[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1476-1478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-118]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Lake Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, Lake 
Mead National Recreation Area

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the National 
Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Lake 
Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement identifying 
and evaluating four alternatives for Lakes Mead and Mohave within Lake 
Mead National Recreation Area. The foreseeable potential for 
environmental impacts, and appropriate mitigation, are identified and 
assessed for each alternative. When approved, the plan is intended to 
guide management actions during the next 15-20 years.

DATES: Notice of an approved record of decision will be published in 
the Federal Register not sooner than 30 days after the final document 
has been distributed.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Lake 
Management Plan may be obtained by writing to Superintendent, Lake Mead 
National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, Nevada, 
89005, or it may be viewed on the Internet at www.nps.gov/lame/planning.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Holland, Management Assistant, 
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, 
Nevada, 89005. e-mail: [email protected]. Phone: (702) 293-8986.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lake Mead NRA General Management Plan 
completed in 1986 establishes land based management zones and 
strategies for meeting those goals. Since that time, management issues 
have surfaced that have not been adequately addressed or resolved in 
the previous planning efforts. These issues relate to the increase in 
recreational use of the lakes, visitor conflicts and safety, potential 
impacts on park resources from water-related recreation and personal 
watercraft use. The overall objective of this lake management plan is 
to improve the management of Lakes Mead and Mohave, while providing for 
the long-term protection of park resources and allowing a range of 
recreational opportunities to support visitor needs.
    Proposal: The preferred alternative has been modified in the Lake 
Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement. There have been 
modifications made to the lake zoning and carrying capacity sections 
and the uses allowed in the primitive and semiprimitive zones. The 
temporal zoning in Black Canyon and the boating in proximity sections 
of the plan have also been revised.
    The Lake Management Plan (Alternative C--Preferred) would allow for 
a slight increase in boating levels (5,055 boats at any one time). 
Facility expansion could occur at Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mohave and at 
Callville Bay, Echo Bay, Overton Beach and Temple Bar on Lake Mead. 
Additional public launch facilities could be constructed at Eldorado 
Canyon along Lake Mohave and at Stewarts Point on Lake Mead. A new road 
could be constructed to provide improved access to the north shore of 
the Boulder Basin on Lake Mead.
    The park waters would be managed for a range of recreational 
settings from primitive to urban. Five percent of the park waters would 
be managed for primitive and semiprimitive settings, 39% for rural 
natural, 21% for urban natural and 35% as urban park. The primitive 
areas would be managed for non-motorized use but would allow electric 
trolling motors and semiprimitive areas would be managed for flat wake 
speed or with a horsepower restriction. Personal watercraft would be 
prohibited from operating in primitive and semiprimitive settings but 
authorized to operate in rural natural, urban natural and urban park 
settings.
    Black Canyon would be managed for temporal recreational settings 
with two days per week being primitive (no motors) and five days per 
week between Labor Day and Memorial Day as semiprimitive. In Black 
Canyon where there is a constant river current, the semiprimitive zone 
flat wake restriction is replaced with an engine size restriction of 
65-horsepower or less. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Black Canyon 
would be managed as rural natural allowing generally unrestricted 
boating access five days per week (due to the narrow canyon 
environment, houseboats, wake boarding and water skiing are 
prohibited).
    In consultation with the States of Arizona and Nevada, a 200-foot 
flat wake zone would be established around beaches frequented by 
bathers, boats at the shoreline and persons in the water or at the 
shoreline. This is to establish a safe shoreline environment for 
shoreline users. The National Park Service will work with the 
respective states to develop uniform boating laws on Lakes Mead and 
Mohave and pursue mandatory boating education programs. Alcohol 
consumption while operating a boat would be prohibited.
    Sanitation and public education requirements would be implemented 
and a clean-up program initiated. Glass beverage containers and 
styrofoam would be prohibited within the park. Water quality would be 
enhanced by requiring all boaters camping overnight to possess a marine 
head or portable toilet.
    The Environmental Protection Agency regulation requiring the marine 
industry to improve the efficiency of engines by the year 2006 would be 
accelerated at Lake Mead NRA; requiring exclusive use of the new direct 
injection two-stroke engines, or equivalent, for motorized vessels 
starting 2012.
    This alternative was identified at the environmentally preferred 
alternative as it best meets the requirement of section 101 of the 
National Environmental Policy Act. It would help provide a wide range 
of beneficial uses without degradation and would improve the safety of 
the recreation area. This alternative would preserve important aspects 
of our natural heritage while providing an environment that supports 
diversity and a variety of individual choices.
    Alternatives: Alternative A maintains the status quo Lake Mead NRA, 
as described in chapter 3, Affected Environment. It provides a baseline 
from which to compare other alternatives, to evaluate the magnitude of 
proposed changes, and to measure the environmental effects of those 
changes. Under this alternative, management would continue to follow 
the 1986 General Management Plan zoning and capacities. By taking no 
new management actions including the promulgation of a personal 
watercraft rule, this alternative results in a permanent ban of 
personal watercraft use.
    Alternative B would cap the number of boats at any one time at the 
current level (4,393 boats at any one time). No facilities would be 
expanded and no new launch ramps would be constructed. Ten percent of 
the park waters would be managed for primitive and semi-primitive 
settings. Personal watercraft would be authorized to operate in the 
rural natural, urban natural and urban park settings. A 100-foot flat 
wake zone would be established around the shoreline of both Lakes Mead 
and Mohave. Sanitation and litter initiatives would be improved but 
boats camping overnight would not be required to possess a porta-potty 
or marine toilet. All boat engines including personal watercraft would 
be required to meet the 2006 EPA manufacturer standards. Upon the 
approval of the plan, all engines not meeting these standards would be 
prohibited from operating on the waters of Lake Mead NRA.
    Alternative D would provide for a greater increase in boating 
activity (5,800 boats at any one time). Facility expansion would be 
similar to Alternative C but allow larger increases in the marina slip 
and rental craft numbers. None of the park waters would be zoned for 
primitive or semiprimitve settings and there would be no restriction on 
personal watercraft use. A 300-foot flat wake zones would be 
established around the shoreline of both Lakes Mead and Mohave. Alcohol 
consumption while operating a boat would be prohibited and glass and 
Styrofoam containers would be prohibited. The National Park Service 
would require all Lake Mead and Mohave boaters to take a boater 
education course. Boaters camping overnight would be required to 
possess a porta-potty or marine head. There would be no restriction on 
the use on carburated two-stroke engines.
    Planning Background: The Lake Management Plan and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) were prepared by the National 
Park Service (NPS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. A 
scoping notice was published in the Federal Register on May 3, 1993. 
General issues

