[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10061-10062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1899]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Oil and Gas Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Big Thicket National Preserve, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Oil and Gas Management Plan, Big 
Thicket National Preserve.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C 
4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the 
Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Oil and Gas Management Plan, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas. On 
February 3, 2006, the Director, Intermountain Region approved the 
Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, the 
National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative 
contained in the FEIS issued on December 16, 2006. The following course 
of action will occur under the preferred alternative: An oil and gas 
management plan will be implemented that clearly articulates the 
Current Legal and Policy Requirements applicable to the exploration, 
production, and transportation of nonfederal oil and gas resources in 
the Preserve; performance standards, mitigation measures, and operating 
stipulations will be developed and applied Preserve-wide to protect 
resources and values; and Special Management Areas will be formally 
designated and will include timing and surface use stipulations for 
different types of nonfederal oil and gas operations. This course of 
action and 2 alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final 
Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigating 
measures were identified.
    The Record of Decision includes a description of the background of 
the project, statement of the decision made, mitigation measures/
monitoring, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for 
the decision, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a 
description of the environmentally preferred alternative, and an 
overview of public and agency involvement in the decision-making 
process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Dansby, P.O. Box 728, Santa Fe, 
New Mexico 87504-0728; 505-988-6095.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Record of Decision may be 
obtained from the contact listed above or online at htp://
parkplanning.nps.gov.


[[Page 10062]]


    Dated: February 3, 2006.
Michael D. Snyder,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 06-1899 Filed 2-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-CB-M