[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 201 (Thursday, October 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61440-61441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24503]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
General Management Plan: Lava Beds National Monument, Siskiyou
and Modoc Counties, CA; Notice of Termination of the Environmental
Impact Statement
SUMMARY: The National Park Service is terminating the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan,
Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake, California. A Notice of Intent
to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on July 10,
2006. The National Park Service has since determined that an
Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is the appropriate
environmental documentation for the GMP; this determination includes
careful consideration of all public and other agencies' comments during
the scoping period. The new GMP for Lava Beds National Monument will
update long-term guidance for resource management, visitor services and
interpretive programming.
Background: The planning team originally scoped the GMP update as
an EIS, however no concerns or issues expressed during public scoping
and preliminary development of the GMP alternatives convey either the
potential for controversy or identify potential significant impacts. In
summer of 2007, the planning team drafted three ``action'' alternatives
for the GMP. These preliminary alternatives explored ways to enhance
long-term preservation of park resources and provide new recreational
and educational opportunities. The planning team produced a newsletter
and comment form to seek public input on the preliminary alternatives
in winter of 2008. All feedback consistently affirmed that the planning
team provided an appropriate range of future management directions for
the monument. Most of the public comments on the preliminary
alternatives were supportive of various aspects of the proposed
``action'' concepts and desired conditions.
To date, no major concerns or issues have been expressed during
public involvement for the GMP that would convey the potential for
public controversy. Initial analysis of the alternatives has revealed
potential for neither major nor significant effects on the human
environment or any potential for impairing park resources and values.
Most of the potential impacts from the alternatives are expected to be
negligible to moderate in magnitude. Many of the actions proposed in
the GMP will have benefits to the monument's ecosystems, cultural
landscapes and visitor experiences. For these reasons, the NPS
determined the appropriate level of conservation planning and
environmental impact analysis for the GMP is an EA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft GMP and EA will be integrated. The
combined document is expected to be distributed for a 60-day public
review period by spring/summer of 2009. The NPS will notify the public
by mail, Web site postings, local and regional media, and other means,
to provide regularly updated information on where and how to obtain a
copy of the GMP/EA, how to provide comments, and the confirmed dates
and locations for local public meetings. For further information
contact Dave Kruse, Superintendent, Lava Beds National Monument, 1
Indian Well Headquarters, Tulelake, CA 96134 (telephone: 530-667-8101;
e-mail: [email protected]).
Following release of the GMP/EA and due consideration of all
comments as may be received, a decision regarding selection of a
preferred vision for the new GMP is expected to be made in winter 2009/
2010. The official responsible for the final decision is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently the
official responsible for implementing
[[Page 61441]]
the new GMP would be the Superintendent, Lava Beds National Monument.
Dated: August 14, 2008.
Cicely A. Muldoon,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-24503 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P