[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 44544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18034]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Draft Environmental 
Assessment (EA)

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of release of draft environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the release of a draft environmental 
assessment (EA) on a proposal to construct the Joseph M. McDade 
Recreational Trail within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation 
Area.
    EA Comment Period: Comments on or before August 18, 2000.
    Copies available at: Website: www.nps.gov/dewa

Park Headquarters, River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324.
Kemp Library, East Stroudsburg University, E Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

State Library of PA, PO Box 1601, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

Easton Area Public Library, 6th and Church Street, Easton, PA 18042.

Sussex County Library, 125 Morris Turnpike, Newton, NJ 07860.

New Jersey State Library, 185 West State Street CN 520, Trenton, NJ 
08625.

Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg, PA 
18360.

Pike County Library, 201 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337.

Warren County Library, 199 Hardwick St., Belvidere, NJ 07823.

    This draft environmental assessment, prepared by the National Park 
Service, deals with the environmental consequences of constructing a 
32-mile trail within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 
(DWGNRA). Designated by Congress as the ``McDade Recreational Trail'', 
it is intended to parallel the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania-side 
of the park, providing access to the two largest communities bordering 
DWGNRA: Shawnee-on-the-Delaware to the south and the borough of Milford 
to the north. The trail would follow historic traces, connecting 
historic properties, existing facilities and a variety of natural 
environments, thus providing an intimate glimpse of the natural and 
cultural history of the area. The trail would also offer a variety of 
difficulty levels for a wide population, including those use 
wheelchairs. Trail use would be restricted to hiking (including 
wheelchairs in some sections), biking and cross-country skiing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This environmental assessment is the third 
phase of a series of planning efforts that have led to this proposal. 
In 1987, the park's General Management Plan began the process by 
identifying the need for a park trails system. Recently, the park 
adopted a Park Trails Plan (PTP) under an amendment to that 1987 
General Management Plan (GMPA). This PTP/GMPA called for a primary 
trail or ``spine'' that parallels the Delaware River on each side of 
the park as the highest trail-development priority. These spines would 
later be the frameworks for a network of park trails. In 1996, Congress 
appropriated funding for the spine on the Pennsylvania side which was 
designated as the Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail.
    The EA is available for public comment. Any member of the public 
may file a written comment. Comments should be addressed to the 
Superintendent, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, River 
Road, Bushkill, PA 18324. Public workshops are tentatively scheduled 
for August 9 at 10 a.m. and August 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bushkill 
Visitor Center in Bushkill, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Delaware Water Gap 
National Recreation Area, Bushkill, PA 18324, 717-588-2418.

    Dated: July 6, 2000.
William G. Laitner,
Superintendent.
Congressional Listing for Delaware Water Gap NRA
Honorable Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senate, SH-506 Hart Senate Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20510-3002.
Honorable Robert G. Torricelli, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510-3001.
Honorable Richard Santorum, U.S. Senate, SR 120 Senate Russell Office 
Bldg., Washington, DC 20510.
Honorable Arlen Specter, U.S. Senate, SH-530 Hart Senate Office Bldg., 
Washington, DC 20510-3802.
Honorable Paul McHale, U.S. House of Representatives, 511 Cannon House 
Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-3815.
Honorable Joseph McDade, U.S. House of Representatives, 2370 Rayburn 
House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-3810.
Honorable Margaret Roukema, U.S. House of Representatives, 2244 Rayburn 
House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-3005.
Honorable Tom Ridge, State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
Honorable Christine Whitman, State House, Trenton, NJ 08625.
Honorable Joe Battisto, State Representative, 206 South Capitol 
Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0028
[FR Doc. 00-18034 Filed 7-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P