National Park Service February 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Oil and Gas Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Big Thicket National Preserve, TX
Document Number: 06-1899
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-28
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Oil and Gas Management Plan, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas. On February 3, 2006, the Director, Intermountain Region approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative contained in the FEIS issued on December 16, 2006. The following course of action will occur under the preferred alternative: An oil and gas management plan will be implemented that clearly articulates the Current Legal and Policy Requirements applicable to the exploration, production, and transportation of nonfederal oil and gas resources in the Preserve; performance standards, mitigation measures, and operating stipulations will be developed and applied Preserve-wide to protect resources and values; and Special Management Areas will be formally designated and will include timing and surface use stipulations for different types of nonfederal oil and gas operations. This course of action and 2 alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigating measures were identified. The Record of Decision includes a description of the background of the project, statement of the decision made, mitigation measures/ monitoring, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a description of the environmentally preferred alternative, and an overview of public and agency involvement in the decision-making process.
National Capital Region; Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Designation as a Unit of the National Park System
Document Number: 06-1732
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Under and by virtue of the authority conferred upon the Secretary of the Interior by section 3 of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Act of December 19, 2003 (117 Stat. 2873), the property at 1538 Ninth Street, NW., Washington, DC, with the structure thereon, is established and designated a unit of the National Park System having the name ``Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.'' The administration, protection and development of this national historic site shall be exercised by the National Park Service in accordance with the provisions of the authorizing legislation as well as laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467). Warning is expressly given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, deface, or remove any feature of this historic site.
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, Personal Watercraft Use
Document Number: E6-2647
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2006-02-24
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to designate an area for the limited purpose of providing passage access for personal watercraft (PWC) through park waters in the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area (GATE), New York/New Jersey. This proposed rule implements the provisions of the NPS general regulations authorizing park areas to allow the use of PWC by promulgating a special regulation. The individual parks must determine whether PWC use is appropriate for a specific park area based on an evaluation of that area's enabling legislation, resources and values, other visitor uses, and overall management objectives. The proposed rule designating areas where PWC may be used in the Jamaica Bay unit of GATE, New York/New Jersey is published in today's Federal Register.
Gateway National Recreation Area, Jamaica Bay Unit, Personal Watercraft Use
Document Number: E6-2643
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2006-02-24
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to designate areas for the limited purpose of providing passage access through park waters for personal watercraft (PWC) use in the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area (GATE), New York/New Jersey. This proposed rule implements the provisions of the NPS general regulations authorizing park areas to allow the use of PWC by promulgating a special regulation. Individual parks must determine whether PWC use is appropriate for a specific park area based on an evaluation of that area's enabling legislation, resources and values, other visitor uses, and overall management objectives. The proposed rule designating areas where PWC may be used in the Sandy Hook unit of GATE, New York/New Jersey is published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
Dog Management Plan; Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Document Number: E6-2488
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-22
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental impact statement for a Dog Management Plan for Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The purpose of the Dog Management Plan is to provide clear, enforceable guidelines to determine the manner and extent of dog-walking use in appropriate areas of the park. The objectives are to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources; provide a variety of visitor experiences; improve visitor and employee safety; reduce user conflicts; and to maintain park resources and values for future generations. The Dog Management Plan will also address public desire to walk dogs off-leash in certain areas of GGNRA. Background: A dog management plan is needed at this time because the existing NPS regulation governing dogs in parks, codified at 36 CFR 2.15, has not been effective in resolving longstanding, controversial resource management and public use conflicts and safety issues at GGNRA. If no action is taken, GGNRA resources and values could be compromised to the extent that areas of the park may not be available for enjoyment by future generations. A history of a dog management policy that has been inconsistent with NPS regulations has resulted in controversy and litigation, compromised visitor and employee safety, affected visitor experience and resulted in resource degradation. The conflicts will likely escalate if not addressed in a comprehensive dog management plan. In order to implement a dog management plan that may allow off- leash dog walking, a special federal regulation would need to be promulgated governing dog walking in GGNRA. Largely because of intense public interest and debate regarding dog walking, GGNRA has decided to use a negotiated rulemaking process to reach consensus on a proposed regulation for the management of dogs within the park. Although each process has its own separate legal requirements, the negotiated rulemaking process will run concurrently with the preparation of the EIS in order to facilitate informed decision-making. GGNRA intends to create a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, consistent with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, made up of representatives of interest groups that could be affected by a change to the current regulation governing dogs. The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee will negotiate to reach consensus on concepts and language to use as the basis for a special regulation for dog management at GGNRA. If the Committee reaches a consensus on most or many issues, that consensus would be incorporated into one or more alternatives in the Draft EIS and if selected, would ultimately become the