[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 186 (Monday, September 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 57620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24502]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Pipestone National Monument; Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a general management plan and 
environmental impact statement for Pipestone National Monument, 
Minnesota.

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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 Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota, 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, requests to be added to the project mailing list, and other 
matters should be directed to: Mr. Jim LaRock, Superintendent, 
Pipestone National Monument, 36 Reservation Avenue, Pipestone, 
Minnesota 56164. Telephone: 507-825-5464. E-mail: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jim LaRock, Superintendent, Pipestone 
National Monument, at the address and telephone number listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pipestone National Monument is located near 
the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Within the 283-acres monument are 
pipestone (catlinite) quarries, native tallgrass prairie, and quartzite 
bluffs. The monument was established for two purposes: (1) To manage 
the pipestone quarries to provide American Indians the opportunity to 
quarry the pipestone, and (2) to preserve and manage the ethnological, 
historical, archeological, and geological resources of the area for the 
betterment and enjoyment of all.
    In accordance with NPS Park Planning policy, the GMP will ensure 
the monument has a clearly defined direction for resource preservation 
and visitor use. The GMP will help define what types of resource 
conditions, visitor uses, and management actions will best achieve the 
mission of the NPS and Pipestone National Monument. Additionally the 
GMP process will address facility needs, staffing, park interpretation 
and activities, and maintenance. 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 the monument 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 NPS procedures and policies for compliance 
with those regulations.

    Dated: September 13, 2000.
Linda C. Witkowski,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 00-24502 Filed 9-22-00; 8:45 am]
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