[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 20163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10127]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan 
Minidoka Internment National Monument Jerome County, ID; Notice of 
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: In accord with Sec. 102(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the National Park Service 
is undertaking a conservation planning and environmental impact 
analysis process for the first General Management Plan (GMP) for the 
Minidoka Internment National Monument, Idaho. An Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be prepared concurrently with the GMP. The GMP is 
intended to set forth the basic management philosophy for this new unit 
of the National Park System and provide strategies for addressing 
issues and achieving identified management objectives for that unit, 
thus serving as a ``blueprint'' to guide management of natural and 
cultural resources and visitor use during the next 15-20 years. 
Development Concept Plans, which guide more detailed, site-specific 
preservation and development actions may be included with the GMP.

Background

    The Minidoka Relocation Center (an area also known as Hunt) was 
authorized in August 1942 and operated by the War Relocation Authority 
until October 1945. The Center included over 33,000 acres of land with 
administrative and residential facilities. There were more than 600 
buildings with a peak population of approximately 10,000 Japanese 
Americans from Washington State, Oregon, and Alaska. Established 
January 17, 2001, as the 385th unit of the National Park System, the 
purposes of Minidoka Internment National Monument, which is to be 
managed by the National Park Service, are to: (a) Protect the historic 
structures and objects of historic interest on 72.75 acres; and (b) 
Provide opportunities for public education and interpretation of the 
internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This site is 
located approximately 25 northeast of Twin Falls, Idaho, surrounded by 
a rural, sparsely populated agricultural community. The site has many 
ground features that are the remnants of the camp, dominated by the 
basalt stone masonry foundations of the original entrance area.

Scoping Process

    In preparing the EIS/GMP, the National Park Service (NPS) will 
formulate a range of alternatives to define distinct management 
strategies for the park, including visitor use and appreciation, and 
cultural and natural resource protection. Public comment is a key 
component of this conservation planning process, which will also 
include identification and evaluation of potential environmental 
impacts, and appropriate mitigation measures, of each alternative.
    Some of the major issues we anticipate addressing in the Minidoka 
Internment National Monument EIS/GMP are:

--Interpretation and educational activities at the site;
--Educational and interpretation activities pertaining to the site in 
context with other related themes and sites;
--Natural and cultural resource management;
--Cultural resources research;
--Restoration and protection of the site and its historic structures;
--Park maintenance and sustainability;
--Public access to the Monument and on-site circulation;
--Development of the model visitor experience;
--The desired future conditions of the site;
--Park operations and administration;
--Identification and development of partnerships to effect NPS 
management strategies, including partnering with adjacent southern 
Idaho communities and organizations, the Japanese-American communities 
on the West Coast and throughout the Nation, and all other interested 
citizens in general; and
--Cooperation with other federal agencies, state, local and tribal 
governments.

Comments

    All interested persons, organizations, agencies, and American 
Indian tribes wishing to express concerns or provide information about 
management issues which should be addressed in the upcoming 
conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process are 
encouraged to contact the Superintendent. Comments are also sought in 
regards to a suitable range of alternatives which should be considered 
in the EIS/GMP, the nature and extent of potential environmental 
impacts, and appropriate mitigating measures.
    All comments received will become part of the public record. If 
individuals submitting comments 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.

DATES: We anticipate holding public scoping meetings during the summer 
or early fall of 2002. Details will be announced widely in local and 
regional news media and via direct park mailings. All written comments 
regarding the preparation of the EIS/GMP must be postmarked not later 
than September 30, 2002, and these should be submitted directly to the 
Superintendent, Minidoka Internment National Monument, P.O. Box 570, 
221 North State Street, Hagerman, Idaho 83332. Current information will 
be available at (208) 837-4793.

Decision

    We expect the draft EIS/GMP to be available for public review 
during the fall of 2003, with the final document completed in the fall 
of 2004. Formal announcement of the availability of both documents will 
be published in the Federal Register, as well as publicized via local 
and regional media. The responsibility for approving the EIS/GMP has 
been delegated to the National Park Service, and the official 
responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific 
West Region. Subsequently the official responsible for implementation 
of the GMP is the Superintendent, Minidoka Internment National 
Monument.

    Dated: April 19, 2002.
P. Daniel Smith,
Acting Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10127 Filed 4-23-02; 8:45 am]
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