98-6626. Final Environmental Impact Statement; General Management Plan; National Park of American Samoa; Notice of Availability

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 12821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6626]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement; General Management Plan; 
National Park of American Samoa; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for 
the General Management Plan (GMP) for the National Park of American 
Samoa, Territory of American Samoa. The GMP proposes implementation of 
management strategies to ensure the long-term protection of the 
natural, cultural, and subsistence resources of this national park. 
Also included in the actions proposed is development of a full program 
to interpret those resources for visitors, and limited construction of 
facilities needed to provide for visitor enjoyment of this new and, as 
yet, undeveloped national park. Development within the national park is 
to be restrained and low-key. Major visitor use facilities are proposed 
at locations outside of the national park. Villages located near the 
national park are encouraged to provide visitor services in the 
traditional Samoan style.
    Alternatives and Proposed Action: Four alternatives and 
corresponding mitigation measures were identified and analyzed. This 
consisted of No Action (Alternative B); Minimum Requirements 
(Alternative C, minimal facility development, visitor services and 
resource management); and Alternative D (same as proposed action, with 
the added element of developing a visitor center within the national 
park). The Proposed Action is Alternative A, and is briefly summarized 
above.
    Background: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was 
released for public review for a 75-day period which ended March 15, 
1997. Public meetings were held in American Samoa during the review 
period to hear comments on the draft plan; meetings were also held in 
each of the nine villages with lands in the national park to hear 
comments from village council members. Both the DEIS and the FEIS 
evaluate the same proposed action and three alternatives. The 
information in the FEIS remains essentially unchanged from the DEIS. 
The FEIS contains responses to the comments received on the draft and 
the modifications and clarifications to the text in response to those 
comments. Modifications and clarifications made were minor and few in 
number.

 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The no-action period for the FEIS/GMP will 
extend for 30 days after EPA's listing of the filing of the document in 
the Federal Register. Requests for information or copies of the final 
document should be directed to the Superintendent, National Park of 
American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799; or to Park Planner, 
Pacific Islands Support Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Box 50165, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850.

    Dated: March 1, 1998.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 98-6626 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am]
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