[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16159-16160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7738]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Isle
Royale National Park, Michigan
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
for a [[Page 16160]] general management plan, Isle Royale National
Park, Keweenaw County, Michigan.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) will prepare
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a general management plan
for Isle Royale National Park.
Isle Royale National Park currently operates under a Master Plan
written in 1963. Because the master plan is severely outdated, the park
does not have a comprehensive plan to set forth the basic management
philosophy for the park, direct decision-making, and provide strategies
for addressing issues and achieving management objectives. This
planning effort will result in a comprehensive general management plan
that guides the future use of resources and facilities; identifies
future needs for facility types; clarifies research and resource
management needs and priorities; encompasses preservation of natural
and cultural resources; and addresses changing levels of park
visitation over the next 10-15 year period. Carrying capacity issues
will be addressed by incorporating the Visitor Experience and Resource
Protection (VERP) process into the general management plan effort.
The EIS will describe a range of alternatives for management of
Isle Royale National Park, including the no action alternative, and
analyze their impacts on natural and cultural resources, recreation
use, and any other current uses.
Major issues to be addressed in the EIS will include the following:
1. Island visitation has outgrown park infrastructure and
operations. This contributes to crowding that already occurs in some
areas due to the commercial boat schedules.
2. Increasing motorized boat use is taxing park operations and
infrastructure and is causing friction between motorized and
nonmotorized users.
3. Visitor facilities are deteriorating. It is increasingly
difficult and expensive to replace these facilities due to laws passed
since 1963. It is currently undetermined what facilities are
appropriate on the island and if facilities should be enlarged to
respond to the increasing visitation or if visitation should be limited
and facilities reduced.
Additional issues to be addressed in the EIS may be identified
during the scoping process. Federal, State, local agencies, and
individuals or organizations are invited to participate in the scoping
process. The scoping process includes:
1. Identification of potential issues.
2. Identification of potential impact topics and topics to be analyzed
in depth.
3. Determination of potential cooperating agencies and assignment of
responsibilities.
Public scoping will begin in summer of 1995 and continue through
the fall. Prior public notice of scoping processes will be issued. The
public is encouraged to send written comments and suggestions
concerning preparation of the EIS to Mr. Doug Barnard, Superintendent,
Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan
49931-1895. The National Park Service will accept comments at this
address at any time during the EIS process. However, to facilitate
timely identification of issues and impact topics to be addressed in
the EIS, the National Park Service recommends that initial comments be
submitted by October 31, 1995.
The responsible official is William W. Schenk, Regional Director,
Midwest Region, National Park Service, Omaha, Nebraska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Isle Royale National
Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1895, phone
906-337-4991 (summer) or 906-482-0986 (winter).
Dated: March 20, 1995.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 95-7738 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
