[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 35706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12213]



[[Page 35706]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Middle Fork Avalanche Hazard Reduction, Environmental Impact 
Statement, Glacier National Park, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for Middle Fork Avalanche Hazard Reduction, Glacier National Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(C), the National Park Service is preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement for Middle Fork Avalanche Hazard Reduction for Glacier 
National Park, Montana. This effort will result in agreed upon methods 
to reduce the avalanche hazard to trains and personnel that travel 
through the John Stevens Canyon between mile post 180 and 192 on State 
Highway 2, adjacent to the boundary of Glacier National Park. The 
Burlington Northern Santa-Fe Railroad runs along the southern boundary 
of Glacier National Park on Flathead National Forest lands. These lands 
are under a Right-of-Way. The avalanche paths that threaten the trains 
and personnel are within Glacier National Park. Alternatives to be 
considered include (1) No-Action, (2) Snow Sheds in all Chutes and an 
Avalanche Monitoring Program (but no triggering or stability testing), 
(3) Combination of Snow Sheds and Avalanche Monitoring, Stability 
Testing and Triggering, (4) No New Sheds and Ongoing Avalanche 
Monitoring Stability Testing and Triggering and (5) Temporary Avalanche 
Monitoring, Stability Testing and Triggering Until Snow Sheds are 
Constructed. The No Action alternative will consider the affects of 
maintaining the existing sheds avalanche monitoring and continued use 
of the existing avalanche sensor wires. Alternative 2 will consider the 
effects of constructing five new sheds and adding onto six existing 
sheds. Avalanche monitoring would be ongoing, but no stability testing 
or triggering would occur after sheds are constructed. Alternative 3 
will consider a combination of snow sheds and monitoring, stability 
testing and triggering of avalanches when snow conditions indicate. 
Alternative 4 will consider only using avalanche monitoring, stability 
testing and triggering. Alternative 5 will consider the temporary use 
of avalanche stability testing and triggering until snow sheds are 
constructed. Avalanche monitoring would continue to occur.
    Major issues include avalanche stability testing and triggering 
within proposed wilderness in Glacier National Park, impacts to 
threatened and endangered species known to use the area, winter 
recreational use in the area, protection of resources from accidental 
freight spills caused by avalanches, and safety for the public and 
personnel in the area. Amtrak travels daily through the area.
    A scoping letter has been prepared. Copies may be obtained from 
Superintendent, PO Box 128, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, 
Montana 59936 or by calling 406-888-7901. Information may also be 
obtained from http://parkplanning.nps.gov/.

DATES: The Park Service will accept comments from the public through 
July 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
in the office of the Superintendent, and at the following locations 
Glacier National Park, Superintendent's Office, Headquarters, West 
Glacier, Montana, 406-888-7901, Hudson Bay District Office, St. Mary 
Montana or at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Riddle, Glacier National Park, PO 
Box 128 West Glacier, Montana 59936, 406-888-7898. [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment on the scoping letter 
or on any other issues associated with the plan, you may submit your 
comments by any one of several methods. You may mail comments to 
Superintendent, Glacier National Park PO Box 128 West Glacier, Montana 
59936. You may also comment via the Internet to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ You may hand-deliver comments to Glacier National 
Park, Headquarters, West Glacier, Montana. Our practice is to make 
comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available 
for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents 
may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which 
we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also may be 
circumstances in which we would withhold from the record a respondent's 
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We 
will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

    Dated: May 9, 2005.
Michael Snyder,
Deputy Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12213 Filed 6-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-52-P