[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51801-51802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21974]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Hovenweep 
National Monument, Colorado and Utah

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for a general management plan for Hovenweep National Monument.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, 
the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact 
statement for a general management plan for Hovenweep National 
Monument. This effort will result in a comprehensive general management 
plan that provides a framework for making management decisions 
regarding the preservation of natural and cultural resources, visitor 
use and interpretation, and development of appropriate park facilities. 
In cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, the United States 
Forest Service, the Colorado and Utah State Historic Preservation 
Offices, and Utah State Parks, attention will also be given to 
resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of Hovenweep 
National Monument. Alternatives to be considered include no-action, the 
proposed action and other reasonable alternatives.

    Major opportunities and concerns at Hovenweep National Monument 
include:
    1. Hovenweep NM does not have a general management plan to 
provide a comprehensive vision for the monument and forum for public 
input on the management of the monument. The creation of a new 
national monument, the Canyon of the Ancients increases the need for 
interagency cooperation and consultation on issues relating to 
resource protection, visitor education and enjoyment of these 
resources.
    2. Oil and gas development and pressure to explore and develop 
other reserves on lands adjacent to the monument poses the potential 
for impacts on the monument's natural and cultural resources.

[[Page 51802]]

    3. Grazing on lands adjacent to the monument has resulted in 
domestic livestock encroaching on park lands, posing adverse impacts 
on the park's archeological resources and habitat for native 
species.
    4. The monument does not have an adequate maintenance facility.
    5. The monument relies heavily on partnerships with a number of 
state, tribal, private and academic agencies, organizations and 
institutions. The general management planning process will provide a 
forum for discussion and consultation that will strengthen the 
foundations of these partnerships.

    A public forum for comment on the full range of appropriate visitor 
experiences will be provided throughout the course of the GMP process. 
Public involvement is essential for the development of creative 
solutions to guide future park management.
    A briefing statement has been prepared that summarizes the issues 
identified to date. Copies of that information may be obtained from: 
Superintendent, Hovenweep National Monument.

DATES: The Park Service will accept comments from the public for 30 
days from the date this notice is published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
in the office of the Superintendent, Greg Dudgeon, Hovenweep National 
Monument. The director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service 
will approve the environmental impact statement.
    The National Park Service will conduct public scoping (public 
meetings and solicitation of comments from state, county and town 
agencies and organizations; park neighbors; state historic preservation 
officer; and associated American Indian tribes) for the Hovenweep 
General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement from July, 2003 
to August, 2005. Public involvement will play a critical role in the 
preparation of the environmental impact statement that will analyze the 
impacts of the management alternatives in the draft general management 
plan.

DATES: The National Park Service will conduct further public scoping 
for the draft alternatives and environmental impact statement for a 
period of 30-days beyond publication of this Notice of Intent.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Superintendent's Office, Hovenweep 
National Monument, McElmo Route, Cortez, CO 81321. You may also hand-
deliver comments to the Superintendent's Office, Hovenweep National 
Monument, Cortez, CO. (Attn: General Management Plan).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent Greg Dudgeon at 
435.719.2100 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our practice is to make comments, including 
names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review 
during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that 
we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to 
the extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 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.

    Dated: June 20, 2003.
Karen P. Wade,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21974 Filed 8-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-70-P