Historic Places. The park has acknowledged this concern and will work with the State Historic Preservation Office in developing mitigation measures common to all alternatives or safeguards specific to a particular alternative if necessary. Other issues or concerns known at this time include potential effects upon: Threatened and endangered species protected under the federal and state Endangered Species Acts, floodplain and stream corridor, native flora and fauna; historic and archeological resources, land use, and opportunities for and constraints on public use. Public Scoping and Comment Process: Notice is hereby given that the final public scoping phase is underway, with the express purpose of eliciting additional public comment regarding a suitable range of alternatives, the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts and benefits, and appropriate mitigation strategies that should be addressed in the forthcoming conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process. For those who have commented previously, it is not necessary to re-submit comments. Federal, state, and local agencies, Tribes, and interested organizations are also encouraged to participate in the scoping process. Whether California state or local involvement in the environmental impact analysis process is necessary is yet to be determined. If an environmental clearance document is required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the NPS will coordinate the NEPA/CEQA process with the designated state agency (or agencies). A timely opportunity to learn more about the proposed restoration and provide information is a public meeting to be held during summer 2008. Information expected to be provided at the public meeting includes the history of the Prisoners Harbor/Canada del Puerto area, purpose and need for the proposed restoration, opportunities and constraints in developing the restoration design, potential alternative courses of action with regards to restoration, potential effects of these courses of action, and appropriate strategies for mitigation and monitoring. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are encouraged to provide comments or suggestions. For those persons unable to attend the meeting, information about the project will be available at https://parkplanning.nps.gov or by contacting the park as noted below. All written scoping comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 45 days following publication of this notice in the Federal Register (immediately upon publication of this notice, the confirmed deadline for comments to be submitted will be posted on the park Web site). Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. To provide comments or information pertinent to the proposal, inquire about the public meeting, or to request a printed copy of the scoping document, please contact Paula Power, Channel Islands National Park, Attn: Prisoners Harbor Coastal Wetland Restoration Project, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001, telephone (805) 658-5784; FAX (805) 658-5799; e-mail paulapower@nps.gov). Duplicate informational updates will be regularly posted on the park Web site https://www.nps.gov/chis/home_mngmntdocs.htm and also at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. Decision Process: At this time, the draft EIS is expected to be available for public review in early 2009; following due consideration of all public and agency comments, it is expected that the final environmental document will be completed in late 2009. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region. Subsequently the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, would be responsible for implementing the approved restoration and management actions.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for an Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan (ORV Management Plan) for Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas. This effort will result in an ORV Management Plan/EIS that will be used to guide the management and control of ORVs at the Recreation Area for approximately the next 15 to 20 years. It will also form the basis for a special regulation that will regulate ORV use at the Recreation Area. The ORV Management Plan/EIS will assess potential environmental impacts associated with a range of reasonable alternatives for managing ORV impacts on park resources such as soils, wetlands, wildlife, cultural resources, visitor experience, and public safety. Lake Meredith Recreation Area was established in 1964 for the administration of public recreational facilities at the Sanford Reservoir area, Canadian River project, Texas. In 1990 Congress designated Lake Meredith a National Recreation Area to ``provide for public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of the lands and waters associated with Lake Meredith in the State of Texas, and to protect the scenic, scientific, cultural, and other values contributing to the public enjoyment of such lands and waters,'' (Pub. L. 101-628, 16 U.S.C. 46Oeee, November 28, 1990). Lake Meredith offers many recreational uses including boating, swimming, fishing, hunting and ORV use. Lake Meredith currently has two areas designated as ORV areas, Rosita (~1,740 acres) and Blue Creek (~275 acres). These areas were designated by special regulation, 36 CFR 7.57. Both areas were utilized by the local community for recreational use prior to the establishment of the Sanford Reservoir Project in 1965. Executive Order 11644, issued in 1972 and amended by Executive Order 11989 in 1977, states that Federal agencies allowing ORV use must designate the specific areas and trails on public lands on which the use of ORVs may be permitted, and areas in which the use of ORVs may not be permitted. Agency regulations to authorize ORV use provide that designation of such areas and trails will be based upon the protection of the resources of the public lands, promotion of the safety of all users of those lands, and minimization of conflicts among the various uses of those lands. Executive Order 11644 was issued in response to the widespread and rapidly increasing use of ORVs on the public lands ``often for legitimate purposes but also in frequent conflict with wise land and resource management practices, environmental values, and other types of recreational activity.'' Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 36 Sec. 4.10 requires that ``Routes and areas designated for off-road motor vehicle use shall be promulgated as special regulations.'' ``In addition, such routes and areas may only be designated in national recreation areas, national seashores, national lakeshores and national preserves.'' Therefore, in accordance with the Executive Order, the purpose of this plan/EIS is to manage ORV use in compliance with the Recreation Area's enabling legislation, NPS management policies, and other laws and regulations to ensure protection of the natural, cultural, and recreational values of the Recreation Area's environment for present and future generations. An ORV Management Plan is needed to address the inconsistent management of ORV use over time, address the impacts to both cultural and natural resources, and address ORV use outside of the authorized areas. Specifically, an ORV Management Plan is needed to: (1) Comply with Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 respecting ORV use, and with NPS laws, regulations (36 CFR 4.10), and policies to minimize impacts to Recreation Area resources and values; (2) Provide for sustainable recreational ORV use areas; (3) Address the lack of an approved plan, which has led to ORV use outside of authorized areas; (4) Address resource impacts resulting from ORV use; and (5) Address the change in numbers, power, range and capabilities of ORVs. The ORV Management Plan/DEIS will cover all lands administered by the NPS at the Recreation Area. Through internal scoping efforts, several draft objectives were outlined for the EIS: Visitor Use and Safety: Manage ORV use to minimize conflicts among different ORV users; promote safe operation of ORVs and safety of all visitors. Management: Build stewardship through public awareness and understanding of NPS resource management and visitor use policy and responsibilities as they pertain to the recreation area and ORV management; develop a monitoring plan that allows the park to establish the number of ORVs the park is able to support. Park Operations: Identify needs and costs necessary to implement an ORV plan; minimize impacts to park operations and costs necessary to implement an ORV plan. Natural Resources: Minimize adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, and other protected species and their habitats; define effective strategies for soil erosion control and restoration of plant resources to support wildlife populations. Cultural Resources: Preserve and protect significant cultural resources within the recreation area; work with interested parties to identify cultural resources that could be adversely affected by ORV use. The draft and final ORV Management Plan/EIS will be made available to all known interested parties and appropriate agencies. Full public participation by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as other concerned organizations and private citizens is invited throughout the preparation process of this document.