[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33427]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


National Wildlife and Scenic River System: Ohio; Big and Little 
Darby Creeks

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Approval.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior hereby announces approval of an 
application by the Governor of Ohio to include additional segments of 
the Big and Little Darby Creeks, Ohio, as state administered components 
of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angie Tornes, Rivers, Trails and 
Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service, Midwest 
Regional Office, 310 West Wisconsin Street, Suite 100E, Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin 53202; or telephone 414-297-3605.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the authority granted the 
Secretary of the Interior by section 2 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act (Pub. L. 90-542, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1273, et seq.) and upon 
proper application of the Governor of the State of Ohio, an additional 
3.4 miles of the Big and Little Darby Creeks are hereby designated and 
are added to the existing segments of the Big and Little Darby Creeks, 
a state-administered component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System.
    On March 25, 1996, the Governor of Ohio petitioned the Secretary of 
the Interior to add an additional 3.4 miles to the 85.9 miles of the 
Big and Little Darby Creeks, designated as components of the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System March 10, 1996. The evaluation report for 
that designation, prepared by the National Park Service in September 
1993, states that the additional segments now under consideration were 
eligible and would be suitable for national wild and scenic river 
designation once they were added to the State Scenic River System. The 
evaluation also concluded that these segments of the Big and Little 
Darby Creeks meet the criteria for scenic classification under the Act.
    These additional segments were added to the Ohio Scenic River 
System October 3, 1994. Public comment regarding national designation 
of the additional segments was solicited in Ohio and the required 90-
day review for Federal Agencies was provided. Public and Federal Agency 
comments support national designation of the additional Big and Little 
Darby Creek segments. The State of Ohio has fulfilled the requirements 
of the Act by including these additional segments in the Ohio Scenic 
River System. The State's program to permanently protect the river is 
adequate. Current State and local management of the river is proceeding 
according to the Big and Little Darby Creek Plan and Environmental 
Assessment submitted with the original application.
    As a result, the Secretary has determined that the additional 3.4 
miles of the Big and Little Darby Creeks should be added to the 
existing designation of Big and Little Darby Creeks as a state-
administered component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 
as provided for in section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
    Accordingly, the following additional river segments are classified 
as scenic pursuant to section 2(b) of the Act to be administered by 
State and local government:
    Big Darby Creek: Scenic--From its confluence with Little Darby 
Creek (RM 34.1) upstream to the northern boundary of Battelle-Darby 
Creek Metro Park (RM 35.9) (1.8 miles).
    Big Darby Creek: Scenic--From the U.S. Route 40 bridge (RM 38.9) 
upstream to the Conrail Railroad trestle crossing (RM 39.7) (0.8 
miles).
    Little Darby Creek: Scenic--From it confluence with Big Darby Creek 
(RM 0.0) to a point eight-tenths of a mile upstream (RM 0.8) (0.8 
miles).
    This action is taken following public involvement and consultation 
with the Departments of Agriculture, Army, Energy, and Transportation, 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency as required by section 4(c) of the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act. All comments received have been supportive.
    Notice is hereby given that effective upon this date, the above-
described additional river segments are approved for inclusion in the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to be administered by the State 
of Ohio.

    Dated: December 8, 1997.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-33427 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P