[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31882-31883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12467]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice To Terminate the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
Process for the Special Resource Study (SRS) for Virginia Key Beach 
Park (VKBP), Biscayne Bay, FL

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and National Park Service (NPS) policy in 
Director's Order 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order 12 
(Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-
making), the NPS is terminating the EIS process for the SRS for VKBP, 
Biscayne Bay, Florida. The SRS does not find VKBP to be nationally 
significant or suitable for inclusion in the National Park System and 
does not require direct NPS management as defined in the NPS Management 
Policies, 2006. Therefore, inclusion of VKBP in the National Park 
System is not recommended. Since the SRS is not proposing Federal 
management of the site, the EIS process is being terminated.
    The NPS will conduct local public meetings to inform and receive 
input from interested parties on the outcome of the SRS. Prior to the 
meetings a summary newsletter will be distributed. Following the 
meetings a draft report will be made available for public review.

DATES: The dates and times of the public meetings will be published in 
local newspapers and on the internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. 
These dates and times may also be obtained by contacting the NPS 
Southeast Regional Office, Planning and Compliance Division. The NPS 
anticipates that a draft report will be available for the public in 
July 2008.

ADDRESSES: The locations of the public meetings will be published in 
local newspapers and on the internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.
    Comments should be submitted in writing to the following address: 
Amy Wirsching, Planning Team Leader, Virginia Key Beach Park Special 
Resource Study, NPS, Southeast Region, Planning and Compliance 
Division, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 6th Floor, 1924 Building, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Wirsching, Planning Team Leader, 
Virginia Key Beach Park Special Resource Study, 404-562-3124, extension 
607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register Notice of May 13, 
2005 (70 FR 25598), the NPS notified interested parties it was 
preparing an EIS for the SRS for VKBP, Biscayne Bay, Florida. Since 
that time VKBP has been evaluated to determine if it should be 
considered for inclusion in the National Park System. The four required 
criteria are: national significance, suitability, feasibility, and the 
requirement of direct NPS management. Based on the information that 
follows, the SRS does not find VKBP to be nationally significant or 
suitable for inclusion in the National Park System and does not require 
direct NPS management as defined in the NPS Management Policies, 2006. 
Therefore, inclusion of VKBP in the National Park System is not 
recommended. Since the SRS is not proposing Federal management of the 
site, the EIS process is being terminated.
    National Significance: Based upon the opinion of the National 
Historic Landmarks (NHL) Program and an analysis of the NHL criteria 
for national significance, the preliminary determination does not find 
VKBP to be nationally significant as defined in the NPS Management 
Policies, 2006. The site did not represent a major event or turning 
point in the national struggle for civil rights, and is not associated 
importantly with persons nationally significant in the history of the 
Civil Rights Movement.
    Suitability: In assessing a comparison of VKBP to other NPS, State, 
and local properties, it is apparent that resources similar to those of 
VKBP are adequately represented by other public entities. In addition, 
VKBP does not meet the requirements to be categorized in an appropriate 
NHL theme study. Therefore, VKBP does not meet the criteria to be 
considered suitable for addition to the National Park System.
    Feasibility: Apart from potential NPS operational and development 
costs, the VKBP site appears to be feasible for inclusion in the 
National Park System.
    Direct NPS Management: The fourth SRS criterion requires direct NPS 
management instead of protection by other public agencies or the 
private sector. Based on the amount of current interest to protect and 
interpret the site by the city of Miami and the current site manager, 
the VKBP Trust, the determination is that the site does not require 
direct NPS management for its protection.
    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

[[Page 31883]]

information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is contained 
in 40 CFR 1506.6.

    The responsible official is Paul R. Anderson, Acting Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, 
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: April 1, 2008.
Paul R. Anderson,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
 [FR Doc. E8-12467 Filed 6-3-08; 8:45 am]
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