[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16159-16160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7738]



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


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Isle 
Royale National Park, Michigan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for a [[Page 16160]] general management plan, Isle Royale National 
Park, Keweenaw County, Michigan.

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

SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) will prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a general management plan 
for Isle Royale National Park.
    Isle Royale National Park currently operates under a Master Plan 
written in 1963. Because the master plan is severely outdated, the park 
does not have a comprehensive plan to set forth the basic management 
philosophy for the park, direct decision-making, and provide strategies 
for addressing issues and achieving management objectives. This 
planning effort will result in a comprehensive general management plan 
that guides the future use of resources and facilities; identifies 
future needs for facility types; clarifies research and resource 
management needs and priorities; encompasses preservation of natural 
and cultural resources; and addresses changing levels of park 
visitation over the next 10-15 year period. Carrying capacity issues 
will be addressed by incorporating the Visitor Experience and Resource 
Protection (VERP) process into the general management plan effort.
    The EIS will describe a range of alternatives for management of 
Isle Royale National Park, including the no action alternative, and 
analyze their impacts on natural and cultural resources, recreation 
use, and any other current uses.
    Major issues to be addressed in the EIS will include the following:
    1. Island visitation has outgrown park infrastructure and 
operations. This contributes to crowding that already occurs in some 
areas due to the commercial boat schedules.
    2. Increasing motorized boat use is taxing park operations and 
infrastructure and is causing friction between motorized and 
nonmotorized users.
    3. Visitor facilities are deteriorating. It is increasingly 
difficult and expensive to replace these facilities due to laws passed 
since 1963. It is currently undetermined what facilities are 
appropriate on the island and if facilities should be enlarged to 
respond to the increasing visitation or if visitation should be limited 
and facilities reduced.
    Additional issues to be addressed in the EIS may be identified 
during the scoping process. Federal, State, local agencies, and 
individuals or organizations are invited to participate in the scoping 
process. The scoping process includes:

1. Identification of potential issues.
2. Identification of potential impact topics and topics to be analyzed 
in depth.
3. Determination of potential cooperating agencies and assignment of 
responsibilities.

    Public scoping will begin in summer of 1995 and continue through 
the fall. Prior public notice of scoping processes will be issued. The 
public is encouraged to send written comments and suggestions 
concerning preparation of the EIS to Mr. Doug Barnard, Superintendent, 
Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 
49931-1895. The National Park Service will accept comments at this 
address at any time during the EIS process. However, to facilitate 
timely identification of issues and impact topics to be addressed in 
the EIS, the National Park Service recommends that initial comments be 
submitted by October 31, 1995.
    The responsible official is William W. Schenk, Regional Director, 
Midwest Region, National Park Service, Omaha, Nebraska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Isle Royale National 
Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1895, phone 
906-337-4991 (summer) or 906-482-0986 (winter).

    Dated: March 20, 1995.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 95-7738 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P