[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1599-1600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-733]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan

AGENCY: Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, National Park Service, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Preparation of an Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the General Management Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement (1992) for Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY), the 
National Park Service is preparing an Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan 
for the Preserve. The National Park Service has entered into a 
Cooperative Agreement (#4000-3-2013, Supplement 7) with Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University for the preparation of the 
plan.

ADDRESSES:

Superintendent, Big Cypress National Preserve, Star Route, Box 110, 
Ochopee, Florida 33943, Telephone (941) 695-2000 (ext. 10)
Dr. Jeff Marion, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 
Department of Forestry, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0324, Telephone 
(540) 231-6603

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the Cooperative Agreement and the Plan Proposal are available 
for review at the locations listed under ADDRESSES. All interested 
members of the public may participate on an equal footing in plan 
development. Comments, suggestions and questions from the public may be 
submitted to the Superintendent listed under ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plan is expected to address the 
following elements:
    a. Current ORV policies and practices within BICY as a whole and 
for each management unit within BICY;
    b. Methods of limiting and controlling ORV use to minimize impacts 
to BICY resources, includes soil, hydrology, vegetation, recreational 
resources, and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species;
    c. Methods of avoiding adverse impacts to wetlands and sensitive 
resources from ORVs, and alternative methods of minimizing unavoidable 
adverse impacts, to the maximum extent practicable, in a manner which 
will assure the natural and ecological integrity of BICY resources in 
accordance with the BICY Establishment Act (Pub. L. 93-440, 1974 and as 
amended by Public Law 100-301, 1988);
    d. Best management practices (``BMPs'') designed to avoid and/or 
minimize impacts from ORV use on BICY's resources, including soil, 
hydrology, vegetation and wildlife, in a manner which will assure the 
natural and ecological integrity of BICY resources in accordance with 
the BICY Establishment Act;
    e. Criteria for the development of a comprehensive designated trail 
system and/or use areas for ensuring the natural and ecological 
integrity of BICY resources in accordance with the provisions of the 
BICY Establishment Act;
    f. Management practices for particular vehicle types in order to 
avoid and/or 

[[Page 1600]]
minimize impacts to BICY's resources, including soil, hydrology, 
vegetation and wildlife;
    g. Methods of monitoring impacts of ORV use in BICY and mechanisms 
for taking remedial action based on the results of such monitoring 
efforts. Methods of monitoring impacts may include, among other things, 
the use of control areas as a baseline;
    h. Procedures and considerations (including but not limited to 
ecological and recreational factors) for closing, opening and reopening 
areas and closing, relocating, opening and reopening trails to ORV use.

    Dated: December 15, 1995.
Jerry Belson,
Field Director, Southeast Area.
[FR Doc. 96-733 Filed 1-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M