[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 65233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31447]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

General Management Plan--Environmental Impact Statement Zion 
National Park, UT

Agency: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Action: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for a General Management Plan, hereafter known as a Visitor Management 
Resource Protection Plan (VMRPP), for Zion National Park.

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Summary: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, 
the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact 
statement for a Visitor Management Resource Protection Plan for Zion 
National Park.
    The project will result in a Plan encompassing visitor use, 
concessions management, and preservation of natural and cultural 
resources. In cooperation with local, state, tribal, and other federal 
agencies, attention will also be given to cooperative management of 
resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of Zion 
National Park. Alternatives that will be considered in the EIS will 
include no-action, the preferred alternative, and other feasible 
options.
    One of the major issues to be addressed in this plan will be the 
identification and implementation of visitor carrying capacity 
throughout the park. This will be accomplished by the Visitor 
Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) process. VERP is a planning 
framework that focuses on visitor use impacts as they relate to visitor 
experiences and park resources. Other issues to be addressed include: 
natural and cultural resource management, the transportation system, 
and backcountry management. External threats, such as aircraft 
overflights, wild and scenic rivers, and wilderness will also be 
addressed. Provided as guidance to these issues will be legislative 
mandates, the park's purpose and significance statement, and the 
desired futures as established in the park's Statement for Management. 
A scoping newsletter has been prepared that details the issues and 
alternatives identified to date. Copies can be obtained from 
Superintendent, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah 84767-1099.

For further information Contact: Contact planning team coordinator, 
Darla Sidles, Zion National Park, 801-772-0211.

    Dated: November 26, 1996.
Donald A. Falvey,
Superintendent.
[FR Doc. 96-31447 Filed 12-10-96; 8:45 am]
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