National Park Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning regulations, Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1610.2(f)(3), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations, Title 40 CFR 1502.9(a), and the National Park Service (NPS) Director's Order 2 (Park Planning), the BLM and NPS hereby gives notice that the Draft Resource Management Plan/Draft EIS for the Arizona Strip Field Office, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and the BLM portion of the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, and a Draft General Management Plan/Draft EIS for the NPS portion of the Grand Canyon- Parashant National Monument (Draft Plan/DEIS) is available for public review and comments. The Draft Plan/DEIS addresses management on approximately 3,322,960 acres of public land. Issues addressed in the Draft Plan/DEIS include access, wilderness, protection of resources including monument objects, livestock grazing management, and recreation management. The range of alternatives was prepared in accordance with applicable BLM and NPS planning procedures.

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) announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement/general management plan (EIS/GMP), Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(c), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Rock Creek Park and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (FEIS/ GMP), a unit of the National Park System within the District of Columbia.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Part 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has prepared and approved a Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) for Elwha River ecosystem restoration at Olympic National Park. The Final SEIS supplements the 1996 implementation EIS, and will serve as a blueprint in guiding implementation of the Elwhat River ecosystem restoration initiative as called for in the 1992 Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act. The Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register published notification of the filing of the Final EIS on September 2, 2005. Decision: As soon as practical Olympic National Park will begin to implement the restoration strategies, mitigations, and projects identified and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative contained in the Final SEIS. This course of action and alternative options were addressed in the Final and Draft SEIS (the availability of the latter for public review was announced in the Federal Register on November 16, 2004). The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences were assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures identified. Both a No Action alternative and ``environmentally preferred'' options were identified and analyzed. Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of Decision may obtain a copy by contacting the Superintendent, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362; or via telephone request at (360) 565-3000.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (CMP/EIS). The ROD provides the background of the CMP/EIS, other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the environmentally preferable alternative, and public involvement in the decision-making process. The ROD was approved by the Southeast Regional Director on August 30, 2005. The CMP/EIS provides a framework for the management, use, and development of the National Historic Trail by the NPS and its partners over the next 15 to 20 years. Beginning at Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama, the trail follows the route of the March 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, traveling through Lowndes County along U.S. Highway 80, and ending at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. The CMP/EIS describes four management alternatives for consideration and analyzes the environmental impacts of those alternatives. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement the plan and the preferred alternative, known as Alternative C. Of the four alternatives presented in the plan, Alternative C stresses the broadest range of interpretive themes relating to the events of March 1965 and provides an extensive plan for resource preservation, protection, and commemoration. Among its priorities is the coordinated protection of historically intact viewsheds along US Highway 80, the most extensive certification of commemorative sites and streetscapes, design proposals for new park spaces, and marked walking and biking rails. Alternative C also outlines a strategy for establishing interpretive centers and development of corresponding interpretive programs in Selma, Montgomery, and Lowndes County.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public Law 91-190, 83 Stat 852, as codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a record of decision on the abbreviated final environmental impact statement for the Boston Harbor Islands general management plan. On October 17, 2005 the Northeast Regional Director approved the Record of Decision for the project. The Record of Decision concludes the environmental analysis of the first general management for Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and adopts the plan. The plan defines the park's mission and management direction and establishes a basic foundation for decision making in consultation with stakeholders. The primary action of the plan is to designate specific ``management areas'' for each area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. An extensive participatory process has characterized the development of the general management plan, including consultation with American Indian tribes. Implementation of the proposed general management plan would not result in the impairment of park resources and would enable the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership to protect park resources and provide for their enjoyment by visitors. The National Park Service commits to take all practicable measures to avoid or minimize environmental impacts that could result from implementation of the general management plan.

Pursuant to subsection 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. subsection 4332 (2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Colorado River Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, Arizona. The FEIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of several alternatives, including a modified preferred alternative, for future management of public use of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park, including the Lower Gorge. The analysis includes both commercial and non-commercial uses. The FEIS incorporates changes based on comments on the Draft EIS, and includes the responses to public comments.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix (1988)), that the Preservation Technology and Training Board (Board) of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service will meet on Monday, October 31, 2005, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Board was established by Congress to provide leadership, policy advice, and professional oversight to the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (National Center) in compliance with section 404 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 470x-2(e)). The Board will meet in the De Vargas Room of the Hotel St. Francis at 210 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501telephone (505) 983-5700. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. The Board's meeting agenda will include: National Center response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita; review and comment on National Center operational priorities for FY 2006; status of FY 2006 National Center budget and initiatives; development and launch of the Lee H. Nelson Prize in Historic Preservation Technology; proposed Wingspread Conference on Sustainability in Preservation; and Board workgroup reports. The Board meeting is open to the public. Facilities and space for accommodating members of the public are limited, however, and persons will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Any member of the public may file a written statement concerning any of the matters to be discussed by the Board. Persons wishing more information concerning this meeting, or who wish to submit written statements, may contact: Mr. John A. Burns, Acting Assistant Associate Director, Heritage Preservation Assistance Programs, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Room 2250 MIB, Washington, DC 20240telephone (202) 354-2118. Increased security in the Washington, DC area may cause delays in the delivery of the U.S. Mail or commercial delivery to government office buildings. In addition to U.S. Mail or commercial delivery, written comments may be sent by fax to Mr. Burns at (202) 371-6473. Minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection no later than 90 days after the meeting at the office of the Acting Assistant Associate Director, Heritage Preservation Assistance Programs, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Room 2250 MIB, Washington, DC 20240telephone (202) 354-2118.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has prepared and approved a Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement and General Management Plan, Crater Lake National Park. The new GMP replaces the 1977 Master Plan, and will serve as a blueprint for guiding operations, resource protection, and visitor services in the park for the next 10-15 years. The requisite no-action ``wait period'' was initiated June 10, 2005, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Decision: As soon as practical the National Park Service will begin to implement the actions and programs identified and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) contained in the FEIS. This alternative was deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative. This course of action and three alternatives (including no-action) were identified and analyzed in the Final and Draft Environmental Impact Statements (the opportunity for public review of the latter was announced in the Federal Register on August 3, 2004). The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures have been identified. Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of Decision may obtain a copy by contacting the Superintendent, Crater Lake National Park, P.O. Box 7, Crater Lake, Oregon 97604; or via telephone request at (541) 594-2211.