[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57707-57708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25208]



[[Page 57707]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement on Vessel Quotas and 
Operating Requirements for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, 
Alaska

AGENCIES: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement on Vessel Quotas and Operating Requirements.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Vessel Quotas and 
Operating Requirements for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The 
document describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of five 
action alternatives, including a preferred alternative, for managing 
four types of motorized vessels within Glacier Bay and Dundas Bay. A no 
action alternative also is evaluated.

DATES: A Record of Decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability 
for this final EIS appears in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the statement are available on request from: Nancy 
Swanton, EIS Project Manager, National Park Service, Alaska Support 
Office, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone: (907) 
644-3696.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Swanton, EIS Project Manager, 
National Park Service, Alaska Support Office, 240 West 5th Avenue, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone: (907) 644-3696.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), 
the NPS has prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) that 
considers six alternatives to establish quotas and operating 
requirements for four types of motorized vessels--cruise ships and 
tour, charter, and private vessels--within Glacier Bay proper and/or 
Dundas Bay in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
    Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is located in Southeast 
Alaska, approximately 65 miles (105 kilometers) west of Juneau. 
Accessible by boat and airplane, it is a popular destination due to its 
spectacular scenery, tidewater glaciers, wilderness, and wildlife. 
Vessel quotas and operating requirements have been in effect since 
1979. The need for the actions considered in this FEIS stems from 
legislation enacted in 2001, wherein the U.S. Congress directed the 
Park Service to identify and analyze the possible effects of the 1996 
increases in the number of vessel entries issued for Glacier Bay 
National Park and Preserve and set the maximum level of vessel entries, 
consistent with the purposes and values of the park. In this EIS, the 
Park Service is addressing the continuing demand for motorized vessel 
access into the park in a manner that assures continuing protection of 
park resources and values, while providing for a range of high-quality 
opportunities for visitors to the park.
    The six alternatives evaluated in this EIS include five action 
alternatives and a no action alternative. Daily quotas, seasonal 
entries, seasonal-use days, quota season, and/or operating requirements 
differ among the alternatives. Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 would set 
vessel quotas and operating requirements for Glacier Bay proper. 
Alternatives 4, 5, and 6 would set quotas and operating requirements 
for Dundas Bay as well.
    [sbull] Alternative 1, the no action alternative, would maintain 
the current vessel quotas, quota season (June 1 through August 31), and 
operating requirements (see 36 Code of Federal Regulations 13.65).

    Note: the June 1--August 31 quota season applies to charter and 
private vessels for daily and seasonal quotas and to cruise ships 
and tour vessels for seasonal quotas. The daily quotas for cruise 
ships and tour vessels apply year-round.


    [sbull] Alternative 2 would set vessel quotas in accordance with 
those in place in 1995 and maintain the current quota season and 
operating requirements.
    [sbull] Alternative 3 would maintain the current vessel quotas and 
quota season, with one exception: it would include a provision to 
increase the seasonal quota for cruise ships to a maximum of two per 
day every day, based on the results of studies and monitoring. It would 
maintain the current operating requirements.
    [sbull] Alternative 4, the environmentally preferred alternative, 
would maintain the current daily quota for cruise ships and decrease 
the daily vessel quotas for tour, charter, and private vessels in 
Glacier Bay. Seasonal entry quotas would not apply. This alternative 
would decrease the number of seasonal use days for cruise ships and 
tour and charter vessels and increase the number of seasonal use days 
for private vessels in Glacier Bay. The quota season would be May 1 
through September 30 (note: the year-round daily vessel quota for 
cruise ships and tour vessels would be maintained). Vessel quotas would 
be initiated for charter vessels for Dundas Bay during a May 1 through 
September 30 quota season. Neither cruise ships nor tour vessels would 
be permitted in Dundas Bay. No quotas would be imposed for private 
vessels. Operating requirements would be modified.
    [sbull] Alternative 5 would maintain the current daily quotas and 
quota season for all four vessel types in Glacier Bay. Seasonal entry 
quotas would not apply. It would maintain the number of seasonal-use 
days for cruise ships, tour vessels, and charter vessels in Glacier Bay 
during the current June 1 through August 31 quota season, but decrease 
the number of seasonal-use days for cruise ships during May and 
September. It would increase the number of seasonal-use days for 
private vessels during the June through August quota season. Quotas 
would be initiated for tour and charter vessels in Dundas Bay, and the 
quota season would June 1 through August 31. Cruise ships would not be 
permitted in Dundas Bay and tour vessels would not be permitted in the 
upper bay (wilderness waters) on a year-round basis. No quotas would be 
imposed for private vessels in Dundas Bay. Operating requirements would 
be modified.
    [sbull] Alternative 6, the NPS preferred alternative, would 
maintain the current daily vessel quotas for Glacier Bay. Seasonal 
entry quotas would not apply. This alternative would maintain the 
current seasonal use day quota for cruise ships during the current 
quota season (June-August), but provide for possible increases to a 
maximum of two ships per day each day, based on the results of studies 
and monitoring. It would establish a seasonal use day quota for cruise 
ships for May and September, with a provision to increase the number of 
seasonal use days to up to two per day each day, based on the results 
of studies and monitoring. It would maintain the current number of 
seasonal use days for tour and charter vessels and increase the number 
of seasonal use days for private vessels during the current quota 
season. Quotas would be initiated for tour and charter vessels in 
Dundas Bay, and the quota season would be June 1 through August 31. 
Cruise ships would not be permitted in Dundas Bay and tour vessels 
would not be permitted in the upper bay (wilderness waters) on a year-
round basis. No quotas would be imposed for private vessels in Dundas 
Bay.

[[Page 57708]]

Operating requirements would be modified.
    The responsible official for a Record of Decision on the proposed 
action is the NPS regional director in Alaska.

    Dated: September 23, 2003.
Victor Knox,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 03-25208 Filed 10-3-03; 8:45 am]
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