[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40798-40799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19730]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

36 CFR Part 13

RIN 1024-AC05


Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska: Vessel Management Plan 
Regulations

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed Rule; re-opening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The proposed rule would revise National Park Service 
regulations, including vessel quotas, that were established to protect 
the endangered humpback whale and other resources Glacier Bay National 
Park and Preserve manages. The regulations follow an Endangered Species 
Act, Section 7, consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), and are consistent with the 1993 Biological Opinion issued by 
that agency. The regulations are drafted to track the proposed action 
(Alternative Five) from the six-alternative Vessel Management Plan and 
Environmental Assessment prepared by the NPS.
    The proposed regulations contemplate an increase in cruise ship 
use, to be offset by specific mitigation measures. The regulations 
would authorize a 72 percent seasonal increase in cruise ship traffic 
during the months of June, July and August. However, there would be no 
increase in the maximum number of cruise ships permitted to use the bay 
on any given day (two).
    Rather, the increased traffic will be absorbed, for the most part, 
by authorizing more cruise ship entries in early and late summer. The 
NPS also solicits comments on the possibility of modest increases in 
seasonal use by charter and private vessels.
    The proposed regulations would extend and codify park compendium 
vessel regulations that were developed, under the authority of the 
existing regulations, for the protection of humpback whales, Steller 
sea lions, and other wildlife and resource values within the park. 
Additional measures are also proposed to mitigate natural resource 
impacts associated with the proposed increase in vessel traffic.
    Finally, to provide park visitors a range of recreational 
opportunities and to maintain opportunities for the safe use of kayaks, 
the proposed regulations would close the upper Muir Inlet to motor 
vessels on a seasonal basis.
    This rulemaking, the substance of which was printed as a proposed 
rule on June 5, 1995 (60 FR 29523), extends the comment period for 
another 15 days to allow additional review and comment by interested 
groups and persons.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until August 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Superintendent, Proposed 
Regulations Comment, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 
140, Gustavus, Alaska 99826

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. M. Brady, Superintendent, Glacier 
Bay National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, Alaska 99826, 
Telephone: (907) 697-2230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Extended Comment Period: Glacier Bay National Park--Vessel Management 
Plan Regulations.

    This document announces a 15-day re-opening of the comment period 
for the proposed Glacier Bay National Park--Vessel Management Plan 
Regulations, that was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 1995 
(60 FR 29523). The initial comment period expired on August 4, 1995. 
Comments received during the initial comment period requested 
additional time to review the proposed regulations. Accordingly, the 
comment period for the proposed rule is hereby extended for an 
additional 15 days.


[[Page 40799]]

    Dated: August 4, 1995.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 95-19730 Filed 8-9-95; 8:45 am]
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