[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18034-18035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8941]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Benefits-Sharing Environmental Impact Statement, National Park 
Service

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) 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.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement 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 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 is determined that ``public 
health and safety, environmental or scenic values, natural or cultural 
resources, scientific

[[Page 18035]]

research, implementation of management responsibilities, proper 
allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among 
visitor use activities will not be adversely impacted'' (36 CFR 
1.6(a)). Through a public process, this EIS will examine potential 
environmental impacts of various methods of implementing the provisions 
of law that authorize benefits-sharing agreements while ensuring the 
integrity of resources.
    The NPS published a notice of intent in the Federal Register on 
June 25, 2001 (pages 33712-33713), to prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA) concerning the environmental impacts of implementing 
benefits-sharing agreements. Corrections to this notice were published 
in the Federal Register on July 11, 2001 (page 36368), and the scoping 
comment period was extended on July 27, 2001 (page 39197) through 
August 27, 2001. Based on public comments received during the scoping 
period for this EA, the NPS has decided to prepare an EIS.
    If you commented during the EA scoping period (June 25-August 27, 
2001) you do not need to re-submit your comments because they will be 
considered in the EIS. Additional comments may be submitted by any one 
of several methods. You may mail comments to: National Park Service, 
Benefits-Sharing Environmental Assessment, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone 
National Park, WY 82190. You may also e-mail comments to 
[email protected], submit them online at www.nature.nps.gov/benefitssharing. Additional information is available online at 
www.nature.nps.gov/benefitssharing or by contacting: NPS Benefits 
Sharing Team, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190; 
telephone 307-344-2203. NPS practice is to make comments, including the 
names and addresses of respondents, available for public review during 
regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that NPS 
withhold their addresses 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 EIS, alternatives to be 
considered, impacts to be addressed, and any other relevant related 
issues should be submitted within 45 calendar days from the date of 
this notice.
    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.

Michael Soukup,
Associate Director, Natural Resources Stewardship and Science.
[FR Doc. 02-8941 Filed 4-11-02; 8:45 am]
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