[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 3, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 64146-64147] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-30655] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Petroglyph National Monument, Final General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement for Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Public Law 101-313 (the legislation that established the monument) the National Park Service announces the availability of a Final General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/DCP/EIS) for Petroglyph National Monument. The Final GMP/DCP/EIS has been prepared in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque, the State of New Mexico, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The purpose of this Final GMP/DCP/EIS is to set forth the basic management philosophy of the monument and the overall approaches to resource management, visitor use, and facility development that would be implemented over the next 10-15 years. Petroglyph National Monument, encompassing 7,244 acres, was established in June 1990 as a new unit of the National Park System to preserve the estimated 15,000 prehistoric petroglyphs and other significant natural and cultural resources that are on the west side of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The monument is the first National Park System area specifically [[Page 64147]] established to protect and interpret rock carvings and their setting. Public input has identified issues and concerns which include management responsibilities, cultural and natural resource protection, protection of sites and values of culturally affiliated groups, and location and function of visitor and administrative facilities such as visitor center, parking areas and trail heads, a heritage education center, and a petroglyph research center. Other issues addressed in the Final GMP/DCP/EIS include interpretation, education, visitor circulation and access, public use of the monument, and boundary adjustments. There are four alternatives for the development, resource management, and visitor use of the monument. The alternatives describe different visitor experiences and different kinds and locations for facilities under a common resource management and protection approach. All alternatives have a common resource management approach because of resource management laws and policies that apply to various aspects of all National Park System areas, including cultural landscape and archaeological site values, natural resources and various other aspects of monument management. These alternatives are summarized below: Alternative 1: The overall approach of alternative 1, the proposed action and the National Park Service's preferred alternative, would be to provide various ways for visitors of different ages and abilities to see and appreciate many of the monument's significant resources. Visitors would be directed to a visitor center/heritage education center at Boca Negra Canyon. Horseback and bicycle riding would be permitted only on elected designated mesa-top trails and at three crossing points. No horses or bicycles would be allowed in petroglyph viewing areas or archeological sites anywhere in the monument. Mesa top resources and visitor experiences would be monitored to identify adverse impacts. Impacts on cultural and natural resources, the regional economy, visitors and values held by culturally affiliated groups would be minimal or, in some cases, beneficial. New structures would impact the cultural landscape. There could be adverse impacts on values held by culturally affiliated groups from the intrusion of bicycles and horses. Alternative 2: This alternative would preserve the greatest portion of the monument and adjacent lands in as natural a condition as possible, with the fewest intrusions from development and fewer opportunities for public access and use. Visitors would be directed to a visitor center at Lava Shadows where they would have access to selected petroglyphs. A heritage education center would be built at Boca Negra Canyon. Visitors would have more opportunities to see the petroglyphs with a greater sense of solitude than in alternative 1. More areas of the monument would be reserved for research, traditional and cultural use, and occasional guided tours than in the other alternatives. Horse and bicycle use would not be permitted in this alternative except at two escarpment crossings. Overall impacts on cultural and natural resources and values held by culturally affiliated groups would be similar to and in some cases slightly less under this alternative than under alternative 1. Alternative 3: The overall approach would be to have easy access to the mesa-top views and the volcanoes as well as petroglyph concentrations below the escarpment. Visitors would be directed to a visitor/heritage education center at Rinconada Canyon. From the visitor center, many visitors would drive to a new 10-mile mesa-top loop road that would provide easy access to the mesa-top views and the volcanoes. Parking and trails would be developed at the volcanoes and geologic windows areas. Horse and bicycle use would be provided at three escarpment crossings. This alternative would have the greatest impact on natural resources, cultural resources and values held by culturally affiliated groups. Alternative 4: The ``no-action'' alternative, describes the conditions that would exist at the monument without a change in current management direction or an approved management plan--providing a baseline for evaluating the changes and impacts that would occur under the three action alternatives. There would be parking areas and minor trail improvements in some areas. There would be no new visitor center. This alternative would have the fewest facilities. Horseback and bicycle riding would be permitted within the monument only where currently allowed. The interim visitor center at Las Imagines would become the primary visitor center, accommodating only a limited number of visitors. Archeological sites, petroglyphs, and the cultural landscape would continue to be adversely impacted by vandalism. DATES: The no action period will end 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes notice that the Final GMP/DCP/EIS has been filed with the Environmental Protection Agency. After this period a Record of Decision can be issued by the National Park Service. A Record of Decision will not be issued prior to February 6, 1997. ADDRESSES: Questions about this document should be addressed to Superintendent, Petroglyph National Monument, 6001 Unser Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 phone# (505) 899-0205. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public reading copies of the Final GMP/DCP/ EIS will be available for review at the following locations: Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Department of Interior Natural Resources Library, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240; Petroglyph National Monument Las Imagines Visitor Center, 4732 Unser Blvd.,NW., Albuquerque, New Mexico; and local public libraries in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dated: November 25, 1996. Vickie E. White, Acting Superintendent, Petroglyph National Monument. [FR Doc. 96-30655 Filed 12-2-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P