[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 25756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10949]



[[Page 25756]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Big Bend 
National Park, Texas; River Management Plan, Environmental Impact 
Statement, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Texas, and Wilderness 
Study, Environmental Impact Statement, Harte Ranch, Big Bend National 
Park, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for the general management plan, Big Bend National Park (NP), Texas, 
river management plan, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River (WSR), Texas, 
and wilderness study, Harte Ranch, Big Bend National Park.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact 
statement for the general management plan (GMP) for Big Bend NP, river 
management plan (RMP), Rio Grande WSR and wilderness study, Harte 
Ranch, Big Bend NP. The Harte Ranch, in the northern portion of the 
park, was added to the park since the 1973 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement on Proposed Wilderness Classification, Big Bend National 
Park. The planning projects may be covered together in one EIS or may 
be separated into two or three. The planning effort will result in a 
comprehensive general management plan and river management plan that 
encompass preservation of natural and cultural resources, visitor use 
and interpretation, roads, and facilities. In cooperation with local 
interests, attention will also be given to resources outside the 
boundaries that affect the integrity of the park or wild and scenic 
river. Alternatives to be considered include no-action, the preferred 
alternative, and other alternatives addressing the following major 
issues:
     How can the important natural and cultural resources be 
best protected and preserved, while providing for visitor use for 
present and future generations?
     What level and type of use is appropriate to be consistent 
with the park's purpose, and to relate to the park's significance?
     What facilities are needed to meet the mission goals of 
the park regarding natural and cultural resource management, visitor 
use and interpretation, partnerships, and operations?
    The document will also include a study of the Harte Ranch and its 
characteristics and values related to wilderness as defined in the 
Wilderness Act. The study will include alternative recommendations to 
Congress for Wilderness designation of all or portions of the Harte 
Ranch.
    The National Park Service is planning to hold public scoping 
meetings regarding the three projects (GMP, RMP, wilderness study) 
during the week of May 22. Specific dates, times, and locations will be 
announced in the local media, and can be obtained by contacting the 
park superintendent. The purpose of these meetings is to explain the 
planning process and to obtain comments concerning appropriate resource 
management; desired visitor use, interpretation, and facilities; and 
issues that need to be resolved. In addition to attending scoping 
meetings, people wishing to provide input to this initial phase of 
developing the GMP, RMP, and wilderness study may address comments to 
the superintendent. Scoping comments should be received no later than 
60 days from the publication of this Notice of Intent.

Comments

    If you wish to submit issues or provide input to this initial phase 
of developing the GMP, RMP, and wilderness study, you may do so by any 
one of several methods. In addition to attending scoping meetings, you 
may mail comments to Superintendent, P.O. Box 129, Big Bend National 
Park, Texas 79834. You may comment via the Internet to 
[email protected]. Please submit Internet comments as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Please also include ``Attn: GMP Team'' and your name and 
return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the system that we have received your Internet 
message, contact Superintendent Frank Deckert directly at telephone 
(915) 477-1101. Finally you may hand-deliver your comments to park 
headquarters, Panther Junction, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Scoping 
comments should be received no later than 60 days from the publication 
of this Notice of Intent. Our practice is to make comments, including 
names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review 
during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that 
we withhold their home addresses from the record, which we will honor 
to the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in 
which we would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as 
allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Frank Deckert, P. O. 
Box 129, Big Bend National Park, Texas 79834; Tel: (915) 477-1101; Fax: 
(915) 477-2357; e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: April 26, 2000,
Richard Everhart,
Acting Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10949 Filed 5-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P