[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 75278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31932]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Final Rural Landscape Management 
Program Environmental Impact Statement for Cuyahoga Valley National 
Park, Ohio

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of the final rural landscape management program 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 
Ohio (Park). This notice is being furnished as required by National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations 40 CFR 1501.7.

DATES: The required no-action period on this final EIS will expire 30 
days after the Environmental Protection Agency has published a notice 
of availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS are available by request by writing 
to: Superintendent, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road, 
Brecksville, OH 44141; by phone 440-546-5903; or by e-mail [email protected]. A downloadable online version of the document 
is available at: http://www.nps.gov/cuva/management/rmprojects/ruraleis/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Cuyahoga Valley 
National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, OH 44141, or by phone 
440-546-5903.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preservation of the rural landscape is 
central to the Park's legislative mandate. The law that established the 
Park mandates the ``preservation of the historic, scenic, natural, and 
recreational values of the Cuyahoga Valley'' (Pub. L. 93-555, 1974). 
One component of the historic and scenic values of the Park is the 
rural landscape--lands and structures modified by humans for 
agricultural use. Throughout the Park's history, efforts to preserve 
the rural landscape have been sporadic; there has never been a 
comprehensive program to manage the rural landscape. As a result, many 
of the Park's rural landscape resources have been lost. Therefore, the 
Park is proposing to better protect and revitalize this cultural 
resource by implementing an integrated rural landscape management 
program, with the goal of more effectively and systematically 
preserving and protecting the rural landscape resources in the Park. 
The final EIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of 
several alternative actions. In the Park's preferred alternative 
(alternative 2--Countryside Initiative), the rural landscape would be 
managed largely by issuing long-term leases to private individuals for 
the purpose of conducting sustainable agricultural activities. The 
final EIS evaluates two additional action alternatives and a no action 
alternative.
    The Draft EIS was released to the public on February 14. Public 
meetings were held on March 19, from 12-2 p.m. and March 20, from 6-8 
p.m. to solicit further comments. The public comment period ended April 
15, though comments received through April 29, were considered.
    The NPS received 77 formal written comments during the comment 
period in addition to verbal comments made at public meetings. All 
written comments are reprinted in full in the final EIS, as are a 
summary of verbal comments from the meetings. The NPS responses to 
substantive comments are also provided. The final EIS includes 
corrections and additions based on the substantive comments received. 
Additional revisions to correct errata and improve consistency but not 
affecting the analysis are also included in the final EIS.
    The responsible official is Mr. Ernest Quintana, Midwest Regional 
Director, National Park Service.

    Dated: September 15, 2003.
David N. Given,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 03-31932 Filed 12-29-03; 8:45 am]
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