[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 179 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52910-52911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18219]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 
Nebraska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National Park Service (NPS) is 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a General 
Management Plan (GMP) for the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 
(Monument). The GMP will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor 
experiences that are to be achieved and maintained at the Monument over 
the next 15 to 20 years.
    To facilitate sound planning and environmental assessment, the NPS 
intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the EIS 
and obtain suggestions and information from other Agencies and the 
public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Comments and 
participation in this scoping process are invited. Participation in the 
planning process will be encouraged and facilitated by various means, 
including newsletters and public meetings. The NPS will conduct public 
scoping meetings to explain the planning process and to solicit opinion 
about issues to address in the GMP/EIS. Notification of all such 
meetings will be announced in the local press and in NPS newsletters.

ADDRESSES: Additionally, if you wish to comment on any issues 
associated with the GMP, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. You may mail or hand-deliver comments to the 
Superintendent, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 301 River Road, 
Harrison, Nebraska 69346-2743. You also may provide comments 
electronically by entering them into the NPS's Planning, Environment, 
and Public Comment Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Information 
will be available for public review and comment from the Office of the 
Superintendent at the above address.
    Requests to be added to the project mailing list should be sent by 
mail to Pamela Carey, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 301 River 
Road, Harrison, Nebraska 69346-2743, by telephone 308-668-2211 or by e-
mail to [email protected].
    Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that your entire comments (including your personal identifying 
information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, from individuals identifying themselves as representatives 
or officials, or organizations or businesses, available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Blanca Stransky, Agate 
Fossil Beds National Monument, 301 River Road, Harrison, Nebraska 
69346-2743, telephone 308-668-2211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, located 
in western Nebraska, was established in 1965 to preserve 
paleontological and geological sites and to protect and exhibit a 
collection of American Indian artifacts. The park is currently 
operating under a 1965 Master Plan, which is outdated because of 
several additions to the infrastructure that require new management 
direction. The park also needs to identify major program areas, provide 
a context for activities, and program planning.
    The GMP will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor 
experiences that are to be achieved and maintained in the Monument over 
the next 15 to 20 years. The clarification of what must be achieved 
according to law and policy will be based on review of the unit's 
purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of laws and 
policies directing park management. Based on determinations of desired 
conditions, the GMP will outline kinds of resource management 
activities, visitor activities, and appropriate future development. A 
range of reasonable management alternatives will be developed through 
this planning process and will include, at a minimum, a no-action 
alternative, and a preferred alternative. To facilitate sound analysis 
of environmental impacts, the NPS is gathering information necessary 
for the preparation of an associated EIS.


[[Page 52911]]


    Dated: July 20, 2007.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
 [FR Doc. E7-18219 Filed 9-14-07; 8:45 am]
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