[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56309-56310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22374]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a record of decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan, Devils Tower 
National Monument, Wyoming.

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SUMMARY: On June 26, 2002, the Director, Intermountain Region approved 
the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practical, the 
National Park Service will begin to

[[Page 56310]]

implement the General Management Plan described as the Preferred 
Alternative (Alternative 3) contained in the FEIS issued on March 21, 
2002. In the Preferred Alternative a shuttle system would be 
established, a staging area would be constructed north of the entrance 
station, the paved parking area at the base of the Tower would be 
converted to a landscaped pedestrian plaza, and the campground and 
other facilities in the Belle Fourche River floodplain would be 
eliminated and the area restored to natural conditions. This 
alternative was deemed to be the environmentally preferred alternative, 
and it was determined that implementation of the selected actions will 
not constitute an impairment of park resources and values. This course 
of action and four alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final 
Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of forseeable 
environmental consequences were assessed, and appropriate mitigating 
measures identified.
    The full Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision 
made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the 
decision, a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, 
a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a listing of 
measures to minimize environmental harm, an overview of public 
involvement in the decision-making process, and a Statement of Findings 
for Wetlands.

Basis for Decision

    In reaching its decision to select the preferred alternative, the 
National Park Service considered the purposes for which Devils Tower 
National Monument was established, and other laws and policies that 
apply to lands in the monument, including the Organic Act, National 
Environmental Policy Act, and the NPS Management Policies. The National 
Park Service also carefully considered public comments received during 
the planning process.
    To develop a preliminary preferred alternative, the planning team 
evaluated the five draft alternatives that had been reviewed by the 
public. To minimize the influence of individual biases and opinions, 
the team used an objective analysis process called ``Choosing by 
Advantages.'' This process has been used extensively by government 
agencies and the private sector. The following conclusions were 
reached:
     Alternative 3 represented a significant improvement in 
visitor experience at the base of the Tower over existing conditions, 
despite the potential for noise from shuttle vehicles and continued 
high concentrations of visitors in the Tower area.
     In ``Ease of access to the monument'' which includes the 
ability to visit the monument on one's own schedule and seldom 
encountering waiting lines at the entrance station, Alternative 3 was 
rated highest of the alternatives because waiting lines at the entrance 
station would be reduced and visitors could enter the monument before 
being required to ride a shuttle.
     ``Visitor understanding of the monument's significance'' 
includes offering high quality interpretive services for visitors. 
Alternatives 3 and 4 rated highest for interpretive opportunities 
because of the inclusion of a staging area, interpretive opportunities 
on the shuttle, and the ability to keep more facilities open in the 
winter.
     The viewshed to be preserved comprises views within the 
park from the Tower and from the Tower and Red Beds trails. Though 
Alternative 3 did not score highest, the developments called for in 
Alternative 3 probably could be screened from many areas, giving it and 
another alternative a score of second.
    Overall, Alternative 3 received the highest score and was adopted 
as the preferred alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Lisa Ekert, Devils 
Tower National Monument, P.O. Box 10, Devils Tower, Wyoming 82714; 
telephone 307/ 467-5283, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A limited number of individual copies of the 
Record of Decision may be obtained from the Superintendent listed 
above.

    Dated: June 26, 2002.
Karen P. Wade,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 02-22374 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P