94-20093. Draft General Management Plan/Implementation Plan Alternatives/ Environmental Impact Statement for Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, WA

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20093]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

 

Draft General Management Plan/Implementation Plan Alternatives/
Environmental Impact Statement for Lake Chelan National Recreation 
Area, WA

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a draft general 
management plan/environmental impact statement (GMP/EIS) and five 
implementation plans for Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (NRA). 
This notice also announces public hearings for the purpose of receiving 
public comments on the draft documents.

DATES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be received no later than 
November 1, 1994. Public hearings will be held in Seattle, Washington 
on October 3, 1994, beginning at 7 p.m. in Chelan, Washington on 
October 5, 1994, at 7 p.m. and in Stehekin, Washington on October 7, 
1994, at 7 p.m. Further details about hearing locations will be 
announced in the future.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be submitted to: 
Superintendent, North Cascades National Park Complex, National Park 
Service, 2105 Highway 20, Sedro Woolley WA 98284-9314, telephone: (206) 
856-5700.
    Public reading copies of the draft EIS will be available for review 
at the following locations:

Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone: 
[phone].
Stehekin Ranger Station, Lake Chelan NRA, National Park Service, 
Stehekin, WA 98852, telephone: [phone].
Government Publications, Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA 98195, telephone: [phone].
Pacific Northwest Regional Office, National Park Service, Regional 
Office Library, rm. 650, 909 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-1060, 
telephone: [phone].
Chelan Public Library, Chelan, WA 98816, telephone: [phone].
Government Documents, Main Public Library, 1000-4th Ave., Seattle, WA 
98104-1193, telephone: [phone].
Reference Section, Wenatchee Public Library, 310 Douglas, Wenatchee, WA 
98801, telephone: [phone].
Documents Section, Washington State Library, 16th and Walker, Olympia, 
WA 98504-2478, telephone: [phone].

    A limited number of copies of the GMP/EIS are available on request 
from the Superintendent, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 
at the above address and telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft General Management Plan/
Implementation Plan Alternatives/Environmental Impact Statement 
describes and analyzes a proposed action and four alternatives for 
future management and use of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area as 
required by the consent decree that was approved and entered on April 
22, 1991, in the United States District Court for the Western District 
of Washington (Civil Case No. C-89-1342D). Under the proposed action, 
the National Park Service would not manipulate the Stehekin River or 
remove or manipulate woody debris except to protect public roads and 
bridges. The active sand, rock, and gravel borrow pit would be 
maintained at less than or equal to its current size. Fire suppression, 
prescribed natural fire, management-ignited prescribed fire, and 
selective manual fuel reductions would be used to restore or replicate 
the natural role of fire. Firewood would be provided at fair market 
value instead of a set permit fee and there would be no guaranteed 
cordage per year. The airstrip would remain open. Land protection would 
emphasize high flood influence areas, wetlands, riparian areas, and 
high visual sensitivity areas. Under the no-action/minimum requirements 
alternative, river erosion and flooding would be controlled only to 
protect life, health, public roads, and bridges. Where feasible, 
federal lands would be treated with prescribed fire to reduce fuels. 
Firewood would be obtained from harvesting 1-acre woodlots. The 
airstrip would remain open. Land protection would emphasize wetlands, 
shoreline characteristics, high scenic quality, water quality, visitor 
access, restriction of unsightly development, and development on areas 
with gradients greater than 20%. Under alternative A, new river 
shoreline or bank protection structures would be prohibited. The mining 
of sand, rock, and gravel would be prohibited within the valley. 
Natural ignitions would be suppressed on the valley floor for the 
protection of human life and property. Woodlot cutting of firewood 
would stop immediately. The airstrip would be closed and restored to 
natural conditions. The Stehekin Valley road between the Landing and 
Cottonwood Camp would be converted to a trail. All NPS and concession 
housing and maintenance facilities would be substantially reduced and 
located at the Landing. Land protection would involve acquisition, on a 
willing seller/willing buyer basis, or by eminent domain authority, of 
all private lands within the recreation area. Under alternative B, 
riverbank protection structures would be allowed if no adverse 
environmental impacts would result. Mining of sand, rock, and gravel in 
the valley would be prohibited. Fire and forest fuels would be managed 
to restore or replicate the natural role of fire. Firewood would be 
provided at fair market value instead of a set permit fee. There would 
be no guarantee of firewood cordage per year. The airstrip would be 
closed. Land protection would emphasize high flood influence areas, 
wetlands, riparian areas, and high visual sensitivity areas. Under 
alternative C, protection of public or private improvements threatened 
by river erosion and flooding would be allowed. The size of the borrow 
put would remain constant. Selective manual forest fuel reduction 
techniques would be used to reduce hazard forest fuel loadings. 
Firewood would be supplied from administrative wood and natural 
selection ecoforestry selective cutting from a designated area. The 
airstrip would be managed by the National Park Service for emergency 
use only. Land protection would emphasize high flood influence areas, 
wetlands, and high visual sensitivity areas. Major impact topics 
assessed for the proposed action and alternatives include natural and 
cultural resources and the socioeconomic environment, including the 
local and regional economy.

    Dated: August 9, 1994.
Charles H. Odegaard,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 94-20093 Filed 8-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M