[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 44678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16993]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice To Prepare a Revised Draft EIS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to prepare a Revised Draft Backcountry Management Plan, 
General Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement 
for Denali National Park and Preserve.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces its intent to 
prepare a Revised Draft Backcountry Management Plan, General Management 
Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Denali 
National Park and Preserve. The Revised Draft EIS will evaluate four 
new action alternatives in addition to the no-action alternative which 
will replace the four action alternatives included in the February 2003 
Draft Backcountry Management Plan and EIS (Federal Register, 68 FR 
8782, 2003). The NPS decision to revise the plan is in response to 
public comment on the February 2003 draft which indicated the need for 
revised management area descriptions and additional actions. The 
Revised Draft Backcountry Management Plan and EIS will be available in 
Fall 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Tranel, Chief of Planning, Denali 
National Park and Preserve. Telephone: (907) 644-3611.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing 
a backcountry management plan and EIS that will amend the 1986 General 
Management Plan for Denali National Park and Preserve. The purpose of 
the plan and EIS is to formulate a comprehensive plan for the 
backcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve, including designated 
wilderness that will provide management direction over the next 15-20 
years. The backcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve is defined 
to include the entire park except for those areas designated 
specifically for development in the entrance area and along the road 
corridor. The NPS initiated this backcountry management plan EIS 
(Federal Register, 64 FR 49503, 1999) to address the rapidly growing 
level and diversity of uses, resource management needs, and the 
anticipated demand for future uses not foreseen or addressed in the 
1986 General Management Plan. In the February 2003 Draft Plan and EIS, 
the NPS presented a range of four action alternatives based on planning 
objectives, park resources, and public input which described actions 
related to management area designation, recreational activities, and 
administrative activities.
    The Revised Draft Plan and EIS will present four new action 
alternatives that respond to public comment on the February 2003 Draft 
Backcountry Management Plan and EIS. The revised alternatives will 
broaden the range of potential actions, clarify the descriptions of 
management areas, and describe methodologies for managing access to the 
park and preserve. It will also refine other actions described in the 
draft plan in response to substantive comments related to guided 
activities and commercial services, facilities, and administration.

Ralph Tingey,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 04-16993 Filed 7-26-04; 8:45 am]
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