[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 17763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7871]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
National Park Service Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact
Statement Record of Decision
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the
Servicewide Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability
of the Record of Decision for the Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) covering all units of the National Park System.
On March 5, 2010, the Deputy Director of the National Park Service
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 November 27,
2009. Three alternatives were evaluated in the FEIS, each of which
would clarify the rights and responsibilities of researchers and NPS
management in connection with the allocation of benefits from valuable
discoveries, inventions, and other developments that result from
research involving specimens lawfully collected from units of the
National Park System. The No Action Alternative allows scientists to
use material originating as National Park Service research specimens to
conduct research that may lead to commercial products but without any
obligation to share the benefits with the National Park Service.
Another alternative prohibits scientific research involving National
Park Service research specimens that is in any way associated with the
development of commercial products. A third alternative, the
Environmentally Preferred Alternative, allows the National Park Service
and researchers who study material associated with a Scientific
Research and Collecting Permit to enter into benefits-sharing
agreements on a case-by-case basis before using their research results
for any commercial purpose. This Environmentally Preferred Alternative
has three considerations regarding the disclosure of financial
information: Always disclose, never disclose, or comply with
confidentiality laws regarding disclosure. The Preferred Alternative
implements the benefits-sharing agreement requirement, while complying
with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure of royalty rate or
related information.
The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made,
synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision,
a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, a finding
of no impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in
the decision-making process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Mills, Benefits-Sharing EIS,
Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
82190, (307) 344-2203, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Record of Decision may be
obtained from the contact listed above; online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov (select ``Washington Office'' from the park menu
and then follow the link for benefits-sharing); in the office of the
National Park Service Associate Director for Natural Resource
Stewardship and Science, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC; and in the
office of the Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Dated: March 5, 2010.
Daniel N. Wenk,
Deputy Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7871 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
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