95-31065. General Management Plan Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona; Notice of Intent to Prepare Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66322-66323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31065]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


General Management Plan Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 
Arizona; Notice of Intent to Prepare Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement

SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public Law 91-190, and the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR 1502.9(c), the National 
Park Service will prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement 
(SEIS) to the 1995 draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement (GMP/DEIS) for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. 
This notice serves to inform the public of the continuation of the GMP/
EIS planning process.

BACKGROUND: In May 1995, the National Park Service issued a draft GMP/
EIS for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. The draft GMP 
described and analyzed a proposed action and an alternative strategy 
for the general management of the monument including resource 
protection, visitor use, and facility development. An 

[[Page 66323]]
accompanying DEIS assessed the environmental and socioeconomic impacts 
associated with each alternative.
    Substantive public and agency comments were received on the draft 
document during the 60-day comment period that ended on July 10, 1995. 
Most comments focused on the following issues: changes proposed for 
State Route 85; the range of alternatives and suggestions for new 
alternatives; costs associated with implementing various elements of 
alternatives; and mitigation strategies for the protection of natural 
resources, especially threatened and endangered species. Based on an 
analysis of these comments, the National Park Service has determined 
that a supplemental draft GMP/EIS will be prepared.
    The supplemental draft GMP/EIS will address the comments and 
suggestions received during the initial public comment period. The 
supplement will include clarifications of the original alternatives and 
a discussion of new alternatives to be added since release of the 
initial draft GMP/EIS. It will also present an analysis of the 
environmental consequences associated with each alternative.
    The official who is responsible for the current GMP/EIA planning 
process is Stanley T. Albright, Field Director, Pacific West Area, 
National Park Service. The supplemental draft GMP/EIS is expected to be 
available for public review in early 1996, and it will be provided to 
all persons and organizations who received the initial DEIS. Upon 
approval, officials responsible for implementing the plan will be the 
Superintendent, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and the Field 
Director, Intermountain Field Area, National Park Service.

    Dated: December 12, 1995.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Field Director, Pacific West Area.
[FR Doc. 95-31065 Filed 12-20-95; 8:45 am]
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