basis of a special regulation for dog-walking within GGNRA. Scoping Process: To be most helpful to the scoping process necessary to inform preparation of the dog management plan and Draft EIS, comments regarding the scope of the plan/EIS, relevant environmental information, or issues or concerns are encouraged. All comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register; immediately upon confirmation of this date it will be announced on the park's Web site (https://www.nps.gov/goga). The NPS intends to conduct public scoping meetings in the GGNRA area in early 2006. Please check the park's Web site, the NPS planning, environment, and public comment (PEPC) Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga), or telephone the GGNRA Negotiated Rulemaking Information Line (415) 561-4728 for current information on when and where these meetings will be held. To request a sign language interpreter for a meeting, please call Mike Feinstein at (415) 561-4733 a week in advance of the meeting. Regularly updated information regarding this project can be found on the GGNRA and PEPC websites, and will be available for public review at the park's visitor centers at Fort Mason, Pacifica, Presidio, Marin Headlands and Muir Woods. A public scoping brochure that further explains the purpose, needs, issues, and objectives of the plan/EIS will also be available before the meetings. Copies of the brochure will be sent to those on the Dog Management Plan mailing list, or may be obtained on the GGNRA or PEPC websites, or at the GGNRA visitor centers at Fort Mason, Presidio, Pacifica, Marin Headlands and Muir Woods. All interested individuals and organizations may submit comments online through the PEPC website (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga). Click on ``Golden Gate National Recreation Area Dog Management Plan'' and follow the instructions on the website. Detailed written comments may also be sent to the attention of the Superintendent, GGNRA, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 94123. Please note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record. If individuals commenting request that their name and/or address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. As always: The NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered. When using PEPC to comment, if you would like your name and/or address withheld from the public record but would like to receive future mailings on the project, you may fill in the name and address field, and mark ``keep my contact information private''. If you do not want to receive any additional information on the project in the future and are only using PEPC to comment, you may put N/A in the name and address field. Decision Process: At this time it is anticipated that the draft plan/EIS will be made available for public review in late fall, 2006. Availability of the draft document will be formally announced through the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, as well as through local and regional news media, the GGNRA and PEPC websites, and direct mailing to the project mailing list. Public meetings on the draft plan/EIS will also be held following its release; as soon as dates and locations are determined these will be announced via local and regional press and direct mailings. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for approval of the Record of Decision is the NPS Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: The Trustees of Reservations, Beverly, MA
Document Number: E6-2480
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-22
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Saint Martin's Waynick Museum, Lacey, WA
Document Number: E6-2448
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-22
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Document Number: E6-2447
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-22
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Document Number: E6-2443
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-22
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission; Notice of Public Meeting
Document Number: E6-2316
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
Document Number: E6-2311
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Seagrass Restoration Within Biscayne National Park
Document Number: E6-2310
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Under the provisions of Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a Seagrass Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (RP/PEIS) to guide all future seagrass restoration activities performed within Biscayne National Park (BISC). NPS is undertaking restoration planning and impact analysis to identify and assess the potential impacts of performing restoration activities on injured seagrass at vessel grounding sites within BISC. As part of this process NPS will evaluate a range of alternatives for seagrass restoration to determine the potential impacts of those alternatives, including those on land use, water quality, biological resources, geology, cultural resources, human health and safety, and aesthetics. The purpose of the RP/PEIS is to develop a restoration plan that can be used by the NPS to restore seagrass beds. This plan is needed to remedy injuries caused by vessel groundings. Preliminary alternatives that may be evaluated for seagrass restoration include sediment placement, sediment stabilization, seagrass transplantation, fertilizer use, protective measures, and monitoring. To facilitate sound planning and consideration of environmental resources, the NPS intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the seagrass RP/PEIS and to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the RP/PEIS. Vessel groundings and propeller dredging are common occurrences in BISC due to shallow water conditions outside marked channels. When a vessel runs aground on a seagrass bed, its propellers usually cut or uproot seagrasses, leaving a ``scar.'' It can take years for seagrasses to recover from such damage, and in some areas it may never grow back. When vessels attempt to ``power off,'' they blow large holes (``blowholes'') in the bottom of the bay displacing large volumes of sediment and seagrass. Displaced sediment often smothers bottom- dwelling organisms. Seagrass beds are a valuable natural resource because they provide a variety of important services to the marine environment including enhancing sediment stability, decreasing wave energy, providing nursery habitat and feeding grounds for fish and invertebrates, providing feeding grounds for wading and diving birds, providing food and habitat for endangered species, and creating habitat and substrate diversity. BISC seagrass beds are natural resources that the NPS preserves and protects for the education, inspiration, recreation, and enjoyment of present and future generations. The vessel groundings cause injury to those natural resources in BISC. The Park System Resource Protection Act (PSRPA) authorizes the NPS to seek compensation for injuries to park system resources and use the recovered funds to restore, replace, or acquire equivalent resources, and to monitor such resources. It is the intent of NPS to prepare this seagrass RP/PEIS so that a tiered process can be used to facilitate future restoration actions within BISC. The seagrass RP/PEIS will facilitate subsequent environmental compliance and the development of individual restoration plans.
