[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53754-53755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26239]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Nez 
Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the General Management Plan 
for Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National 
Battlefield. This notice also announces public meetings for the purpose 
of receiving public comments on the DEIS. All comments received will 
become part of the public record and copies of comments, including 
names, addresses and telephone numbers provided by respondents, may be 
released for public inspection.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS should be received no later than December 
11, 1996. Public meetings regarding the DEIS will be held as indicated 
below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the DEIS shall be submitted to: Frank 
Walker, Superintendent, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole 
National Battlefield, P.O. Box 93, Spalding, ID 83553-0093, (208) 843-
2261.
    The public meetings will be held at the following locations:

Oct. 28--Mission, Oregon--Yellowhawk Clinic 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 29--Wallowa, Oregon--Senior Citizens Center 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 30--Joseph, Oregon--Community Center 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 30--Enterprise, Oregon--Community Connections 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 4--Wisdom, Montana--Community Center 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 6--Chinook, Montana--Senior Citizens' Center 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 7--Laurel, Montana--City Council Chambers 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 12--Lapwai, Idaho--Pi-nee-waus Community Center 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 12--Spalding, Idaho--Spalding Visitor Center 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 13--White Bird, Idaho--Rebekah's Hall 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 14--Grangeville, Idaho--Grangeville Elementary School 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 18--Nespelem, Washington--Nez Perce Long House 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 19--Lewiston, Idaho--Williams Conference Center, Lewis-Clark State 
College 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 20--Kooskia, Idaho--Clearwater Valley High School 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 21--Kamiah, Idaho--Kamiah High School 7-9 p.m.

    Public reading copies of the DEIS will be available for review at 
the following locations:

Lewiston Public Library--Lewiston, Idaho
Grangeville Centennial Library--Grangeville, Idaho
Prairie Community Library--Cottonwood, Idaho
Craigmont City Library--Craigmont, Idaho
Asotin County Library--Clarkston, Washington
Clearwater Memorial Library--Orofino, Idaho
Culdesac City Library--Culdesac, Idaho
Kamiah Community Library--Kamiah, Idaho
Nez Perce County Library--Lapwai, Idaho
Nezperce City Library--Nezperce, Idaho
Enterprise City Library--Enterprise, Oregon
Wallowa County Library--Wallowa, Oregon
Joseph Public Library--Joseph, Oregon
Blaine County Library--Chinook, Montana

    A limited number of copies of the DEIS are available from: 
Superintendent, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole 
National Battlefield, P.O. Box 93, Spalding, ID 83553-0093; telephone: 
(208) 843-2261; and Deputy Field Director, Pacific West Area, National 
Park Service, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104-1060; 
telephone: (206) 220-4012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the General Management Plan presents a proposal and two alternative 
strategies parkwide and site-specific, for guiding future management of 
the national historical park. The major subject areas are natural and 
cultural resources, public use, nonfederal lands, and park management 
and operations. Many overall actions would be designed to unify park 
sites, upgrade interpretation, and help visitors recognize the 
connection between the park's individual sites. Nez Perce life ways 
would be respected. Plans would be developed to manage resources and 
vegetation, eliminate exotic and noxious plants, and reintroduce native 
species. The park would continue to work with local governments on 
issues that could affect park resources. Nez Perce people would be 
encouraged to participate in decisions about park planning, management, 
and operation. Alternative 1 is a continuation of current management 
practices, often referred to as a ``no action'' alternative. 
Alternative 2 is a minimum requirements alternative in terms of lower 
cost improvements and minimum protection and safety actions. 
Alternative 3 goes beyond the minimum requirements alternative, 
building on the initiatives of alternative 2. The proposed action for 
overall park management, would retain the general management direction 
of the park, but appropriate individual management techniques would be 
applied in certain cases. Incremental steps would be taken to protect 
land and resources and to improve visitor services and operations. More 
cooperative agreements and other partnership mechanisms would be 
developed as needed to protect resources, include Nez Perce people in 
park management, and improve

[[Page 53755]]

interpretation. Some facilities would be rehabilitated or expanded, 
modest developments would be added at some sites to meet requirements, 
and some historic structures would be adaptively used. The site-by-site 
proposed action varies with the site. The DEIS evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the strategies comprising the 
three alternatives. The official responsible for a decision on the 
proposed action is the Field Director, Pacific West Area, National Park 
Service.

    Dated: October 4, 1996.
William C. Walters,
Deputy Field Director, Pacific West Area, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 96-26239 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
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