[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 211 (Tuesday, October 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 64985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27476]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan Revision, Environmental Impact Statement, 
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for the general management plan revision, Petrified Forest National 
Park.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, 
the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact 
statement for the general management plan (GMP) revision for Petrified 
Forest National Park. The environmental impact statement will be 
approved by the Director, Intermountain Region.
    Petrified Forest National Park was established as a unit of the 
National Park System to preserve the mineralized remains of Mesozoic 
Forests (commonly known as the ``Petrified Forest''), additional 
features of scenic and scientific interest, and the area's natural 
environment and cultural resources, for public use and benefit. It is 
located in northeastern Arizona. The Petrified Forest National Park 
Final General Management Plan/Development Concept Plans/Environmental 
Impact Statement was approved in 1992. The new GMP revision will 
address new perspectives on several key elements that were not fully 
considered at the time of the plan: (1) The potential impact of 
building/expanding proposed new facilities into previously undeveloped 
areas, particularly the increased visibility of facilities from busy 
visitor areas and wilderness, was not comprehensively addressed in the 
existing GMP; (2) The existing GMP did not recognize that many existing 
structures have historic significance and warrant full evaluation for 
adaptive re-use rather than the proposed removal. Further, the planned 
arrangement of buildings, parking, courtyards, and trails comprise 
significant cultural landscapes which would have been substantially 
altered by the existing plan without recognition of these values. There 
is a much greater awareness now of cultural values that warrant 
revision of the plan, including historic structures, cultural 
landscapes, archeology, ethnography, and the Native American Grave 
Protection and Repatriation Act; (3) It is unlikely that Petrified 
Forest National Park would receive the funding necessary to implement 
the proposals in the existing GMP; (4) The sustainability of proposing 
a lot of new construction versus the feasibility and sustainability of 
re-using existing structures was not adequately addressed in the 
existing plan; (5) More up-to-date information about handicapped 
accessibility is available; (6) Effectively preventing wood theft 
remains a very high priority, and more information on visitor behavior 
is now available; and (6) Bring plan into conformance with current NPS 
planning standards (NPS Director's Order 2).
    The National Park Service is planning to begin public scoping in 
November, 2000 via a newsletter to American Indian tribes, neighboring 
communities, county commissioners, organizations, state and federal 
agencies, researchers and institutions, the Congressional Delegation, 
and visitors who signed up to be on the mailing list. There will also 
be a web site and press releases. The purpose of the newsletter, web 
site, and press release is to explain the planning process and to 
obtain comments concerning revision of the GMP. Comments may be 
addressed to the Superintendent, and should be received no later that 
60-days from the publication of this Notice of Intent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Michelle Hellickson, 
Petrified Forest National Park, P.O Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 
86028; Tel: (520) 524-6228; FAX: (520) 524-3567; e-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: October 13, 2000.
Ron Everhart,
Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 00-27476 Filed 10-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P