[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5361-5362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-909]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Assessment of Suitability and Non-Suitability for 
Further Study of Lands Within Cape Cod National Seashore for 
Consideration as Wilderness Areas

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Civil Action No. 03-04 (RMC), The Wilderness 
Society v. Gale Norton, January 10, 2005, and in accordance with 
National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2001 section 6.2.1, the 
NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment to determine if 
lands within Cape Cod National Seashore meet criteria indicating 
suitability for designation as wilderness.
    The Cape Cod National Seashore assessment found that the lands 
referenced within the park's General Management Plan as Natural Zones: 
(1) Are predominantly roadless and undeveloped; (2) are greater than 
5,000 acres in size or of sufficient size as to make practicable their 
preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (3) meet the 
wilderness character criteria listed in section 2(c) of the Wilderness 
Act, and NPS Management Policies (2001).
    The assessment also found that the remaining areas of Cape Cod 
National Seashore; (1) Are not predominantly roadless and undeveloped; 
(2) are not greater than 5,000 acres in size or of sufficient size as 
to make practicable their preservation and use in an unimpaired 
condition; and (3) do not meet the wilderness character criteria listed 
in the Wilderness Act and NPS Management Policies (2001).
    Based on these findings, the NPS has concluded that the Natural 
Zones within Cape Cod National Seashore warrant further study for 
possible inclusion in wilderness.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Wilderness Suitability Assessment can be 
obtained by writing to:
    Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, 
Wellfleet, MA 02667.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information on 
this Determination should be directed to: Superintendent, Cape Cod 
National

[[Page 5362]]

Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The assessment standards outlined in NPS 
Management Policies (2001) to determine if a roadless, undeveloped area 
is suitable for preservation as wilderness are that it is over 5,000 
acres in size or of sufficient size to make practicable its 
preservation and use in an unimpaired condition, and meets five 
wilderness character criteria: (1) The earth and its community of life 
are untrammeled by humans, where humans are visitors and do not remain; 
(2) the area is undeveloped and retains its primeval character and 
influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation; (3) the 
area generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of 
nature, with the imprint of humans' work substantially unnoticeable; 
(4) the area is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural 
conditions, and (5) the area offers outstanding opportunities for 
solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation.
    The requirement of the NPS to conduct the Wilderness Suitability 
Assessment for Cape Cod National Seashore was announced and discussed 
with the Cape Cod Advisory Committee members, the public, and local 
media representatives at meetings on June 20, September 26, and 
December 12, 2005.

    Dated: January 6, 2006.
Steve P. Martin,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 06-909 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
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