[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 65989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31398]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan, 
Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce and Lewis Counties, WA; Notice of 
Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and General 
Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. 
Upon approval, the GMP will serve as a ``blueprint'' to guide park 
managers in implementing park programs and management activities for 
Mount Rainier National Park over the next 15-20 years.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS/GMP identifies and analyzes three 
alternatives for managing resources and visitors in Mount Rainier 
National Park. The ``no-action'' alternative is a continuation of the 
present management course regarding the management of visitor use and 
facilities. The National Park Service's preferred alternative 
(Alternative 2) would provide a range of high-quality visitor 
experiences and improve stewardship of park resources. The primary 
goals of this alternative are to better manage peak-period visitation 
so that it does not adversely affect park resources and visitor 
experiences, and encourage more off-peak use of the park. Alternative 3 
would offer a different combination of visitor opportunities than those 
offered in the preferred alternative, while still protecting resources. 
None of the alternatives would propose major new developments within 
the park, and no park resources or values would be impaired.
    The FEIS/GMP evaluates the environmental consequences of the 
preferred alternative and the other alternatives on natural resources 
(e.g., air and water quality, soils and vegetation, special status 
species), geologic (volcanic and nonvolcanic) hazards, cultural 
resources (e.g., archeological resources, ethnographic resources), 
visitor experiences (e.g., visitor access, the range of visitor 
activities), Wilderness, and the socioeconomic environment (e.g., 
regional context, gateway communities). A range of mitigation measures 
appropriate to each alternative are identified and evaluated. It was 
determined that Alternative 2 is the Aenvironmentally preferred'' 
alternative.
    Public Comment: A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published 
in the Federal Register on September 27, 1994. During the subsequent 
scoping phase leading to development of the Draft EIS, the NPS 
conducted six public meetings. The results of these meetings were 
published in the first of a series of public newsletters (Newsletter 1 
was distributed during winter 1995). Also throughout the conservation 
planning and environmental impact analysis process, numerous county, 
state and federal agency meetings and consultations with five Tribes 
were conducted. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/GMP was 
published in the Federal Register on November 20, 2000; the document 
was on public review through February 9, 2001. The NPS received 143 
written responses and many oral comments during seven public meetings 
held in various Washington towns and cities; all were duly considered 
in preparing the FEIS/GMP. All comments obtained are filed in the 
administrative record.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/GMP are available from the 
Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, Tahoma Woods, Star Route, 
Ashford, Washington 98304-9751; (360) 589-2211. Public reading copies 
of the FEIS/GMP will also be available for review at the following 
locations:
    Office of the Superintendent, Tahoma Woods, Mount Rainier National 
Park, Ashford, Washington 98304-9751; Telephone (360) 589-2211.
    NPS Library, Columbia Cascades Support Office, 909 First Avenue 
South, Seattle, WA 98104-1060; Telephone: (206) 220-4114.
    Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: 
(202) 208-6843.
    If individuals responding to this Notice request that their name or 
and address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to 
the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently 
in the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances 
wherein the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by 
law. As always: NPS will make available to public inspection all 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision: A Record of Decision may be approved by the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region, no sooner than 30 days after publication 
by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Notice of filing of this 
Final EIS in the Federal Register. The official responsible for the 
final decision is the Regional Director; subsequently the official 
responsible for implementation of the plan is the Superintendent, Mt. 
Rainier National Park.

    Dated: October 25, 2001.
Martha K. Leicester,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-31398 Filed 12-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P