[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25917]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 19, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Designating a Segment of the Klamath River a Component of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
AGENCY: Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority granted the Secretary of the
Interior by section 2 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (82 Stat. 906,
16 U.S.C. 1273), and upon proper application of the Governor of the
State of Oregon, an 11-mile segment of the Klamath River is hereby
designated as a State-administered component of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System. This action is based on the designation of the
river by the State of Oregon and the protection offered this river and
its immediate environment by and pursuant to applicable State laws and
regulations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Haas, National Park Service,
Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 909 First Avenue, Seattle,
Washington 98104-1060, telephone (206) 220-4120.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 22, 1993, Oregon Governor Barbara
Roberts petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to add a segment of
the Klamath River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. (See
Federal Register of March 4, 1994, page 10423.) Section 2(a)(ii) of the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act allows a governor to request that rivers
already protected in a State System be included in the National System.
In her application, Governor Roberts requested that the 11-mile reach
of the Klamath River from the J.C. Boyle Powerhouse (river mile 220.3)
downstream to the Oregon-California border (river mile 209.3) be
protected as a wild and scenic river. Pursuant to section 2(a)(ii), the
river will be managed by the State of Oregon at no cost to the Federal
Government except for those lands currently managed by the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM).
For a State-managed river to be eligible for the National System,
three conditions must be met: (1) The river must be free-flowing and
possess at least one ``outstandingly remarkable'' natural, cultural or
recreational value, (2) the river must be part of a State system; and
(3) the State must have effective mechanisms in place to protect the
outstandingly remarkable values.
The responsibility for making determinations of eligibility has
been delegated to the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS Pacific
Northwest Region conducted a study and environmental assessment with
the BLM acting as a cooperating agency. In February of 1994, the NPS
released the Draft Klamath Wild & Scenic River Eligibility Report and
Environmental Assessment for public review and comment. A period for
public comment on the report was provided from March 4, 1994, to April
28, 1994. The draft report was finalized based on comments received. On
August 12 the NPS published in the Federal Register a notice that it
had found that designation would not result in impacts significantly
affecting the quality of the environment and invited public comment
through September 9. The notice also announced that the river under
consideration had been found eligible for the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System and the State of Oregon had met the criteria for
designation.
This action is taken following public involvement and consultation
with the Departments of Agriculture, Army, Energy and Transportation;
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; all Department of the
Interior agencies; the National Marine Fisheries Service; the States of
Oregon and California; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and
all other Federal agencies that might have an interest.
Based on the recommendations of the NPS and a review of all
relevant documents, I have determined that the 11-mile stretch of the
Klamath River should be designated as a State-administered component of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as provided for in section
2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Notice is hereby given that
effective upon this date, the segment of the Klamath River from the
J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to the Oregon-California border is approved for
inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System as a National
Scenic River.
Dated: September 22, 1994.
Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 94-25917 Filed 10-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
