[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11397]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

36 CFR Part 7

RIN 1024-AC23


Voyageurs National Park, Aircraft Operations--Designation of 
Areas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The proposed rule would amend the special regulations for 
Voyageurs National Park by replacing the interim rule (60 FR 39257) 
that was published on August 2, 1995, designating certain areas open to 
aircraft use within the park. This rulemaking is necessary to comply 
with NPS general regulations that require special regulatory 
designation for areas in parks open to the operation or use by 
aircraft. The intended effect of this rule is to increase safety, 
protect resources and provide appropriate enjoyment to all park users.

    The 1980 Master Plan for the park states that float planes and ski 
planes will be allowed upon all lakes deemed safe by the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation. It also stated this allowance would be 
subject to the findings of a wilderness study. The 1992 wilderness 
study. The 1992 wilderness study recommended that planes be allowed on 
the four major lakes (Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point), as 
well as the following interior lakes: Locator, War Club, Quill, Loiten, 
Shoepack, Little Trout and Mukooda. Each year the park receives an 
increasing number of inquiries for permission to land float planes in 
the park.
    Public aircraft use on park waters occurred prior to the 
designation of the park in 1971. This use is primarily related to 
fishing, camping, transportation to resorts and summer dwellings and is 
typical for the area. Float plane use is mainly associated with the 
four major lakes with use of the interior lakes constituting less than 
one percent of the park's use. Aircraft are currently prohibited from 
using about 22 small interior lakes that have been determined to be too 
small to use safely by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 
Three other lakes that have been used periodically and are accessible 
by hiking trails will not be opened to float plane use by this 
regulation. The closing of these three interior lakes will allow the 
park to manage the interior lakes on an equitable basis since other 
motorized uses are prohibited.

DATES: Written Comments will be accepted through September 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Superintendent, Proposed 
Regulation Comment, Voyageurs National Park, 3131 Highway 53, 
International Falls, MN 56649-8904.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief Ranger, Voyageurs National Park, 3131 Highway 53, International 
Falls, MN 56649-8904. Telephone (218) 283-9821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Extended Comment Period: Voyageurs National Park--Aircraft 
Operations, Designation of Areas

    This document announces a 120-day reopening of the comment period 
for the proposed rule--Voyageurs National Park--Aircraft Operations, 
Designation of Areas--that was published in the Federal Register on 
January 31, 1996 (61 FR 3360). The initial comment period expired on 
April 1, 1996. Comments received during the initial comment period 
requested additional time to review the proposed regulation. 
Accordingly, the comment period for the proposed rule is hereby 
extended an additional 120 days.

    Dated: April 25, 1996.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 96-11397 Filed 5-7-96; 8:45 am]
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