[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 16489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7378]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft general management plan and 
draft environmental impact statement for Minuteman Missile National 
Historic Site, 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 Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, 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 opinions 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. William Supernaugh, Superintendent, 
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, c/o Badlands National Park, 
P.O. Box 6, Interior, South Dakota 57750. Telephone: 605-433-5361. E-
mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Supernaugh, Superintendent, 
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, at the address and telephone 
number listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is 
located in Jackson and Pennington counties, South Dakota. Established 
on December 2, 1999, this is a new unit of the National Park System. 
Congress has required that process for preparing a general management 
plan for the historic site commence within three years of the date of 
establishment.
    The Act creating Minuteman Missile National Historic Site described 
the site's purpose as: (1) To preserve, protect, and interpret for the 
benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the structures 
associated with the Minuteman II missile defense system; (2) to 
interpret the historical role of the Minuteman II missile defense 
system as a key component of America's strategic commitment to preserve 
world peace and the broader context of the events of the Cold War; and 
(3) to complement the interpretive programs relating to the Minuteman 
II missile defense system offered by the South Dakota Air and Space 
Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
    In accordance with NPS Park Planning policy, the GMP will ensure 
the Historic Site 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 National Park Service and Minuteman Missile 
National Historic Site. 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 National Park Service procedures and policies 
for compliance with those regulations.

    Dated: March 9, 2001.
Catherine A. Damon,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-7378 Filed 3-23-01; 8:45 am]
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