[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 68 (Friday, April 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 18350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8613]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Draft Director's Order #47 Concerning 
Soundscape Preservation and Noise Management

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is updating its current system 
of internal instructions. When these documents contain new policy or 
procedural requirements that may affect parties outside the NPS, this 
information is being made available for public review and comment. 
Draft Director's Order #47 establishes comprehensive operational 
policies and requirements to guide NPS soundscape preservation and 
noise management.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until May 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Draft Director's Order #47 is available on the Internet at 
http://www.nps.gov/refdesk/DOrders/index.htm. Requests for copies and 
written comments should be sent to Wes Henry, National Park Service, 
Ranger Activities Division, 1849 C Street, NW., Room 7418, Washington, 
D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Schmidt at 202/501-9269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS is revising its operational policies 
and procedures to facilitate, to the fullest extent practicable, the 
protection, maintenance, or restoration of the natural soundscapes 
associated with units of the national park system. Natural sounds are 
vital to the natural function of many parks, and may provide valuable 
indicators of the health of various ecosystems. The natural sound 
environment is recognized as one of the resources found in parks, and 
is highly valued by most park visitors. Increasingly, even those parks 
that appear as they did in historical context no longer sound the way 
they once did. Natural sounds are slowly and inexorably being masked or 
obscured by a wide variety of human activities. Soundscape preservation 
and noise management is one dimension of the complex problem the NPS 
faces in preserving park resources unimpaired while providing 
appropriate enjoyment for current and future generations.

    Dated: March 30, 2000.
Maureen Finnerty,
Associate Director, Park Operations and Education.
[FR Doc. 00-8613 Filed 4-6-00; 8:45 am]
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