[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 71983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30487]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint 
Quarries National Monument, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/Oil and Gas Management Plan for Lake 
Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National 
Monument, Potter, Hutchinson, and Moore Counties, Texas.

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SUMMARY: On September 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 implement the Oil and Gas 
Management Plan as described as the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 
B) contained in the FEIS issued on August 9, 2002. In the Preferred 
Alternative, all areas of the two NPS units would be formally 
designated as Special Management Areas (SMA's), and specific operating 
stipulations would be applied. While this alternative was not deemed to 
be the environmentally preferred alternative, it was determined to best 
accomplish the legislated purposes of the two NPS units by balancing 
the statutory mission of the NPS to provide long-term protection to the 
NPS units' resources and significance, while allowing for the exercise 
of rights to oil and gas not owned by the United States. It was also 
determined that implementation of the Preferred Alternative will not 
constitute an impairment of park resources and values. This course of 
action and two alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final 
Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigating 
measures identified.
    The full Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision 
made; synopses of the alternatives considered, a description of the 
environmentally preferable alternative; the decision rationale used in 
selecting the alternative; a finding on impairment of park resources 
and values; a description of mitigation measures and monitoring plans 
that will be implemented for the selected alternative; a statement that 
addresses how all practical means to avoid or minimize environmental 
harm from the selected alternative have been adopted; and a description 
of public involvement in the decision-making process.

Basis for Decision

    In reaching its decision to select the preferred alternative, the 
National Park Service considered the purposes for which the two NPS 
units were established, and other laws and policies that apply to lands 
in the units, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karren Brown, Superintendent, Lake 
Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National 
Monument, P.O. Box 1460, Fritch, TX 79036, Telephone: 806-857-3131.

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

    Dated: September 26, 2002.
Karen Wade,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30487 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P