[Federal Register: August 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 147)]
[Notices]
[Page 44416-44417]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02au05-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and Initiation of Public and Agency Scoping for the Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park Air Tour Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in cooperation with
the National Park Service (NPS), began development of an Air Tour
Management Plan (ATMP) and associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in February 2003. The ATMP is being
established pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of
2000 (Pub. L. 106-181) and its implementing regulations contained in
Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 136, National Parks Air
Tour Management. The objective of the ATMP is to develop acceptable and
effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse
impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural
resources, cultural resources, and visitor experiences of Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park.
The FAA and NPS have now decided to proceed with development of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project. This decision is
based on information received through the EA scoping process, the
environmental analysis completed by the Agencies to date, the
consideration of preliminary ATMP alternatives, and through
consultations conducted pursuant to Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
By this notice the FAA and NPS are initiating a 30-day scoping
period for this EIS. The FAA and NPS are now inviting the public,
agencies, and other interested parties to provide written comments,
suggestions, and input regarding the scope of issues and the
identification of significant issues to be addressed in the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Comments previously submitted in
response to the EA scoping will not need to be resubmitted, as they
will be considered as part of the EIS process and record. No additional
scoping meetings are scheduled.
DATES: The 45-day scoping comment period will commence upon publication
of this Notice. Please submit any written response you may have within
45 days from the date of this Notice or no later than September 15,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Please address your written comments to: Docket Management
System, Doc No. FAA-2005-21938, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room
Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
You must identify the docket number FAA-2005-21938 at the beginning
of your comments. If you wish to receive confirmation that FAA received
your comments, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. You may
review the public docket containing comments in person in the Dockets
Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Dockets Office is on the plaza level of the NASSIF
Building at the Department of Transportation at the above address.
You may also submit comments and review public dockets on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Comments previously received in
response to the EA scoping may also be reviewed at this
[[Page 44417]]
Web site under Docket No. FAA-2004-17174.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Armstrong, Air Tour Management
Plan Program Manager, Executive Resource Staff, AWP-4, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western-Pacific Region. Mailing address: P.O. Box
92007, Los Angeles, California 90009-2007. Telephone: (310) 725-3818.
Street address: 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.
E-mail: Brian.Armstrong@faa.gov. Park specific information can be
obtained from Cindy Orlando, Superintendent, Hawai'i Volcanoes National
Park, P.O. Box 52, Volcanoes, HI 96718. Telephone: (808) 985-6025. E-
mail: Cindy_Orlando@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In developing an ATMP and any associated
rulemaking actions, the FAA is required to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), which calls on Federal
agencies to consider environmental issues as part of their decision
making process. For the purposes of compliance with NEPA on this
project, the FAA is the Lead Agency and the NPS is a Cooperating
Agency. The ATMP Program Office and the NPS Natural Sounds Program
Office are responsible for the overall implementation of the ATMP
Program. Brian Armstrong is the FAA's principal program manager
responsible for all parts of the EIS and performance of required
consultation regarding cultural and historic resources and endangered
and threatened species. For the park, Superintendent Cindy Orlando is
responsible for park operations and management and for recommending the
draft and final EIS and Record of Decision to the Pacific West Regional
Director.
The EIS is being prepared in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E,
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, and NPS Director's
Order 12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact
Analysis, and Decision-making, and NPS Management Policies. The FAA is
now inviting the public, agencies, and other interested parties to
provide written comments, suggestions, and input regarding: (1) The
scope, issues, and concerns related to the development of the ATMP for
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park; (2) the scope of issues and the
identification of significant issues regarding commercial air tours and
their potential impacts to be addressed in the environmental process;
(3) the potential effects of commercial air tours on natural resources,
cultural resources, and the visitor experience; (4) preliminary ATMP
alternatives; and, (5) past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future
actions which, when considered with ATMP alternatives, may result in
significant cumulative impacts. The FAA requests that comments be as
specific as possible in response to actions that are being proposed
under this notice.
Scoping documents that describe the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
ATMP project in greater detail and the preliminary ATMP alternatives
under consideration are available at the following locations:
FAA Air Tour Management Plan Program Web site, http://www.atmp.faa.gov/Hawaii_Volcanoes.htm
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, 1 Crater Rim Road, Hawaii
National Park, HI 96718
National Park Service, Pacific Islands Network, 300 Ala
Moana Ave., Box 50165, Honolulu, HI 96850
Hawai'i State Library, Hawai'i Documents Center--478 South
King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Bond Memorial Public Library--3903 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau,
HI 96755
Hilo Public Library--300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
Holualoa Public Library--76-5936 Mamalahoa Highway,
Holualoa, HI 96725
Honoka'a Public Library--45-3380 Mamane Street, Bldg.
3, Honoka'a, HI 96727
Kailua-Kona Public Library--75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-
Kona, HI 96740
Kea'au Public Library--16-571 Kea'au-Pahoa Road, Kea'au,
HI 96749
Kealakekua Public Library--Mamalahoa Hwy, Kealakekua, HI
96750
Laupahoehoe Public Library--35-2065 Old Mamalahoa Hwy,
Laupahoehoe, HI 96764
Mountain View Public Library--1235 Volcano, Mountain View,
HI 96771
Na'alehu Public Library--5669 Mamalahoa Hwy, Na'alehu, HI
96771
Pahala Public Library--315 Pikake St., Pahala, HI 96777
Thelma Parker Public Library--67-1209 Mamalahoa Highway,
Kamuela, HI 96743-8429
Issued in Los Angeles, CA on July 25, 2005.
Brian Q. Armstrong,
FAA, Air Tour Management Plan Program Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-15178 Filed 8-1-05; 8:45 am]
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