[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 34160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9192]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, 
Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments, Arizona

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Termination of the Environmental Impact Statement for 
the General Management Plan, Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National 
Monuments.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating preparation of 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management 
Plan, Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments, Arizona. A 
Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the Montezuma Castle and 
Tuzigoot National Monuments General Management Plan was published May 
29, 2003 (Vol. 68, No. 103).The National Park Service has since 
determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is 
the appropriate environmental documentation for the general management 
plan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The general management plan will establish 
the overall direction for the national monuments, setting broad 
management goals for managing the area over the next 15 to 20 years. 
The plan was originally scoped as an EIS. Few public comments were 
received during scoping or in response to the preliminary alternatives. 
The majority of the concerns expressed by stakeholders focused on 
continued access to recreational activities. No major concerns were 
raised regarding the effects on cultural resources resulting from the 
proposed changes in management of the monuments. Most of the comments 
received on the preliminary alternatives favored the preferred 
alternative. Two roundtables attended by representatives from Federal 
and state agencies, and local governments were conducted. These 
meetings focused on opportunities to work in partnership and no 
controversial issues were identified.
    In the general management planning process the NPS planning team 
developed three alternatives for the national monument, none of which 
would result in substantial changes in the operation and management of 
the monuments. The preferred alternative primarily focuses on 
maintaining and protecting resources, expanding interpretation and 
visitor opportunities where appropriate, addressing maintenance/
operations needs, developing new operations facilities within 
previously disturbed areas. The impact analysis of the alternatives 
revealed no major (significant) effects on the human environment or 
impairment of park resources and values. Most of the impacts to the 
monument's resources and values were negligible to minor in magnitude 
with the remainder being of moderate level.
    For these reasons the NPS determined the appropriate National 
Environmental Policy Act documentation for the general management plan 
is an EA.
    The draft general management plan/EA is expected to be distributed 
for a 30 day public comment period in the fall of 2006 and a decision 
is expected be made in 2007. The NPS will notify the public by mail, 
website, and other means, and will include information on where and how 
to obtain a copy of the EA, how to comment on the EA, and the length of 
the public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Davis, Superintendent, Montezuma 
Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments; P.O. Box 219, Camp Verde, 
Arizona, 86322; e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: April 28, 2006.
Michael D. Snyder,
Director, Intermountain Region.
 [FR Doc. E6-9192 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
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