[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47854-47855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16079]



[[Page 47854]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for 
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Kentucky and 
Tennessee (National Area)

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as amended at 42 
U.S.C. 4332 (2)(C), as well as National Park Service (NPS) policy in 
Director's Order 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order 12 
(Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-
making), the NPS announces the availability of the ROD for the FEIS/GMP 
for the National Area. On May 26, 2005, the Southeast Regional Director 
approved the ROD for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will 
begin to implement the GMP, described as the Preferred Alternative 
(Alternative D) in the FEIS issued on February 24, 2005.
    Under the preferred alternative, a total of eight management zones 
will be created for the National Area, each of which will be attended 
with particularized management prescriptions. Overall, the level of 
development and types of facilities proposed over the planning horizon 
of 15 to 20 years will remain essentially the same as currently exists.
    The notable exceptions include new sites in the southwest portion 
of the National Area where NPS has been actively acquiring land in 
recent years.
    Under Alternative D, the NPS will devote considerable effort and 
resources to improving the National Area's road and trail system. A 
principal feature of Alternative D is a roads and trails plan that sets 
forth the official road and trail system for the National Area. 
Henceforth, public use of roads and trails will only be allowed on the 
official system; all trails not expressly included as part of the 
official system will be designated as administratively closed. In 
addition, public use of a particular road or trail will be limited to 
the designated use set forth in Alternative D, with certain limited 
exceptions. Each road and trail in the official system will be 
constructed and maintained in accordance with a standard that supports 
the designated use(s) and also is consistent with desired resource 
conditions in the surrounding area, or zone.
    Alternative D increases the trail miles available to hikers, 
equestrians, and bicyclists from the levels currently maintained by the 
National Area. The official trail system includes trails specifically 
dedicated to each of these user groups, plus a larger universe of 
trails that are ``shared use.'' Generally speaking, designated horse 
trails will also be open to hikers and bicyclists, while designated 
bike trails will be open to both bicyclists and hikers. Specified 
hiking trails will also be open to bicyclists in order to provide more 
opportunities for this increasingly popular activity.
    In implementing Alternative D, the NPS will continue the use of a 
trail type known as ``multiple-use trail.'' In the National Area, this 
trail type is typically known for allowing motor vehicles, horses, 
hikers, and bicyclists on a single route maintained to trail rather 
than road standards. Under Alternative D, persons driving motor 
vehicles that are licensed and registered may use any multiple-use 
trails that will accommodate such use. All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) will 
generally not be permitted on any multiple-use trail, park road, or any 
other trail type. However, visitors will be permitted to use ATVs on 
multiple-use trails while actively hunting, during big game season 
only. Multiple-use trails will be closed to ATVs at all other times of 
the year. Big game season is defined for this purpose as the legal 
season for white-tailed deer and, in jurisdictions where they are 
regulated as ``big game,'' wild boar. Alternative D also provides that 
ATV routes for year-round general recreational use may be designated 
within ``planning areas'' identified for consideration of such use. The 
plan includes two such planning areas in the Darrow Ridge area. These 
planning areas will provide the opportunity to design an experimental 
prototype system.
    Under Alternative D, the route of the old O&W railroad will provide 
continued passenger vehicle access to the O&W bridge from the east. The 
route will be improved to the extent of providing safe passage. The NPS 
will coordinate with Scott County on the necessary improvements to 
achieve desired use and resource conditions. The O&W route west of 
North White Oak Creek has been determined to be abandoned. This portion 
of the route, extending to trail connections near the western boundary 
of the National Area, will be a trail designated for foot, horse, and 
bike use, as recommended by previous studies. The route will be brought 
to a standard suitable for the intended trail uses.

Basis for Decision

    In reaching the decision to select Alternative D, the NPS 
considered the purposes for which the National Area was established and 
other laws and policies that apply to lands in the National Area, 
including the NPS Organic Act, NEPA, NPS Director's Order 12, and the 
NPS Management Policies 2001. Alternative D has the greatest potential 
of all four alternatives to preserve the unique resources of the 
National Area while making available a wide range of recreational 
opportunities to the visiting public. With eight management zones 
specifically tailored to the diverse resources and facilities of the 
National Area, Alternative D provides National Area management and the 
public with a higher degree of information and guidance concerning 
objectives, management, use, and development than do the other action 
alternatives. In so doing, it offers the broadest level of resources 
protection, interpretation, visitor services, and the optimum 
opportunity for high quality visitor experiences. Therefore the NPS has 
opted to select this alternative.

Findings on Impairment

    The NPS has determined that implementation of Alternative D will 
not constitute an impairment to the National Area's resources and 
values. This conclusion is based on a thorough analysis of the 
environmental impacts described in the EIS, the public comments 
received, relevant scientific studies, and the professional judgment of 
the decision-maker guided by the direction in the NPS Management 
Policies. Overall, the FEIS/GMP results in benefits to National Area 
resources and values and opportunities for their enjoyment, and it does 
not result in their impairment.

DATES: The Record of Decision was signed by the Southeast Regional 
Director on May 26, 2005. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to 
implement the Preferred Alternative, listed as Alternative D in the 
Final General Management Plan.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available from the Superintendent, Big 
South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Ford Road, Oneida, TN 37841, or by 
calling (423) 569-9778. An electronic copy of the Record of Decision is 
available on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/biso.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reed Detring, Superintendent, Big 
South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Ford Road, Oneida, TN 37841. 
Telephone: (423) 569-9778.

[[Page 47855]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the ROD may be obtained from the 
contact listed above.
    The responsible official for this FEIS/GMP is Patricia A. Hooks, 
Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama 
Street SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: July 1, 2005.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 05-16079 Filed 8-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P