[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45268-45269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22649]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National
Battlefield
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) for the General Management Plan for Nez Perce National
Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared an abbreviated Final
Environmental Impact Statement that responds to comments received on
the Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.
The Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement
(GMP/DEIS) was released for public review on October 15, 1996 (61 FR
200), and the public comment period closed December 11, 1996. During
this comment period, seventeen public hearings were held and numerous
written comments were also received. The FEIS contains responses to the
comments received and modifications to the document as needed in
response to the comments. Modifications pertain primarily to proposed
site boundaries,
[[Page 45269]]
particularly for privately-owned sites where the landowners objected to
the boundaries as proposed. The proposed action for overall park
management remains unchanged.
DATES: The no-action period on this final environmental impact
statement will end 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency
has published a notice of availability of the FEIS in the Federal
Register. For further information, contact: Frank Walker,
Superintendent, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole
National Battlefield, Route 1 Box 100, Spalding, Idaho 83540, (208)
843-2261.
ADDRESSES: Public reading copies of the FEIS will be available for
review at the following locations:
Lewiston Public Library--Lewiston, Idaho
Grangeville Centennial Library--Grangeville, Idaho
Prairie Community Library--Cottonwood, Idaho
Craigmont City Library--Craigmont, Idaho
Asotin County Library--Clarkston, Washington
Clearwater Memorial Library--Orofino, Idaho
Culdesac City Library--Culdesac, Idaho
Kamiah Community Library--Kamiah, Idaho
Nez Perce County Library--Lapwai, Idaho
Nezperce City Library--Nezperce, Idaho
Enterprise City Library--Enterprise, Oregon
Wallowa County Library--Wallowa, Oregon
Joseph Public Library--Joseph, Oregon
Blaine County Library--Chinook, Montana
NPS Office of Public Affairs--Washington, D.C.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the General Management Plan presents a proposal and two alternative
strategies parkwide and site-specific, for guiding future management of
the national historical park. The major subject areas are natural and
cultural resources, public use, nonfederal lands, and park management
and operations. Many overall actions would be designed to unify park
sites, upgrade interpretation, and help visitors recognize the
connection between the park's individual sites. Nez Perce life ways
would be respected. Plans would be developed to manage resources and
vegetation, eliminate exotic and noxious plants, and reintroduce native
species. The park would continue to work with local governments on
issues that could affect park resources. Nez Perce people would be
encouraged to participate in decisions about park planning, management,
and operation. Alternative 1 is a continuation of current management
practices, often referred to as a ``no action'' alternative.
Alternative 2 is a minimum requirement in terms of lower cost
improvements and minimum protection and safety actions. Alternative 3
goes beyond the minimum requirements alternative, building on the
initiatives of alternative 2. The proposed actions for overall
management would retain the general management direction of the park,
but appropriate individual management techniques would be applied in
certain cases. Incremental steps would be taken to improve visitor
services and operations. More cooperative agreements and other
partnership mechanisms would be developed as needed to protect
resources, include Nez Perce people in park management, and improve
interpretation. Some facilities would be rehabilitated or expanded,
modest developments would be added at some sites to meet requirements,
and some historic structures would be adaptively used. The site-by-site
proposed action varies with the site. The DEIS evaluated the potential
environmental impacts associated with the strategies comprising the
three alternatives. The official responsible for a decision on the
proposed action is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National
Park Service.
Dated: August 11, 1997.
William C. Walters,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 97-22649 Filed 8-25-97; 8:45 am]
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