[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17081-17082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8494]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management 
Plan, County of Hawaii, HI; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

    Summary: Pursuant to provisions in Sec.  102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190), the National Park 
Service is initiating conservation planning and environmental impact 
analysis for a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) for the recently 
designated Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. This effort will 
provide an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and CMP that 
encompasses protection of sacred, cultural and natural resources, 
visitor use and interpretation, and facilities. This National Historic 
Trail traces approximately 175 miles of the prehistoric coastal Ala Loa 
(``long trail'') on the island of Hawaii, from Upolu Point on the 
northern tip of the island, south along the entire west coast, around 
Ka Lae (South Point), and then up to the eastern boundary of Hawaii 
Volcanoes National Park. The original trail linked many pre-contact 
communities on the island, as well as locations of many significant 
events in Hawaiian history.
    The Ala Kahakai Trail was designated a National Historic Trail by 
the United States Congress on January 24, 2000. This designation was 
derived from a trail feasibility study entitled Ala Kahakai National 
Trail Study (and Final Environmental Impact Statement, January 1998), 
as well as on testimony offered by community advocacy groups for the 
trail. On November 13, 2000, the 106th U.S. Congress and President 
William Clinton officially incorporated the trail into the National 
Trails System. Pub. L. 106-509 calls for establishment of a continuous 
trail, which is to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
    Alternatives: As basis for preparing the Ala Kahakai NHT CMP/EIS, 
the NPS jointly with the State of Hawaii, Native Hawaiian groups, 
private landowners and other stakeholders will identify and analyze 
several alternative management concepts, consistent with agency policy. 
At this time, in addition to establishing an environmental baseline by 
developing a ``No Action'' alternative (maintaining existing conditions 
and management), the conservation planning process is expected to 
identify several alternative options for providing visitor use 
opportunities and suitable protection strategies. The CMP/EIS will 
evaluate the potential environmental impacts of each alternative, and 
identify appropriate mitigation actions. The alternatives will be based 
upon input from the community, an environmental constraints analysis 
using updated Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data, and other 
analytical and decision-making methods.
    Impact Analysis Issues: The CMP/EIS will be tiered to the 1998 Ala 
Kahakai National Trail Study and EIS. All issues and concerns which 
informed completion of that project will be updated through 
consultations and discussions with current landowners, agencies, Native 
Hawaiian groups, local business owners, and other stakeholders. A 
planning newsletter is available detailing issues identified to date 
(copies may be obtained as noted below). At this time, topics to be 
addressed include:
    (1) Protection of sacred and cultural Native Hawaiian sites from 
intended and unintended damage by trail users;
    (2) Management of marine and terrestrial natural resources that are 
or may be affected by increased public use of the Ala Kahakai;
    (3) Landowner liability with regard to access across privately-
owned property, as well as trespassing, littering, and other property 
offenses (approximately 50% of the trail corridor, much of which may be 
owned in fee simple by the State of Hawaii, traverses private lands);
    (4) Trail maintenance and monitoring by volunteer community-based 
groups;
    (5) Facility development and maintenance; and
    (6) Safety and security of trail users.
    Scoping/Public Involvement: There will be public open house 
meetings held throughout the various stages of the overall conservation 
planning process. These meetings will be hosted in communities across 
the various regions along the designated trail route. The first public 
meetings will be to elicit comments that identify new concerns and 
issues, provide essential environmental information, and suggest trail 
design alternatives. These initial meetings will take place beginning 
on March 22, 2003. A final summary of all information developed in the 
scoping phase will be available. Subsequently, draft management 
alternatives will be developed and available for review through a 
second round of public meetings. Finally, public meetings to foster 
broad review of the Draft CMP/EIS will be hosted. All meetings will be 
noticed and publicized through the local news media, direct mailings, 
and on the trail's Web site.
    Comments: All responses conveying new information or concerns are 
encouraged at this time, and may be submitted by any one of several 
methods. Mail comments to Mr. Mike Donoho, Planning Team Leader, 73-
4786 Kanalani Street, 14, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740; or transmit 
via email c/o [email protected] (include your name and return 
address in your email message); or via facsimile to (808) 329-2597. All 
written scoping comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later 
than 30 days from the date that this notice is published in the Federal 
Register--as soon as this date has been determined it will be widely 
publicized, including posting on the trail's Web site to be established 
in spring 2003.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. If individuals submitting comments request that their 
name or/and address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be 
honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated 
prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be 
circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as 
allowable by law. As always: NPS will make available to public 
inspections all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals

[[Page 17082]]

identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision Process: Availability of the Draft CMP/EIS for review and 
comment will be officially announced by notice of availability in the 
Federal Register, as well as through local and regional news media, 
area libraries, and direct mailing. At this time, distribution of the 
document is anticipated during fall 2004. After due consideration of 
all comments and information received, a Final CMP/EIS would be 
prepared which at this time is anticipated could be completed during 
summer 2005. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final 
decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently 
the official responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Ala 
Kahakai National Historic Park.

    Dated: February 13, 2003.
Arthur E. Eck,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 03-8494 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P