[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38843-38844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19151]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of Reference Manual Concerning Wilderness
Preservation and Management Within the National Park Service
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Public notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is converting and updating its
current system of internal instructions to a three-level system
consisting of: (1) NPS Management Policies; (2) Director's Orders; and
(3) Reference Manuals/Handbooks and other helpful information. When
these documents contain new policy or procedural requirements that may
affect parties outside the NPS, this information is being made
available for public comments. Reference Manual #41 establishes
operation policies and procedural guidance for the day-to-day and long-
term preservation and management of the Service's wilderness resources.
DATES: Written comments will be accepted until August 17, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The draft Reference Manual #41 is available on the Internet
at:
http://www.nps.gov/refdesk/Dorders/index.htm. The specific link can
subsequently be reached at: ``Dorder41.htm''. Requests for copies and
written comments should be sent to Jim Walters, National Park Service
Deputy Wilderness Program Coordinator, National Park Service, P.O. Box
728 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0728.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Walters at 509 988-6022 (fax)( 505
988-6123 or Wes Henry at 202 208-5211.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents: Reference Manual #41: Wilderness Preservation
and Management.
I. Background and Purpose
The purpose of Reference Manual #41: Wilderness Preservation and
Management is to provide national park managers with the information
they need to understand the laws and policies affecting the NPS
wilderness resource and guidance for the application of the edicts into
the day-to-day and long-term preservation of these
[[Page 38844]]
resources. The Reference Manual contains: (1) An update of the NPS
Management Policies pertaining to wilderness; (2) the Director's Orders
intended to assist managers in the application of these policies, and
(3) specific detailed references and background information affecting
the Service's wilderness resource.
II. Legislative Guidance Applicable To NPS Wilderness Preservation
This information is intended to provide park managers and the
public with an understanding of the primary laws regulating the
wilderness resource. This discussion includes: the relationship between
the Wilderness Act and the NPS Organic Act, the clarification of
Section 4(a)(3) of the Wilderness ACt which is often misinterpreted by
park managers, the implication of the Redwood Act Amendments to the
Service's wilderness program, and an explanation of the Eastern
Wilderness Act as it applies to the National Park Service.
III. Revised Management Policies Guiding Wilderness Preservation
and Management (Level One)
The ``Level One'' wilderness policy statements will revise and
update previous policies included in Chapter 6 of the 1988 Wilderness
Policies handbook. These revised policies include general statements
addressing: wilderness characteristics and values, the process for
reviewing potential wilderness additions, general wilderness policies,
consistency of the Service's wilderness program, zoning, accountability
and responsibility, management plans, the minimum requirement process,
monitoring strategies, signing, research protocols, NPS administrative
facilities, fire management, cultural resources, environmental
compliance standards, general public use, commercial services, special
events, grazing and livestock driveways, rights-of-way and mineral
development and public education standards.
IV. Director's Order #41 (Level Two)
The ``Level Two'' Director's Order are intended as more detailed
guidance and standards for managers to use in the application of the
revised policy statements. Director's Order #41 will be issued by the
NPS Associate Director--Operations and Parks as required standards at
which the respective programs and functions must be managed within NPS
wilderness. These program, identified as ``Critical Issues'' include:
wilderness management plan requirements, procedures for applying the
``minimum requirement'' concept, interagency coordination, cultural
resource management, climbing protocols, fire management,
interpretation and education, mineral development, research and other
scientific uses, wilderness use by persons with disabilities, special
events, training requirements, and the administration of commercial
services in wilderness.
IV. Appendices
The appendices of the Level 3 Reference Manual are intended as a
reference and bibliography for wilderness managers. This information
includes: a glossary of wilderness terms, the text of the Wilderness
Act, the Wilderness Access Decision Tool, examples of minimum
requirement decision tools, the minimum requirements of a wilderness
management plan, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act,
the format of the annual Report to Congress, and a list of suggested
readings relating to wilderness management.
Dated: July 10, 1998.
Maureen Finnerty,
Associate Director, Operations and Education.
[FR Doc. 98-19151 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M
