[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 10613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5144]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Buffalo National River, Arkansas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a General Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Buffalo National River, Arkansas.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the General 
Management Plan (GMP) for Buffalo National River, Arkansas. The GMP/EIS 
will establish the overall direction for Buffalo National River by 
setting broad management goals for managing the area over the next 15 
to 20 years.

DATES: 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 the specific dates, times, and locations of 
all such meetings will be announced in the local media, in NPS 
newsletters, on the park's Web site at http://www.nps.gov/buff, and on 
the NPS's Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

ADDRESSES: Additionally, anyone who wishes to comment on any issues 
associated with the GMP may submit comments by any one of several 
methods. One may mail or hand-deliver comments to Superintendent, 
Buffalo National River, 402 North Walnut, Harrison, Arkansas, 72601-
1173. Comments also may be provided electronically on the PEPC Web site 
at the address above. Additionally, 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 Superintendent--GMP, Buffalo National River, 402 
North Walnut, Harrison, Arkansas, 72601-1173 or by e-mail to [email protected] (please put ``GMP'' in the subject line).
    Before including an address, telephone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in the comments, 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. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, or from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Kevin Cheri, Buffalo 
National River, 402 North Walnut, Harrison, Arkansas, 72601-1173, 
telephone 870-365-2700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Buffalo National River, located in 
northwestern Arkansas, was established as America's first National 
River in 1972 to conserve and interpret an area containing unique 
scenic and scientific features, and to preserve as a free-flowing 
stream an important segment of the Buffalo River in Arkansas. Buffalo 
National River is currently operating under a 1977 Master Plan, which 
is seriously outdated, not only because of additions to the 
infrastructure, but because of current issues that were not addressed 
previously and that require new management direction. Buffalo National 
River also needs to identify major program areas and provide a context 
for activities and program planning.
    The GMP/EIS will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor 
experiences that are to be achieved and maintained, based on such 
factors as Buffalo National River's purpose, significance, special 
mandates, the body of laws and policies directing its management, 
resource analysis, and the range of public expectations and concerns. 
The GMP/EIS will outline the kinds of resource management activities, 
visitor activities, and development that would be appropriate at 
Buffalo National River in the future.
    A range of reasonable management alternatives will be developed 
through this planning process and will include, at minimum, a No-Action 
Alternative and a Preferred Alternative. Major issues the document will 
address include protection and management of cultural and natural 
resources, management of expired use and occupancy tracts, effects of 
adjacent land uses on Buffalo National River's resources, increased 
visitation and changing use patterns, commercial services, and future 
recreational opportunities.
    To facilitate sound planning and environmental analysis, 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. All interested 
persons, organizations, agencies, and Tribes are encouraged to submit 
comments and suggestions on issues and concerns that should be 
addressed in the GMP/EIS and the range of appropriate alternatives that 
should be examined.

    Dated: February 4, 2009.
David N. Given,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
 [FR Doc. E9-5144 Filed 3-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P