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Restoration Plan/Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Coral Restoration Within Biscayne National Park
Document Number: E6-2309
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Under the provisions of Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing a Coral Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (RP/PEIS). This plan is intended to guide all future coral restoration activities performed within Biscayne National Park (BISC). NPS is undertaking restoration planning and an impact analysis to identify and assess potential impacts of performing restoration activities on injured coral reef communities at vessel grounding sites within BISC. As part of this process NPS will evaluate a range of alternatives for coral reef restoration to determine the potential impacts of those alternatives, including those on land use, water quality, biological resources, geology, cultural resources, human health and safety, and aesthetics. The alternatives that may be evaluated for coral restoration are specific for each injury type including geological, biological, and other. Preliminary alternatives for geological injuries include seal/fill fractures, removal of material/rubble, filling fractures with rubble or other materials, translocate biota to stabilize surface, promote natural depositional processes, re-attachment of displaced substrate, re-establish topography, stabilize rubble, and relocation of rubble. Preliminary alternatives for biological injuries include re-attachment on-site, translocation/transplanting, seeding, removal of toxic material (e.g., bottom paint), and removal of acute and chronic point source and on-site treatment of water column contaminants. Preliminary alternatives for other injuries would include removal of debris. The purpose of the coral RP/PEIS is to develop a restoration plan that can be used by the NPS to restore coral reefs. This plan is needed to remedy injuries and damage caused by vessel groundings. To facilitate sound planning and consideration of environmental resources, the NPS intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the coral RP/PEIS and to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the RP/PEIS. Vessel groundings are common occurrences in BISC due to shallow water conditions outside marked channels. When a vessel runs aground on a coral reef, injuries associated with the grounding and subsequent extrication include surficial scraping of the hard bottom substrate and reef structure, blowhole formations (displacement of unconsolidated substrate that occurs when the vessel attempts to power off) fractured substrate, loss of topography, displacement of substrate (rubble), loss of living organisms, hull paint deposition on scarred substrate, introduction of contaminants to the water column (e.g., fuel, cargo) and keel scars. Coral reefs are some of the oldest, most unique, and productive ecosystems. The coral reefs within BISC are natural resources that the NPS preserves and protects for the education, inspiration, recreation, and enjoyment of present and future generations. Vessel groundings often cause structural injury to the reef matrix increasing the potential for continued erosion. Lack of management intervention after a grounding incident often results in a continued degradation and enlargement of the impacted site over time. The Park System Resource Protection Act (PSRPA) authorizes the NPS to seek compensation for injuries to Park System resources and use the recovered funds to restore, replace, or acquire equivalent resources, and to monitor and study such resources. It is the intent of NPS to prepare this coral RP/ PEIS to facilitate so that a tiered process can be used to facilitate further site-specific coral reef restoration actions within BISC.
Establishment of Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Dog Management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Document Number: 06-1529
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2006-02-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The Secretary of the Interior is establishing the Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Dog Management to negotiate and develop a special regulation for dog management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990, 5 U.S.C. 564.
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
Document Number: E6-1922
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-13
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of meeting
Document Number: E6-1811
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-10
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Commission Act and 36 CFR Part 65 that a meeting of the Landmarks Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board will be held beginning at 1 p.m. on April 11, 2006, at the location listed below. The meeting will continue beginning at 9 a.m. on April 12.
Great Sand Dunes National Park Advisory Council Meeting
Document Number: E6-1810
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-10
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve announces a meeting of the Great Sand Dunes National Park Advisory Council, which was established to provide guidance to the Secretary on long-term planning for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting
Document Number: E6-1809
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-10
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Environmental Statements; Notice of Intent: Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, NY; General Management Plan
Document Number: 06-1215
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-09
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190 section 102(3)(c)), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites located in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York. Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites is an administrative entity formed by the National Park Service to manage three separately established national historic sites: Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Together the sites embrace 777 acres of federally owned land along the east bank of the Hudson River. Planners in the National Park Service Northeast Region will prepare the GMP/ EIS with assistance from advisors and consultants. The GMP/EIS will propose a long-term approach (15 to 20 years) to managing Roosevelt- Vanderbilt National Historic Sites that is consistent with the sites' mission, NPS policy, and other laws and regulations. As required by law and policy, during the planning process, the team will formulate a range of alternatives for natural and cultural resource protection, visitor use and interpretation, and operations. The EIS will assess the impacts of the alternative management strategies to be described in the plan. The team will invite the public to share their thoughts and ideas related to the management of the national historic sites early in the planning process and throughout the preparation of the GMP/EIS through public meetings, the Internet, and other media. Specifically, the team will seek public comment at the draft GMP/EIS phase. Following public review processes outlined under National Environmental Protection Act, the final plan will become official through the approval of a Record of Decision, which will authorize implementation of the preferred alternative. The Record of Decision is expected to be completed in 2008.
Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission
Document Number: 06-1214
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-09
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
This notice sets forth the date of the February 18, 2006 meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
Document Number: E6-1429
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-03
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
Document Number: E6-1428
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-03
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO
Document Number: E6-1381
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-02
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Horner Collection, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Document Number: E6-1380
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-02
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Renton Historical Society and Museum, Renton, WA
Document Number: E6-1378
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-02
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Meeting
Document Number: E6-1376
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-02
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
This is notice of a meeting of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee. The next Review Committee meeting is a public teleconference on March 3, 2006, to consider the disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains; discuss the agenda for the Review Committee meeting tentatively scheduled for May 30-31, 2006, in Juneau, AK; review the Review Committee's meeting, findings, and dispute procedures; and receive presentations and statements by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, and the public.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Nomination Solicitation
Document Number: E6-1292
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
This notice is a solicitation on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior for nominations to fill a vacancy on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee. Nominations may be submitted by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional Native American religious leaders. Nominees must be traditional Native American religious leaders. Appointments are made by the Secretary of the Interior.
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO
Document Number: E6-1279
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO
Document Number: E6-1275
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Document Number: E6-1274
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Colorado Museum, Boulder, CO
Document Number: E6-1273
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Fort Collins Museum, Fort Collins, CO
Document Number: E6-1270
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Fort Collins Museum, Fort Collins, CO
Document Number: E6-1268
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Notice of Assessment of Suitability and Non-Suitability for Further Study of Lands Within Cape Cod National Seashore for Consideration as Wilderness Areas
Document Number: 06-909
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Pursuant to Civil Action No. 03-04 (RMC), The Wilderness Society v. Gale Norton, January 10, 2005, and in accordance with National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2001 section 6.2.1, the NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment to determine if lands within Cape Cod National Seashore meet criteria indicating suitability for designation as wilderness. The Cape Cod National Seashore assessment found that the lands referenced within the park's General Management Plan as Natural Zones: (1) Are predominantly roadless and undeveloped; (2) are greater than 5,000 acres in size or of sufficient size as to make practicable their preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (3) meet the wilderness character criteria listed in section 2(c) of the Wilderness Act, and NPS Management Policies (2001). The assessment also found that the remaining areas of Cape Cod National Seashore; (1) Are not predominantly roadless and undeveloped; (2) are not greater than 5,000 acres in size or of sufficient size as to make practicable their preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (3) do not meet the wilderness character criteria listed in the Wilderness Act and NPS Management Policies (2001). Based on these findings, the NPS has concluded that the Natural Zones within Cape Cod National Seashore warrant further study for possible inclusion in wilderness.
Notice of Assessment of Suitability and Non-Suitability for Further Study of Lands Within Redwood National Park for Consideration as Wilderness Areas
Document Number: 06-908
Type: Notice
Date: 2006-02-01
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Pursuant to Civil Action No. 03-04 (RMC), The Wilderness Society v. Gale Norton, January 10, 2005, and in accordance with National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2001 section 6.2.1, the NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment to determine if lands within Redwood National Park meet criteria indicating suitability for preservation as wilderness. The Redwood National Park staff reviewed management related documents that discussed potential wilderness, reviewed existing resource conditions, and weighed this information against Primary Suitability Criteria, section 6.2.1.1, of Management Policies 2001. Since the expansion of Redwood National Park in 1978, the park has undertaken an intense watershed rehabilitation program with a focus on removing roads. Since park expansion in 1978, about 219 miles of road have been removed and another 123 miles are proposed for removal within the Redwood Creek portion of the park. The 1999 Final General Management/General Plan and FEIS for Redwood National and State Parks states that until watershed restoration activities are completed that no wilderness area will be proposed. The 1979 General Management Plan concluded that a wilderness recommendation would be premature until rehabilitation efforts are completed because of the continuing need for large construction vehicles and the maintenance and heavy use of roads, activities inconsistent with wilderness designation. Based on these findings, the NPS has concluded that the lands within Redwood National Park do not warrant further study for wilderness evaluation at this time. However, following successful completion of watershed restoration activities in 12-15 years, or during the next General Management Plan effort, reconsideration of wilderness suitability for certain tracts of land within Redwood Creek could be warranted.
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