99-18387. Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Roads and Trails Management Plan for Big Fork National River and Recreation Area, Kentucky and Tennessee

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18387]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a Roads and Trails Management Plan for Big Fork National River and 
Recreation Area, Kentucky and Tennessee

SUMMARY: Road and trail uses are among the most serious and volatile 
issues facing Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO) 
personnel. Therefore, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to 
prepare a Roads and Trails Management Plan (RTMP) which will include an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). While roads and trails provide 
appropriate access to resources and recreational opportunities, their 
use often involves resource impacts, user conflicts, and carrying 
capacity concerns. Strong pressures exist to develop additional trails, 
and there are strongly held positions of various user groups concerning 
the amounts, locations, and types of roads and trails that are needed. 
Road and trail standards are needed. The RTMP will address these 
concerns and needs and provide guidance to BISO personnel. The EIS will 
provide an environmental evaluation of system options. The RTMP is 
considered a follow-up implementation effort to BISO's General 
Management Plan (GMP) which is nearing completion.

DATES: The NPS currently estimates formulating and evaluating 
alternatives by December 31, 1999, and comments would be most helpful 
prior to that date. Comments concerning roads and trails that were 
furnished by the public during the GMP process will be fully considered 
for development of the draft RTMP/EIS and need not be resubmitted. The 
public will be furnished an opportunity to review the draft RTMP/EIS 
and submit comments. Written comments and suggestions on the RTMP/EIS 
will be accepted anytime during the process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Big South Fork 
National River and Recreation Area, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Onieda, 
Tennessee 37841, Telephone [phone].

    Dated: July 9, 1999.
W. Thomas Brown,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 99-18387 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M