[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 50207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24629]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Isle Royale National Park, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a wilderness management plan and 
environmental impact statement for Isle Royale National Park, Michigan.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) will prepare a wilderness 
management plan and an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Isle 
Royale National Park, Michigan 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 analysis, 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 
suggestions in this scoping process are invited.
    This project was initiated in the autumn of 1999. The planning 
process originally included preparation of an environmental assessment. 
However, as planning has progressed NPS now believes it is appropriate 
to prepare an EIS. Public involvement during the first phases of 
planning has been facilitated through a series of newsletters with 
mail-back input forms.

DATES:  Written comments and information concerning the scope of the 
EIS should be directed to the Superintendent, Isle Royale National 
Park, at the address below before November 2, 2001.
    Persons who already have provided information through responses to 
project newsletters need not re-send that information. NPS will 
consider these comments in preparation of the EIS. However, persons who 
wish to reemphasize or expand on their previous comments are welcome to 
do so. Additional input also is invited.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments and information concerning the scope of 
the EIS and other matters, or requests to be added to the project 
mailing list should be directed to: Superintendent, Isle Royale 
National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1895. 
Telephone: 906-487-7140. E-mail: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Isle Royale National 
Park, at the address or telephone above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress designated more than 99 percent of 
the 133,000 acres landmass of Isle Royale National Park as wilderness 
in 1976. However, NPS never prepared a wilderness management plan to 
help guide decision making on wilderness-related matters. 
Comprehensive, long-term planning for the park's wilderness is needed 
to address:
    (1) The management of visitor use, which during the peak season 
overwhelms facility capacities in campgrounds.
    (2) The adoption, implementation, and refinement of resource and 
visitor experience indicators and related monitoring to ensure 
wilderness resources, values, and experiences are not being 
compromised.
    (3) The adoption of a ``minimum tool'' decision framework for park 
operations within wilderness.
    (4) Development of a new computerized permit/reservation system for 
camping permits.
    (5) Specific directions for such diverse issues as campfires, trail 
maintenance, backcountry sanitation, interpretation and education in 
the wilderness, campground design, wildlife protection, acceptable 
signing, etc.
    (6) Development of an implementation schedule to proactively plan 
for future projects in the wilderness.
    The environmental review of the wilderness management plan for Isle 
Royale National Park will be conducted in accordance with requirements 
of NEPA (42 U.S.C. section 4371 et seq.), NEPA regulations (40 CFR 
1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and NPS procedures 
and policies for compliance with those regulations.

James A. Loach,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-24629 Filed 10-1-01; 8:45 am]
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