[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42280-42281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15666]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Environmental Statements; Notice of intent; Biscayne National 
Park, FL

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for a General Management Plan Amendment for Biscayne National 
Park, Florida.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS) for an Amendment to the Biscayne 
National Park General Management Plan. This effort will result in a 
plan to guide the management of the 7 stilt structures that are located 
in the northern end of Biscayne National Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida. 
Management options being considered include removing the structures 
from the bay, public use of the structures consistent with NPS policy 
and best management practices for environmental protection, leasing the 
structures to a non-profit trust, and leasing the structures for 
private uses under NPS management.
    Major issues potential impacts on water quality, biological 
resources, scenic resources, cultural resources, and the visitor 
experience.
    To facilitate sound planning and consideration of environmental 
resources, the NPS intends to gather information necessary for the 
preparation of the General Management Plan Amendment/DEIS and to obtain 
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the 
scope of issues to be addressed in the Management Plan Amendment/DEIS. 
Comments and participation in this scoping process are invited. 
Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and 
facilitated by various means, including newsletters and, subsequent to 
the issuance of a draft General Management Plan Amendment/DEIS, by open 
houses or meetings. Comments previously submitted to NPS pursuant to 
public meetings held on September 24 and 25, 2001, in Miami, Florida 
and Homestead, Florida to provide the public an opportunity to give 
their ideas to the NPS regarding the future of Stiltsville will 
continue to be part of the public record on this planning process. 
Similarly, comments on future uses of Stiltsville were also received 
during Biscayne National Park's General Management Plan public scoping 
meetings held in January 2001 and September 2001 in various locations

[[Page 42281]]

and these will also be part of the public record.

DATES: The NPS will conduct public open house meetings to receive 
public comments on the Draft General Management Plan Amendment/DEIS. 
Locations, dates, and times of public open house meetings will be 
announced in the local press, in NPS newsletters and on the park 
website, http://www.nps.gov/bisc and may also be obtained by contacting 
Biscayne National Park.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information concerning the scope of the 
General Management Plan Amendment/DEIS and other matters should be sent 
to the following address: General Management Plan Amendment, Biscayne 
National Park, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead, Florida 33033. Requests to 
be added to the project mailing list should be directed to the same 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Biscayne National 
Park, 305-230-1144 ext. 3002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS is developing an amendment to 
Biscayne National Park's 1983 General Management Plan for management of 
the 7 stilt structures located in the northern part of Biscayne 
National Park in Biscayne Bay. In 1980, the park's northern boundary 
expanded and Biscayne National Monument became Biscayne National Park. 
In 1985, when the State of Florida transferred ownership of the bay 
bottom within the expansion area to the park, it also transferred the 
leases for the property, which the structures occupy. The leases 
expired in July 1999. The park's 1983 General Management Plan, 
Development Concept Plan, Wilderness Study, and Environmental 
Assessment recommended removing the structures before the leases 
expired. Because of numerous expressions of public interest in 
maintaining the structures, the NPS initiated a multi-stage planning 
process to identify and recommend future public uses of the structures 
consistent with NPS policy.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents available for public review during regular business hours. 
If you wish for us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not 
consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: May 15, 2002.
W. Thomas Brown,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 02-15666 Filed 6-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M