[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 57704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28785]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Missouri National Recreational River (59-mile District)

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 
General Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and 
general management plan for the Missouri National Recreational River 
59-mile district located in portions of Clay, Union, and Yankton 
counties, South Dakota; and Cedar, Dixon, and Knox counties in 
Nebraska. The DEIS responds to Public Law 95-625 (1978), which amended 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by adding a 59-mile reach of the 
Missouri River below the Gavins Point Dam to the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. The NPS prepared this DEIS to update a previous 
management plan written in 1980 by the Heritage Conservation and 
Recreation Service and only partially implemented. Cooperating agencies 
included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service; Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; South Dakota Game, Fish, 
and Parks Department; South Dakota Region Three Planning; and Nebraska 
Lewis and Clark Planning District.
    Two management Alternatives and a ``Continuing Existing 
Conditions'' (no action) alternative are described. Boundary 
descriptions are included with each management alternative. Alternative 
1, the no action alternative calls for continued management under the 
1980 plan. The boundary under this alternative would remain the same as 
determined in the 1978 legislation and the 1980 plan. Alternative 2, 
Resource Protection (the preferred alternative) gives relative equal 
weight to biologic resource protection, habitat restoration, and 
recreational development. This alternative calls for low impact 
recreational activities. Alternative 3, the Recreational Alternative 
would provide greater recreational opportunity and increased visitor 
facilities while protecting existing resources. Less priority would be 
placed on habitat restoration efforts. The boundary for alternatives 2 
and 3 is the same and would be similar to the 1980 boundary with the 
addition of land containing archeological sites and some areas of 
active erosion. A portion of Clay County Park is removed from the 
boundary so as not to exceed legislative acreage limits.
    All management action alternatives are expected to provide a 
mechanism for long-term resource protection and to accommodate 
recreational use of the river without impacting private property 
values.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS should be received no later than December 
18, 1998. Public meetings will be held in various Nebraska and South 
Dakota River communities during November 1998, and will be announced in 
local news media when schedules are final.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be submitted to the 
Superintendent, Missouri National Recreational River, P.O. Box 591, 
O'Neill, Nebraska 68763, or by e-mail to MNRR__S[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hedren, Superintendent, Missouri 
National Recreational River at the above address, or call 402-336-3970.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public reading copies of the DEIS will be 
available for review at the Department of Interior Natural Resources 
Library, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, and at public 
libraries and county courthouses in Yankton and Vermillion, South 
Dakota; Sioux City, Iowa; and Center, Hartington, and Ponca, Nebraska.

    Dated: October 5, 1998.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 98-28785 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P