[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 140 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 45104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18338]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Badlands National Park; Environmental Statements; Notice of 
Intent

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a general management plan and 
environmental impact statement for Badlands National Park, South 
Dakota.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) will prepare a general 
management plan (GMP) and an associated environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for Badlands National Park, South Dakota, in accordance with 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA). This notice is being furnished as required by NEPA Regulations 
40 CFR 1501.7.
    To facilitate sound planning and environmental assessment, the NPS 
intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the EIS, 
and to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the 
public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Comments and 
participation in this scoping process are invited.
    Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and 
facilitated by various means, including newsletters and open houses or 
meetings. The NPS will conduct public scoping meetings to explain the 
planning process and to solicit opinion about issues to address in the 
GMP/EIS. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the 
local press and in NPS newsletters.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information concerning the scope of the 
EIS and other matters should be directed to: Ms. Jan Harris, National 
Park Service, Denver Service Center, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 
80225. E-mail: [email protected]
    Requests to be added to the project mailing list should be sent to 
Ms. Constance Lemos, Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 6, Interior, SD 
57750. Telephone: 605-433-5361, ext. 281. E-mail: 
[email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance Lemos, Badlands National 
Park, at the address and telephone number listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Badlands National Park consists of nearly 
244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended 
with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. 
The Badlands Wilderness Area is made up of 64,000 acres and is the site 
of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered 
land mammal in North America. The Stronghold Unit is co-managed with 
the Oglala Sioux Tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances. 
Established as Badlands National Monument in 1939, the area was 
redesignated ``National Park'' in 1978. Badlands National Park contains 
the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 23 to 35 
million years old. The evolution of mammal species such as the horse, 
sheep, rhinoceros and pig can be studied in the Badlands formations.
    In accordance with NPS Park Planning policy, the GMP will ensure 
the Park has a clearly defined direction for resource preservation and 
visitor use. It will be developed in consultation with Servicewide 
program managers, interested parties, and the general public. It will 
be based on an adequate analysis of existing and potential resource 
conditions and visitor experiences, environmental impacts, and costs of 
alternative courses of action.
    The environmental review of the GMP/EIS for Historic Site will be 
conducted in accordance with requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4371 
et seq.), NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate 
Federal regulations, and National Park Service procedures and policies 
for compliance with those regulations.

    Dated: July 10, 2000.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 00-18338 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am]
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