[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67131-67132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32238]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the General 
Management Plan for the Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

AGENCIES: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
General Management Plan for the Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Record of Decision (ROD) for the General Management Plan for the 
Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska.
    The National Park Service will implement the proposed action 
(alternative 1) as described in the Draft and Abbreviated Final General 
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statements as the selected 
alternative. This plan will achieve a high-quality, diverse visitor 
experience consistent with the mandate and mission of the NPS and the 
purpose and significance of the park. New management strategies, social 
science methods, and interpretive tools will be used to improve the 
management of visitor use, especially during the days of peak demand. 
For better visitor distribution, visitors will be encouraged to move 
beyond the visitor center and the nearby Totem Trail into less 
frequently visited areas, such as the fort site, the battleground, and 
the Russian Memorial. By funding and implementing comprehensive 
research and interpretive programs, the NPS will place increased 
emphasis on the park's cultural resources and on the purpose and 
significance of the park.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS), published in the Federal Register in May 17, 1995 (60 FR 26455), 
formally initiated the National Park Service planning and EIS effort 
for the park. A draft and final plan and EIS were prepared. The final 
plan and abbreviated EIS describe and analyze the environmental impacts 
of a proposed action and three other action alternatives. A no-action 
alternative also was evaluated.

[[Page 67132]]

    The Record of Decision (ROD) documents the decision of the 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, regarding the Sitka 
National Historical Park. This ROD briefly discusses the background of 
the planning effort, states the decision and discusses the basis for 
it, describes other alternatives considered, specifics the 
environmentally preferable alternative, identifies measures adopted to 
minimize potential environmental harm, and summarizes the results of 
public involvement during the planning process.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available on request from: 
Superintendent, Sitka National Park, 106 Metlakatla Street, P.O. Box 
738, Sitka, Alaska 99835.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Sitka National 
Historical Park, 106 Metlakatla Street, P.O. Box 738, Sitka, Alaska 
99835. Phone (907) 747-6281.

    Dated: November 24, 1998.
Robert D. Barbee,
Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 98-32238 Filed 12-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M