[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25917]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

 

Designating a Segment of the Klamath River a Component of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

AGENCY: Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority granted the Secretary of the 
Interior by section 2 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (82 Stat. 906, 
16 U.S.C. 1273), and upon proper application of the Governor of the 
State of Oregon, an 11-mile segment of the Klamath River is hereby 
designated as a State-administered component of the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. This action is based on the designation of the 
river by the State of Oregon and the protection offered this river and 
its immediate environment by and pursuant to applicable State laws and 
regulations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Haas, National Park Service, 
Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, 
Washington 98104-1060, telephone (206) 220-4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 22, 1993, Oregon Governor Barbara 
Roberts petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to add a segment of 
the Klamath River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. (See 
Federal Register of March 4, 1994, page 10423.) Section 2(a)(ii) of the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act allows a governor to request that rivers 
already protected in a State System be included in the National System. 
In her application, Governor Roberts requested that the 11-mile reach 
of the Klamath River from the J.C. Boyle Powerhouse (river mile 220.3) 
downstream to the Oregon-California border (river mile 209.3) be 
protected as a wild and scenic river. Pursuant to section 2(a)(ii), the 
river will be managed by the State of Oregon at no cost to the Federal 
Government except for those lands currently managed by the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM).
    For a State-managed river to be eligible for the National System, 
three conditions must be met: (1) The river must be free-flowing and 
possess at least one ``outstandingly remarkable'' natural, cultural or 
recreational value, (2) the river must be part of a State system; and 
(3) the State must have effective mechanisms in place to protect the 
outstandingly remarkable values.
    The responsibility for making determinations of eligibility has 
been delegated to the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS Pacific 
Northwest Region conducted a study and environmental assessment with 
the BLM acting as a cooperating agency. In February of 1994, the NPS 
released the Draft Klamath Wild & Scenic River Eligibility Report and 
Environmental Assessment for public review and comment. A period for 
public comment on the report was provided from March 4, 1994, to April 
28, 1994. The draft report was finalized based on comments received. On 
August 12 the NPS published in the Federal Register a notice that it 
had found that designation would not result in impacts significantly 
affecting the quality of the environment and invited public comment 
through September 9. The notice also announced that the river under 
consideration had been found eligible for the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System and the State of Oregon had met the criteria for 
designation.
    This action is taken following public involvement and consultation 
with the Departments of Agriculture, Army, Energy and Transportation; 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; all Department of the 
Interior agencies; the National Marine Fisheries Service; the States of 
Oregon and California; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and 
all other Federal agencies that might have an interest.
    Based on the recommendations of the NPS and a review of all 
relevant documents, I have determined that the 11-mile stretch of the 
Klamath River should be designated as a State-administered component of 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as provided for in section 
2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Notice is hereby given that 
effective upon this date, the segment of the Klamath River from the 
J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to the Oregon-California border is approved for 
inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System as a National 
Scenic River.

    Dated: September 22, 1994.
Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 94-25917 Filed 10-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P