[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6731-6732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2713]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


Beaver Basin Rim Road, Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of draft environmental impact statement for the 
proposed Beaver Basin Rim Road at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 
Alger County, Michigan; announcement of public meetings for the purpose 
of receiving public comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement for the Beaver Basin Rim Road.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the 
proposed Beaver Basin Rim Road in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. 
The NPS proposes to construct a paved road in Pictured Rocks National 
Lakeshore along the Beaver Basin Rim. The action is being proposed in 
response to a mandate by Congress in section 6 of the Act of October 
15, 1966, 16 U.S.C. 460s-5(b)(1), establishing Pictured Rocks National 
Lakeshore, directing the development of a scenic shoreline drive. The 
proposed action is also consistent with and would implement the 
management directions of the 1981 general management plan for the 
national lakeshore. The DEIS was prepared by the NPS.
    The NPS's preferred alternative for the Beaver Basin Rim Road is 
identified in the DEIS as Alternative B: Shoreline Zone Alignment. 
Under the preferred alternative, a 13-mile-long paved road would be 
constructed in the shoreline zone of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. 
The proposed road would connect on both ends with Alger County Road H-
58. Two spur roads would be constructed off the main road to two 
overlooks. These overlooks would provide views of Beaver Basin, Beaver 
Lake, Grand Portal Point, the Sevenmile Creek area, and Lake Superior. 
Two other alternatives are also considered: the no action alternative, 
and an alternative under which a new paved road would be constructed 
within the inland buffer zone of the national lakeshore.
    The impacts of the proposed action on the natural resources of the 
national lakeshore are expected to be minor. However, significant 
social impacts could occur, particularly in the Grand Marais area. The 
proposed action will also result in changes to visitor experience in 
the affected portion of the national lakeshore.

DATES: Comments on the draft EIS should be received no later than March 
20, 1995.
    The dates, times and locations of public meetings regarding the 
DEIS are:

Saturday, February 11, 1995, 3:00-5:00 pm, Sheraton Oaks Hotel, 27000 
Sheraton Drive, Novi, Michigan
Sunday, February 12, 1995, 2:00-4:00 pm, Holiday Inn South Convention 
Center, 6820 South Cedar Street, Lansing, Michigan
Monday, February 13, 1995, 7:00-9:00 pm, Comfort Inn, 4155 28th Street, 
SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wednesday, February 15, 1995, 7:00-9:00 pm, Grand Marais Recreation 
Center, Grand Marais, Michigan
Thursday, February 16, 1995, 7:00-9:00 pm, Comfort Inn, M-28 East, 
Munising, Michigan
Friday, February 17, 1995, 7:00-9:00 pm, Ramada Inn, 2750 Ramada Way, 
Green Bay, Wisconsin

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be submitted to: Superintendent, 
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, P.O. Box 40, Munising, MI 49862, 
906-387-2607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public reading copies of the DEIS will be 
available for review at the Department of Interior Natural Resources 
Library, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Pictured Rocks 
National Lakeshore, Sand Point Road, Munising, Michigan 49862; Burt 
Township Office, Grand Marais, Michigan 49839; Munising Public Library, 
Munising, Michigan 49862; Peter White Public Library, Marquette, 
Michigan 49855; [[Page 6732]] and selected public libraries in cities 
where public meetings will be held.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Superintendent, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at the address or 
phone number listed above.

    Dated: January 20, 1995.
Catherine A. Damon,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 95-2713 Filed 2-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M