[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49367-49368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Final Lake Crescent Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement, Olympic National Park, Washington

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the final Lake 
Crescent management plan/environmental impact statement (FEIS), Olympic 
National Park, Washington. The FEIS presents the proposed action and 
alternatives for management of the Lake Crescent area for the next 10 
to 15 years. The proposed action best satisfies the park and NPS 
mission, as well as the park's management objectives and long-term 
vision for Lake Crescent. It recognizes both the need to protect 
natural and cultural resources and to provide appropriate recreational 
opportunities for visitors and area residents.
    The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for this action was 
released for public review on October 18, 1996, (Federal Register, Vol. 
61, No. 203) and the public comment period closed on March 19, 1997. 
The FEIS contains five alternative strategies for management of the 
Lake Crescent area. The range of alternatives includes the four 
alternatives presented in the draft plan, with modifications based on 
public comment received and further impact analysis. In addition, 
another alternative has been added since publication of the draft plan. 
This alternative, depicted in the final plan as Alternative E, was 
submitted for consideration during the public comment period by the 
Friends of Lake Crescent.
    The FEIS contains letters received from agencies and organizations 
during the public comment period, and responses to all substantive 
comments are included. A summary of comments received during public 
meetings on the DEIS is also contained in the FEIS, as is a 
representative sample of comment letters received from individuals 
during the public comment period.
    During the public comment period, controversy arose over 
recreational use

[[Page 49368]]

of personal watercraft (PWC) on Lake Crescent. This Plan/FEIS announces 
the decision of the Superintendent to close Olympic National Park to 
the use of PWCs, beginning October 1, 1998. The justification for this 
action is explained in the document's Appendix A, ``Administrative 
Record Detailing the NPS Decision to Ban the Use of Personal Watercraft 
on Lake Crescent.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The no-action period on this FEIS will 
expire 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency has published 
a notice of availability of the FEIS in the Federal Register. All who 
submitted substantive comments on the DEIS will receive a copy of the 
FEIS. In addition, the document has been placed on the National Park 
Service website at http://www.nps.gov/olym, and public reading copies 
of the FEIS will be available for review at the following locations: 
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240, phone: 202-208-6843; 
Olympic National Park, National Park Service, 600 E. Park Ave., Port 
Angeles, WA 98362, phone: 360-452-4501; North Olympic Library System, 
Port Angeles Branch, 207 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, WA 98362, phone: 
360-452-9253; Government Documents, Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth 
Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-1193, phone: 206-386-4686; Government 
Publications, Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 
98195, phone: 206-543-1937; Columbia Cascades Support Office, National 
Park Service, 909 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-1060, phone: 206-220-
4154. For further information contact Superintendent, Olympic National 
Park, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362, phone: 360-452-4501.

    Dated: August 21, 1998.
David Morris,
Superintendent Olympic National Park
[FR Doc. 98-24646 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
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