[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 16642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9350]



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


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Niobrara National Scenic River; Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and General Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Availability of draft environmental impact statement and 
general management plan, for the Niobrara National Scenic River, 
located in Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock counties, Nebraska.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and 
general management plan, for the Niobrara National Scenic River. The 
DEIS responds to Public Law 102-50, which amended the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act to add 70 miles of the Niobrara River to the national wild 
and scenic rivers system. The NPS prepared the DEIS. Cooperating 
agencies included Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock counties, Middle 
Niobrara Natural Resources District, Nebraska Game and Parks 
Commission, Nebraska State Historical Society, and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
    Three management action alternatives and a no action alternative 
are described. Three alternative boundaries are also described. 
Management alternative A (no action) would continue existing trends of 
management along the river by different state and Federal Agencies and 
private landowners operating ranches and recreation services. 
Alternative B (the preferred) would establish a non-Federal council for 
management, which would include members from various county and state 
agencies, landowners, and business people. The NPS would provide 
funding and technical help by cooperative agreement. Alternative C 
provides for local partnership management. The NPS would offer some 
assistance through cooperative agreements. Alternative D provides for 
management by the NPS and would also involve cooperative agreements 
with local entities for some services.
    Boundary alternatives are separate from the management 
alternatives. Boundary alternative 1 is the interim boundary set by the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and averages 0.25 mile from the ordinary 
high water mark and includes 21,346 acres of land. Alternative 2 was 
drawn to include significant natural and scenic resources, and includes 
20,205 acres of land. Alternative 3 includes important examples of 
natural features and includes 9,842 acres of land. Another boundary was 
considered but officially rejected, which would include no land above 
the river bank.
    All management action alternatives and boundary alternatives are 
expected to provide a mechanism for long term resource protection and 
to accommodate recreational use of the river without impacting private 
property values.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS should be received no later than May 28, 
1996. Public meetings will be held in various Nebraska towns and cities 
during April, and will be announced in local news media when schedules 
are final.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be submitted to the 
Superintendent, Niobrara/Missouri National Scenic Riverways, P.O. Box 
591, O'Neill, Nebraska 68763.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public reading copies of the DEIS will be 
available for review at the Department of Interior Natural Resources 
Library, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and at public 
libraries and county courthouses in Ainsworth, Bassett, O'Neill, 
Springview, and Valentine, Nebraska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Warren Hill, Niobrara/ 
Missouri National Scenic Riverways at the above address or he can be 
reached at 402-336-3970.

    Dated: March 21, 1996.
William W. Schenk,
Field Director, Midwest Field Area.
[FR Doc. 96-9350 Filed 4-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P