[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 39789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19113]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Personal Watercraft Use, Environmental Impact Statement, Glen 
Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) will prepare an EIS to make 
reasoned decisions about whether to continue personal watercraft (PWC) 
use at Glen Canyon NRA. NPS will make the determination based on the 
unit's enabling statute, mission, management objectives, resources, 
values, and other uses, as well as PWCs' impacts on the unit. 65 FR 
15078 (2000).
    Consistent with Bluewater Network v. Stanton, No. CV02093 (D.D.C. 
2000) and the settlement agreement approved by the court on April 11, 
2001, the NPS will comply with NEPA by preparing an EIS. The EIS will 
evaluate various PWC use alternatives to determine their effects on 
water quality, air quality, soundscapes, wildlife, wildlife habitat, 
shoreline vegetation, visitor conflicts, safety, and other appropriate 
topics. NPS will consider various alternatives including: no action 
(continued PWC use until September 15, 2002 then no special regulation 
authorizing continued PWC use), continued PWC use under current 
management, and continued but limited PWC use under one or more 
management variations.
    If NPS decides to continue PWC use after September 15, 2002, it 
will have to adopt a unit-specific special regulation. To implement 
this decision, the NPS will commence rulemaking by publishing a 
proposed rule to authorize PWC use at Glen Canyon NRA in the Federal 
Register.
    NPS will consult with affected federal, state, local, and tribal 
entities to determine issues of mutual concern.
    NPS will prepare a scoping brochure detailing the identified 
issues. In the near future, you may obtain a brochure copy by 
contacting: Superintendent, Glen Canyon NRA, P.O. Box 1507, Page, 
Arizona 86040, telephone: 520-608-6339, email: [email protected].

Comments

    You may submit comments concerning the following: The EIS's scope, 
the issues to cover, the alternatives to consider, and other PWC 
resource concerns. You may submit your comments using mail, e-mail, or 
hand delivery.
    Mail comments to Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation 
Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040. E-mail comments to 
[email protected]. Include your name and address in your e-mail message. 
If you do not receive confirmation that we received your message, then 
call 520-608-6339. Hand deliver your comments to 691 Scenic View Drive, 
Page, Arizona.
    During regular business hours, NPS will make available for public 
inspection the entire text of comments from individuals, organizations, 
and businesses (including representatives and officials from businesses 
or organizations). These comments will include respondents' names and 
addresses, unless they request that we withhold their names and 
addresses from the record; which we will honor to the extent allowable 
by law. If you wish to have NPS withhold your name and/or address, you 
must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment.

Scoping Workshops

    In addition to the scoping brochure, the NPS expects to conduct 
scoping workshops to involve the public in the issue identification and 
the alternative development processes. Although NPS has not yet 
determined the workshop logistics, NPS will provide this information in 
the near future. You can get specific workshop locations, times, and 
dates by reading the scoping brochure, visiting the internet site at 
www.nps.gov/glca/plan.htm, or by contacting the Superintendent, Glen 
Canyon NRA, P.O. Box 1507, Page, Arizona 86040, telephone: 520-608-
6339, e-mail; [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the Superintendent, Glen 
Canyon NRA, P.O. Box 1507, Page, Arizona 86040, telephone: 520-608-
6339, email: [email protected], www.nps.gov/glca/plan.htm.

Karen Wade,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19113 Filed 7-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M