[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39075-39076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3487]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Resource Protection Study, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 
Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Resource Protection Study (RPS), Curecanti 
National Recreation Area.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Resource Protection 
Study for Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado.

Alternatives Evaluated

Alternative 1

    Under Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, NPS would continue 
to manage the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of 
Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA), and associated facilities, 
pursuant to Reclamation law, NPS law, the 1965 Memorandum of Agreement 
between NPS and Reclamation (1965 MOA), and other applicable laws and 
regulations. Reclamation would continue to mange the three dams and 
reservoirs, power plants, access roads, and other related facilities, 
to meet the purposes of the Colorado River Storage Project Act (CRSP); 
and the East Portal area to meet the purposes of the Uncompahgre 
Project; pursuant to Reclamation law, the 1965 MOA, and other 
applicable laws and regulations. There would be no significant change 
in the NRA boundary. However, a permanent NPS presence would not be 
assured under this alternative.

Alternative 2

    Under Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, NPS would manage the same 
natural, cultural, and recreational resources and facilities as 
Alternative 1, pursuant to Reclamation law, NPS law, including new 
legislation establishing the NRA with 10,040 acres of additional 
agreed-upon neighboring agency lands, a revised MOA with Reclamation, 
and other applicable laws and regulations. Reclamation would manage 
their same facilities as Alternative 1, pursuant to Reclamation law, 
the revised MOA, and other applicable laws and regulations. NPS would 
be authorized to work in partnership with private landowners within a 
Conservation Opportunity Area of 24,300 acres outside the NRA boundary, 
to implement a variety of tools, including acquiring interests in land 
from willing landowners, which would promote the long-term conservation 
of resources. A permanent NPS presence would be assured under this 
alternative, which is also the environmentally preferred alternative.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement from the public. Comments will be 
accepted for 90 days from the date the

[[Page 39076]]

Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability. 
No public meetings are scheduled at this time. However, public meetings 
will be scheduled in the future, and will be advertised by newsletters 
and news media in the local areas of Gunnison and Montrose Counties, 
Colorado, and on the project's Web site, described below.

ADDRESSES: The entire Draft RPS/EIS, and a Summary Document will be 
available for public review and comment on the project's Web site, 
described below; and at the following locations in Colorado: (A) 
Curecanti NRA, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230, telephone: (970) 641-
2337; (B) Montrose Public Lands Center, 2505 South Townsend Avenue, 
Montrose, CO 81401, telephone (970) 240-5300; (C) Gunnison Public 
Library; (D) Montrose Public Library; (E) Hotchkiss Public Library; (F) 
Delta Public Library; and (G) Grand Junction Public Library.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (A) Dave Roberts, Management 
Assistant, telephone: (970) 240-5432 (Montrose, CO); (B) Connie Rudd, 
Superintendent, telephone: (970) 641-2337 x. 220 (Gunnison, CO); or (C) 
Jeff Heywood, Project Leader, telephone: (303) 969-2835 (Lakewood, CO).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment, you may do so via 
the Internet at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov. (Under ``Choose a Park,'' 
select Curecanti NRA, and click on ``GO''; then click on ``Curecanti 
National Recreation Area Resource Protection Study''; then in the left 
column, click on ``Open for Public Comment''; then follow the 
directions for entering comments.) Or you may mail comments to: 
Curecanti Resource Projection Study Comments, Attn: Dave Roberts, 2465 
South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401. If you submit comments via 
the Internet, you should receive electronic confirmation. If not, 
contact Dave Roberts at (970) 240-5432. Before including your address, 
phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: May 17, 2007.
Michael D. Snyder,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 07-3487 Filed 7-16-07; 8:45 am]
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