[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 25141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10144]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 
Expansion of the Westfield River's National Wild and Scenic River 
Designation, Massachusetts

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Publication of environmental assessment for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service is publishing for public review and 
comment an environmental assessment on designating additional miles to 
the Westfield River, Massachusetts, National Wild and Scenic River. The 
National Park Service has found that the Westfield River, Massachusetts 
(Upper East Branch and Tributaries: Drowned Land Brook; Center Brook; 
Windsor Jambs Brook--Towns of Savoy and Windsor; Headwater Tributaries 
of the West Branch: Shaker Mill Brook; Depot Brook; Savery Brook; 
Watson Brook; Center Pond Brook--Towns of Becket and Washington; Lower 
Middle Branch, East Branch and Main Stem--Town of Huntington) is 
eligible for the national system and concludes that designation of the 
additional sections of the river is the preferred alternative.

DATES: Comments must be postmarked June 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment are available for 
public inspection at: National Park Service, Boston Support Office, 15 
State Street, Boston, MA 02109; National Park Service, 1201 Eye Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20240-0001. Hours of availability are between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Copies of 
the draft report maybe obtained from Jamie Fosburgh, National Park 
Service, Boston Support Office, 15 State Street, Boston, MA 617-223-
5191.
    Comments should be directed to the National Park Service, Boston 
Support Office, attention Jamie Fosburgh at the address above or e-
mailed to Jamie [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Fosburgh, National Park Service, 
Boston Support Office, 15 State Street, Boston, MA 617-223-5191.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 26, 2002, Acting Governor Jane 
Swift of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts petitioned the Secretary of 
the Interior to extend the Westfield River's Wild and Scenic 
designation to include additional segments of the river and its 
headwaters (34.8 miles) under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 
The sections of river under consideration includes the Upper East 
Branch and Tributaries: Drowned Land Brook; Center Brook; Windsor Jambs 
Brook in the Towns of Savoy and Windsor; the Headwater Tributaries of 
the West Branch: Shaker Mill Brook; Depot Brook; Savery Brook; Watson 
Brook; Center Pond Brook in the Towns of Becket and Washington; and the 
Lower Middle Branch, East Branch and Main Stem in the Town of 
Huntington. Under section 2(a)(ii) of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1273(a)(ii)), the Secretary has the authority to 
add a river to the National System at the request of a State, provided 
the State has met certain prior conditions and the river meets 
eligibility criteria, based upon an evaluation of natural and cultural 
resources.
    Upon the request of a State governor to the Secretary of the 
Interior, the National Park Service, acting for the Secretary, 
undertakes an evaluation of the State's request. As a result of the 
evaluation and the subsequent environmental assessment, the National 
Park Service has concluded that all requirements were fully met for the 
designation extension for the Westfield River. Review of public 
comments on the environmental assessment is required before the Service 
can forward a recommendation of designation to the Secretary of 
Interior.

    Dated: April 2, 2004.
D. Thomas Ross,
Assistant Director, Recreation and Conservation, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10144 Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
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