[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 6736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2095]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Rescind 1990 Cruise Ship Management Policy, Glacier Bay National 
Park & Preserve, Alaska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Rescind 1990 Cruise Ship Management Policy, Glacier Bay 
National Park & Preserve, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: Effective with publication of this public notice, the National 
Park Service (NPS) has rescinded a policy concerning management of 
cruise ships in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve which was 
originally published in the Federal Register on May 31, 1990 (FR, Vol. 
55, No. 105, page 22108, 5/31/1990, FR Doc. 9012551). In summary, the 
policy was intended to increase opportunities for competitive award of 
cruise ship use days into Glacier Bay and to enhance visitor 
opportunities to select from a wider variety of cruise ship operations. 
These objectives were to be accomplished under the 1990 policy 
primarily by limiting the transferability of concession permits for 
cruise ship tours in Glacier Bay, limiting the scope of a preference in 
renewal of concessions permits that would otherwise apply, and granting 
additional renewal preferences.
    However, in 1998, the Congress revised and reconfirmed the 
management of NPS concession contract authorizations through the NPS 
Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, Public Law 105-391, 
November 13, 1998. This law does not permit the continued 
implementation of most of the operative provisions of the 1990 policy 
such that the policy can no longer be implemented to achieve its 
objectives. Accordingly, the NPS has rescinded the 1990 policy. 
However, NPS does intend to continue to encourage the award of multiple 
concession contracts to different operators for Glacier Bay cruise 
operations so as to enhance visitor choices in visiting Glacier Bay by 
cruise ship. This will be accomplished primarily by limiting the number 
of cruise ship use days permitted under applicable cruise ship 
concessions contracts, thereby increasing the number of concession 
contracts available for award.

DATES: February 5, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Apgar, Concession Program 
Manager, Alaska Region, telephone: (907) 644-3361, e-mail at [email protected], or National Park Service, Attn. Kevin Apgar, 240 West 
5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501.

    Dated: December 27, 2007.
Daniel N. Wenk,
Deputy Director, National Park Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-2095 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
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