[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33712-33713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15559]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Benefits Sharing Environmental Assessment, National Park Service

AGENCY: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
National Park Service (NPS) concerning the environmental impacts of 
implementing ``benefits-sharing'' agreements when information derived 
from research specimens collected from units of the National Park 
System results in commercial value.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing an 
Environmental Assessment of potential environmental impacts of 
implementing ``benefits-sharing'' agreements for research projects that 
use research specimens lawfully collected from units of the National 
Park System. NPS authorizes the collection of research specimens from 
units of the National Park System for qualified scientific purposes 
under its regulations (36 CFR 1.6 and 2.5). Occasionally, such research 
also results in commercial applications. ``Benefits-sharing'' refers to 
the equitable and efficient exchange of valuable research results, and 
in some cases, economic resources, between researchers and their 
institutions or companies and the NPS. Through the Federal Technology 
Transfer Act of 1986 and other statutes. Congress has attempted to 
create incentives that optimize the social, environmental and economic 
benefits that can result from

[[Page 33713]]

enhancing cooperative activities between Federal and private sector 
research organizations. In addition, the National Parks Omnibus 
Management Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-391) specifically authorizes the 
negotiation of ``equitable, efficient benefits-sharing arrangements'' 
between units of the National Park System and the research community.
    NPS regulations provide that a park superintendent may issue a 
permit to a qualifying researcher when it determined that ``public 
health and safety, environmental or scenic values, natural or cultural 
resources, scientific research, implementation of management 
responsibilities, proper allocation and use of facilities, or the 
avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities will be adversely 
impacted'' (36 CFR 1.6(a)). Through a public process, this 
environmental assessment will examine potential environmental impacts 
of various methods of implementing the provisions of law that 
authorizes benefits-sharing agreements while ensuring the integrity of 
resources.
    A newsletter and web site have been prepared with additional 
information concerning this assessment. Copies of that information may 
be obtained online at www.nature.nps.gov/benefitsharing or by 
contacting: NPS Benefits Sharing Team, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone 
National Park, WY, 82190; telephone 307-344-2203. Comments may be 
submitted by any one of several methods. You may mail comments to: 
National Park Service. Benefit-Sharing Environmental Assessment, P.O. 
Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. You may also email 
comments to Benefits [email protected], or submit them online at 
www.nature.nps.gov/benefitssharing. NPS practice is to make comments, 
including the names and address of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may 
request that NPS withhold their address from the record, which will be 
honored to the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances 
in which NPS would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, to 
the extent allowable by law. If you wish the NPS to withhold your name 
and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comments. NPS will make all submissions from organizations and 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials or organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

DATES: Comments on the potential scope of the assessment, alternatives 
to be considered, impacts to be addressed, and any other relevant 
related issues should be submitted on or before August 9, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Mills, National Park Service 
Benefits Sharing Team, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 
82190; telephone 307-344-2203.

    Dated: June 1, 2001.
Abigail Miller,
Acting Associate Director, Natural Resources Stewardship and Science.
[FR Doc. 01-15559 Filed 6-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M