[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63943-63944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30650]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of Lumber River 2 (a)(ii) Wild and Scenic River 
Eligibility Report, Environmental Assessment, and Finding of No 
significant Impact, Lumber River, North Carolina

AGENCY: National Park Service, DOI.

ACTION: Publication of final report and recommendation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service is publishing the final study report 
recommending designation of 81 miles of the Lumber River, North 
Carolina, as a state and locally-managed component of the National Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final report are available from: Mary 
Rountree, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, NW, Atlanta, 
Georgia, 30303, telephone (404) 562-3175.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Rountree or Wallace Brittain, National Park Service, 100 Alabama 
Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, telephone (404) 562-3175.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 15, 1996, North Carolina Governor 
James Hunt petitioned Interior Secretary, Bruce Babbitt to include 115 
miles of the Lumber River (from State Route 1412/1203 to the North 
Carolina and South Carolina border) in the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System). Under Section 2(a)(ii) of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act (Pub. L. 90-542, as amended), the Secretary has the 
authority to add a river to the national system at the request of a 
state, provided the following conditions have been met: the river 
possesses values of regional or national significance and is free-
flowing; the river has been designated as a state wild and scenic 
river; and the state has an adequate program to manage the river and 
permanently protect the river's outstanding resources.
    The National Park Service found that two reaches of the river, 
totaling 81 miles, met all requirements for wild and scenic river 
designation. The upper reach extends from State Route 1412/1203 to the 
Scotland and Robeson County lines, at the end of Maxton Airport Swamp 
(22 miles) and the lower reach begins at Back Swamp and runs through 
the city of Lumberton and the town of Fair Bluff, to the North Carolina 
and South Carolina border (59 miles). The National Park Service found 
that the remaining reach of the river (34 miles, from the Scotland and 
Robeson County to Back Swamp) does not have adequate state or local 
mechanism that ensure future protection of the river's outstanding 
resources in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
    The National Park Service classified segments of the 115-mile river 
nomination as wild, scenic, or recreational, in accordance with Section 
2(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The river segment from State 
Route 1412/1203 to the Scotland and Robeson County lines was classified 
as scenic. The segment (not recommended for designation) from the 
Scotland and Robeson County lines to Back Swamp was classified as 
scenic. The segment encompassing the city of Lumberton and the city's 
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (from Back Swamp to Jacob Swamp Canal) 
was classified as recreational. The segment from Jacob Swamp Canal to 
the upstream town limits of the town of Fair Bluff was classified as 
scenic. The segment from the downstream town limits of Fair Bluff to 
the North Carolina and South Carolina border was classified as 
recreational.
    The National Park Service found that designation of the Lumber 
river as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 
would not significantly impact the quality of the natural and human 
environment and that an environmental assessment fulfills the 
requirements of the national Environmental Policy Act.


[[Page 63944]]


    Dated: October 26, 1998.
Suzette Kimball,
Associate Regional Director, Natural Resource Stewardship & Science.
[FR Doc. 98-30650 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M