[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57362-57363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21471]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, 
Grant and Wheeler Counties, OR; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(C), the National Park Service is initiating the 
conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process 
necessary to prepare a General Management Plan (GMP) for John Day 
Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon. The new GMP will establish the 
overall direction for the monument, setting broad management goals for 
managing the area over the next 15 to 20 years. The GMP will prescribe 
desired resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be 
achieved and maintained throughout the monument based on such factors 
as the monument's purpose and significance, special mandates, the body 
of laws and policies directing park management, resource analysis, and 
the range of public expectations and concerns. The GMP also will 
outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor 
activities, and developments that would be appropriate in the monument 
in the future.
    A range of reasonable alternatives for managing John Day Fossil 
Beds will be developed through this planning process and will include, 
at a minimum, a no-action and a preferred alternative (from among the 
alternatives to be analyzed in full, an ``environmentally preferred'' 
alternative will also be identified). At this point in time, major 
issues which are anticipated to be addressed in preparing the 
environmental impact statement (EIS) and GMP will include protection of 
resources; changes in visitor use patterns; adequacy and sustainability 
of existing visitor facilities; appropriate use of monument lands and 
ease and type of access; adequacy of the monument boundaries for 
protecting paleontological resources, and appropriate uses and 
development in the Cant Ranch National Historic District. The EIS will 
also evaluate the potential environmental consequences of the 
alternative management approaches, as well as identify suitable 
mitigation strategies to avoid or minimize potential impacts. As the 
first phase of the planning process, the National Park Service is 
beginning to scope the issues to be addressed in the Draft 
EIS[bs]GMP. All interested persons, organizations, and 
agencies are encouraged to submit comments and suggestions on issues 
and concerns that should be addressed, and the range of appropriate 
alternatives that should be examined.

DATES: The National Park Service is now initiating public scoping. This 
fall a scoping newsletter will be distributed to state and federal 
agencies; associated American Indian tribes; neighboring communities; 
county commissioners; local organizations, researchers and 
institutions; the congressional delegation; and other interested 
members of the public. In addition, the National Park Service will hold 
public scoping meetings regarding the general management plan in the 
fall or early winter. At this time, two public open houses are expected 
to be hosted in early December 2004, in John Day and Fossil, Oregon. 
Specific dates, times, and locations will be announced in the local 
media, on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/joda, and will also be

[[Page 57363]]

available by contacting the Superintendent. In addition to attending 
the scoping meetings, people wishing to provide information to be 
considered in developing the Draft EIS[bs]GMP may mail 
or e-mail comments to the monument's Superintendent at the address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Hammett, Superintendent, at the 
address noted, or via telephone at (514) 987-2333. General park 
information requests, or requests to be added to the project mailing 
list, should be directed to: Superintendent, John Day Fossil Beds 
National Monument, 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848 (or via E-mail: 
[email protected]). General information about John Day 
Fossil Beds National Monument is also available on the Internet at 
<http://www.nps.gov/joda.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested individuals and organizations are 
encouraged to provide relevant information or comments on any issues or 
concerns which should be addressed in the new GMP. Respondents may 
submit comments by any one of several methods: (1) Mail written 
comments to Superintendent, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, 
32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848; (2) respond via the Internet to 
[email protected] (please submit Internet comments as a text 
file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. 
Be sure to include name and return street address in all Internet 
messages. If confirmation of receipt of electronic comments is not 
received for some reason, respondents may contact the planning staff 
directly at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument); and (3) written 
comments may be hand-delivered to monument headquarters at 32651 
Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848.
    All written comments must be postmarked, transmitted, or delivered 
not later than January 15, 2005. Please note that names and addresses 
of respondents providing comments become part of the public record. If 
individuals commenting request that their name 
or[bs]and address be withheld from public disclosure, 
it will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must 
be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may 
be circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold from the record a 
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. As always: the NPS will 
make available to public inspection all submissions from organizations 
or businesses and from persons identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations and businesses; and, 
anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision Process: It is currently anticipated that following 
careful consideration of comments received in regards to the Draft 
EIS[bs]GMP, that the Final EIS[bs]GMP 
would be released in fall-winter 2007. As delegated EIS, the final plan 
and record of decision is to be approved by the Director, Pacific West 
Region (anticipated to occur in summer 2008). Subsequently the official 
responsible for implementing the selected plan will be the 
Superintendent, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

    Dated: August 11, 2004.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 04-21471 Filed 9-23-04; 8:45 am]
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