[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 9713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4811]



[[Page 9713]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the General Management Plan for the Buck Island Reef National Monument

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on 
the General Management Plan for the Buck Island Reef National Monument. 
The statement will assess potential environmental impacts associated 
with various types and levels of visitor use and resources management 
within the park boundary. Specific issues to be addressed include 
appropriate levels and types of visitor use in the park, desired 
conditions for the National Monument's cultural and natural resources, 
and strategies and approaches needed to achieve and maintain those 
conditions. In cooperation with local, territory, and other federal 
agencies, attention will also be given to cooperative management of 
resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of Buck 
Island Reef National Monument.

DATES: Locations, dates, and times of scheduled public scoping meetings 
will be published in local newspapers and posted in local libraries. 
Information on scheduled meetings may also be obtained by contacting 
the Superintendent, Buck Island Reef National Monument, telephone (340) 
773-1460. The purpose of the scoping process is to elicit public 
comment regarding the full spectrum of public issues and concerns. 
Representatives of the National Park Service will be available to 
discuss issues, resource concerns, and the planning process for the GMP 
and EIS at each of the public meetings.

ADDRESSES: Any comments or requests for information should be addressed 
to: Superintendent, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Danish Customs 
House, Kings Wharf, 2100 Church St. 100, Christiansted, Virgin 
Islands 00820-4611, Telephone: (340) 773-1460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Barrett, National Park Service, 
Southeast Regional Office, (404) 562-3124, extension. 637 or Joel 
Tutein, Superintendent, Buck Island Reef National Monument, (340) 773-
1460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Buck Island Reef National Monument was 
created to preserve one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean 
Sea. The elkhorn coral barrier reef that surrounds two-thirds of the 
island has extraordinary coral formations, deep grottoes, abundant reef 
fishes, sea fans, and sea turtles. The park boundary was expanded in 
2001 to include additional coral reefs, barrier reefs, sea grass beds, 
and sand communities, as well as other habitats not included within the 
initial boundary. The expansion area also contains significant cultural 
resources, including the remnants of several shipwrecks. The island, 
which has an overland nature trail and white coral sand beaches, is a 
rookery for endangered brown pelicans and a nesting area for three 
species of sea turtles. Buck Island Reef supports one of the last 
remaining protected nesting populations of endangered hawksbill sea 
turtles in the eastern Caribbean. Visitors to the park can enjoy an 
extraordinary array of marine life and tropical flora and fauna, and 
various water recreational opportunities in the crystal clear waters 
around the reef.
    This planning effort will evaluate a range of alternative methods 
to provide a quality visitor experience while maximizing protection of 
resources and operational efficiency. Public documents associated with 
the planning effort, including all newsletters, will be posted on the 
Internet through the park's Web site at http://www.nps.gov/buis.
    Our practice is to make the public comments we receive in response 
to planning documents, including names and home 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. Anonymous comments 
will be included in the public record. However, the National Park 
Service is not legally required to consider or respond to 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.
    The draft and final environmental impact statement will be 
distributed to all known interested parties and appropriate agencies. 
Full public participation by federal, territory, and local agencies as 
well as other concerned organizations and private citizens is invited 
throughout the preparation process of this document.
    The responsible official for this environmental impact statement is 
Regional Director, National Park Service, Southeast Region, 100 Alabama 
Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: December 11, 2002.
W. Thomas Brown,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 03-4811 Filed 2-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P