99-31561. Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and General Management Plan for Zion National Park

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 233 (Monday, December 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68114-68115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31561]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 
General Management Plan for Zion National Park

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and General 
Management Plan (DEIS/GMP) for Zion National Park, Utah.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS/GMP will be accepted through February 11, 
2000. Public meetings concerning the DEIS/GMP will be held at the 
following locations and dates: All meetings will run from 7-10 p.m.
January 6, 2000
    Sharwan Smith Center, SUU, 351 W. Center Street, Cedar City, UT
January 10, 2000
    Town Offices, Public Assembly Hall, 118 Lion Boulevard, Springdale, 
UT
January 11, 2000
    Kanab City Library, 374 N. Main Street, Kanab, UT
January 12, 2000
    Interagency Offices and Information Center, 345 E. Riverside Road, 
St. George, UT
January 13, 2000
    Utah Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt 
Lake City, UT

    The draft also will be available for review on the Internet at 
www.nps.gov/planning.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the DEIS/GMP, you may mail your 
comments to the Superintendent, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 
84767-1099. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would 
withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. 
If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not 
consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
    Public reading copies of the DIES/GMP will be available for review 
at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah 
84767-1099; Telephone [phone]
Planning and Environmental Quality, Intermountain Support Office--
Denver, National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287, 
Telephone: [phone] or [phone]
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, Telephone: 
[phone]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS/GMP analyzes four alternatives for 
managing and using Zion National Park. The plan is intended to provide 
a foundation to help park managers guide park programs and set 
priorities. The alternative that is finally chosen as the plan will 
guide the management of Zion National Park over the next 15 to 20 
years.

[[Page 68115]]

    The ``no-action'' alternative is a continuation of the present 
management course regarding the management of visitor use. Three action 
alternatives would create zones within the park to protect resources 
and provide opportunities for a range of visitor experiences. All three 
action alternatives limit park visitation in some backcountry areas, 
and all of the action alternatives call for making adjustments to the 
park boundary. The National Park Service's proposed action would 
emphasize proactive management to address impacts caused by increased 
visitor use. Under this alternative, overall park visitation would 
continue to increase, but it would be limited in certain areas. Some 
new visitor facilities would be built in frontcountry areas. 
Alternative A would provide greater opportunities for increased use of 
Zion. Trails would be upgraded, new routes designated, and additional 
picnic areas, interpretive facilities, and backcountry campsites would 
be provided. Alternative B emphasizes the additional protection of park 
resources while still providing opportunities for a range of visitor 
experiences. Under alternative B, the number and frequency of shuttles 
going from Zion Canyon Lodge to the Temple of Sinawava would be 
reduced, and the lodge would be converted to a research/environmental 
education center.
    A wild and scenic river suitability/eligibility study is included 
in the DEIS/GMP for all of the drainages in the park and several 
drainages on adjacent lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. 
The three action alternatives recommend the inclusion of five drainages 
and their tributaries in the national wild and scenic rivers system.
    The DEIS/GMP evaluates the environmental consequences of the 
proposed action and the other alternatives on natural resources (e.g., 
the North Fork of the Virgin River floodplain, Virgin spinedace, 
Mexican spotted owl, desert bighorn sheep) visitor use and experiences 
(e.g., the range of visitor experiences, natural sounds), and the 
socioeconomic environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Darla Sidles, Zion National Park, at 
the above address and telephone number.

    Dated: November 10, 1999.
Ron Everhart,
Acting Regional Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 99-31561 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P