[[Page 1478]]

and specific concerns already raised during previous relevant planning 
processes were provided to the public. Over a five-year period a series 
of public scoping and public informational meetings were held. Public 
scoping comments were received through this entire process. During this 
scoping period, the NPS facilitated over 100 discussions and briefings 
to interested members of the public, congressional delegations, Indian 
tribes, elected officials, other agencies, public service 
organizations, educational institutions, and other entities. Over 1,000 
letters were received concerning the management of recreational use of 
the waters of Lake Mead NRA.
    The Lake Management Plan/DEIS--formally announced for public review 
per notice of availability published in the Federal Register on April 
19, 2002--was sent directly to all individuals, organizations, and 
agencies which had previously contacted the park; copies could also be 
obtained in the park, by mail, at public meetings, and were available 
for review at local and regional libraries (i.e., Las Vegas, Henderson, 
Boulder City, Laughlin, Bullhead City, Kingman, Overton, Mesquite and 
St. George). Additional copies were sent to public libraries in 
Southern California including Needles, San Bernardino, Victorville, 
Barstow, Irvine, Long Beach, Northridge and Los Angeles. Finally, the 
complete document was posted on the Lake Mead National Recreation Area 
Webpage (http://www.nps.gov/lame/planning). Written comments were 
accepted through June 26, 2002. Approximately 10,000 comments were 
received; of these 6,000 were electronic form letters and 1,000 were 
printed post cards; all were duly considered and adjustments were made 
to the draft plan. The issues focused on boating access, zoning, 
carrying capacity, shoreline wakeless zones and personal watercraft 
use. All written comments have been logged, archived and are available 
for public review in the park's research library.
    In order to further foster public review and comment, six public 
meetings were held throughout the region--all were conducted in 
communities, cities and towns neighboring Lake Mead National Recreation 
Area. All meetings were conducted in an open house format (where 
participants could view displays and talk with park management and 
planning staff). At each of these meetings, written comment forms could 
be submitted or oral testimony was documented by a court reporter. 
Approximately 750 persons attended these meetings and the majority 
submitted written or oral comments. In addition, presentations were 
made before the Laughlin Town Board and the Searchlight Town Board.
    Decision Process: Subsequent to release of the Lake Management 
Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, notice of an approved record 
of decision shall be published in the Federal Register not sooner than 
30 days after the final document has been distributed. This is expected 
to occur by the end of December 2002. The official responsible for the 
decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park 
Service; the official responsible for implementation is the 
Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

    Dated: November 25, 2002.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 03-118 Filed 1-9-03; 8:45 am]
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