[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13193-13194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6610]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
Devils Tower National Monument, Crook County, Wyoming

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and 
General Management Plan for Devils Tower National Monument.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (c) of 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 Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming.

DATES: The Draft EIS/GMP was on public review from July 2, through 
September 30, 2001. Responses to public comment are addressed in the 
FEIS/GMP. A 30-day no-action period will follow the Environmental 
Protection Agency's Notice of Availability of the FEIS/GMP.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/GMP are available from the 
Superintendent, Devils Tower National Monument, P.O. Box 10, Devils 
Tower, WY 82714. Public reading copies of the FEIS/GMP will be 
available for review at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Devils Tower National Monument, P.O. Box 
10, Devils Tower, WY 82714, Telephone: (307) 467-5283 x 14.
Planning and Environmental Quality, Intermountain Support Office--
Denver, National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287, 
Telephone: (303) 969-2851 or (303)969-2377.
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone: (202) 
208-6843.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Superintendent, Devils Tower National 
Monument, (307) 467-5282 x 14.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS/GMP analyzes five alternatives to 
manage natural and cultural resources, visitor use and access, general 
development and park operations. The alternatives address issues 
including the following. The national monument is subject to visitor 
congestion, including vehicular circulation and parking, and crowded 
visitor facilities. None of the four buildings where park staff works 
has adequate space for office requirements, storage, meetings, or 
breaks. The space available for the cooperating association's offices 
and bookstore is inadequate. Congestion and inadequate facilities limit 
the staff's ability to offer orientation and interpretation that would 
ensure visitor understanding of the monument's significance and allow 
visitors to make the best use of their time. Flood control structures 
on the Belle Fourche River inside and outside the monument have 
severely damaged the riparian woodland system. Modern recreational use, 
developments, and climbing on the Tower are sometimes in conflict with 
American Indian traditional cultural values. High levels of 
development, visitor use, and crowding at the base of the Tower are not 
consistent with the spiritual nature of the area. Alternative 1, the no 
action alternative represents the continuation of existing conditions 
and management at the monument. Alternative 2 would reduce overall 
development to improve the monument's natural setting, institute a 
reservation system during periods of peak visitation, and convert the 
parking area at the base of the Tower to a pedestrian plaza. 
Alternative 3, the NPS preferred alternative, would institute a shuttle 
system for use during peak

[[Page 13194]]

visitation periods, construct a shuttle staging area and visitor 
orientation facilities within the monument, and convert the parking 
area at the base of the Tower to a pedestrian plaza. Alternative 4 
would also institute a shuttle system, but would construct/relocate 
staging and visitor orientation facilities, along with headquarters and 
maintenance facilities, outside the monument boundaries. Alternative 5 
would continue to offer visitor experiences similar to those presently 
available, but would expand, pave, and upgrade parking areas and roads, 
and/or add facilities to reduce visitor congestion.
    The FEIS/GMP in particular evaluates the environmental consequences 
of the proposed action and the other alternatives on the prairie dog (a 
candidate for listing as threatened by the Fish and Wildlife Service), 
wetlands, floodplains, ethnographic and historic resources, visitors' 
experience of monument resources, visitor access and freedom to go at 
one's own pace, access to orientation and interpretation, visitor 
safety, businesses and neighbors, and local and regional economy.

    Dated: December 7, 2001.
R. Everhart,
Acting Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6610 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
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