[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 201 (Thursday, October 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61440-61441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24503]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan: Lava Beds National Monument, Siskiyou 
and Modoc Counties, CA; Notice of Termination of the Environmental 
Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The National Park Service is terminating the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan, 
Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake, California. A Notice of Intent 
to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on July 10, 
2006. The National Park Service has since determined that an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is the appropriate 
environmental documentation for the GMP; this determination includes 
careful consideration of all public and other agencies' comments during 
the scoping period. The new GMP for Lava Beds National Monument will 
update long-term guidance for resource management, visitor services and 
interpretive programming.
    Background: The planning team originally scoped the GMP update as 
an EIS, however no concerns or issues expressed during public scoping 
and preliminary development of the GMP alternatives convey either the 
potential for controversy or identify potential significant impacts. In 
summer of 2007, the planning team drafted three ``action'' alternatives 
for the GMP. These preliminary alternatives explored ways to enhance 
long-term preservation of park resources and provide new recreational 
and educational opportunities. The planning team produced a newsletter 
and comment form to seek public input on the preliminary alternatives 
in winter of 2008. All feedback consistently affirmed that the planning 
team provided an appropriate range of future management directions for 
the monument. Most of the public comments on the preliminary 
alternatives were supportive of various aspects of the proposed 
``action'' concepts and desired conditions.
    To date, no major concerns or issues have been expressed during 
public involvement for the GMP that would convey the potential for 
public controversy. Initial analysis of the alternatives has revealed 
potential for neither major nor significant effects on the human 
environment or any potential for impairing park resources and values. 
Most of the potential impacts from the alternatives are expected to be 
negligible to moderate in magnitude. Many of the actions proposed in 
the GMP will have benefits to the monument's ecosystems, cultural 
landscapes and visitor experiences. For these reasons, the NPS 
determined the appropriate level of conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis for the GMP is an EA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft GMP and EA will be integrated. The 
combined document is expected to be distributed for a 60-day public 
review period by spring/summer of 2009. The NPS will notify the public 
by mail, Web site postings, local and regional media, and other means, 
to provide regularly updated information on where and how to obtain a 
copy of the GMP/EA, how to provide comments, and the confirmed dates 
and locations for local public meetings. For further information 
contact Dave Kruse, Superintendent, Lava Beds National Monument, 1 
Indian Well Headquarters, Tulelake, CA 96134 (telephone: 530-667-8101; 
e-mail: [email protected]).
    Following release of the GMP/EA and due consideration of all 
comments as may be received, a decision regarding selection of a 
preferred vision for the new GMP is expected to be made in winter 2009/
2010. The official responsible for the final decision is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently the 
official responsible for implementing

[[Page 61441]]

the new GMP would be the Superintendent, Lava Beds National Monument.

    Dated: August 14, 2008.
Cicely A. Muldoon,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-24503 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]
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