[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 17509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8667]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan, Termination of Environmental Impact 
Statement in Favor of an Environmental Assessment, Aztec Ruins National 
Monument, New Mexico

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Termination of an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the General Management Plan for Aztec Ruins National 
Monument, in favor of an Environmental Assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating preparation of 
an EIS for the General Management Plan for Aztec Ruins National 
Monument, New Mexico. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the 
Aztec Ruins National Monument General Management Plan was published in 
the Federal Register on October 8, 2003 (68 FR 58130), and followed by 
a scoping newsletter. The NPS has since determined that an EA rather 
than an EIS is the appropriate level of environmental documentation for 
the plan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Management Plan will establish 
the overall management direction for the next 15 to 20 years. Five 
scoping information meetings were conducted in October 2003 with 
American Indian tribes and the general public at the park, and in the 
cities of Aztec, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Gallup, New Mexico. Initial 
scoping did not result in significant impacts being identified by the 
public. Additionally, the preliminary analysis of the alternatives does 
not indicate that significant impacts will result from implementation 
of any of the alternatives. The NPS planning team has developed three 
alternatives, including the No Action Alternative (1)--Continuation of 
Existing Conditions, and two action alternatives. All alternatives 
respond in various degrees to the ideas presented during scoping. The 
two action alternatives (2 and 3) would expand park-related functions 
within the boundary, would focus preservation activities within the 
boundary on resources throughout the monument, and would increase 
visitor understanding and enjoyment by expanding interpretation to 
include more resources and research within the monument. The Proposed 
Action (Alternative 3) would place major emphasis on partnerships, 
civic engagement, and collaborative management opportunities to address 
issues within the park boundary, and would promote collaboration and 
partnerships to help preserve ruins throughout the region. These 
alternatives will be expanded upon and refined through the planning 
process.

DATES: The NPS will notify the public by mail, Web site, and other 
means, of public review periods and meetings associated with the Draft 
GMP/EA. All public review and other written public information will be 
made available Online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/azru.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Carruth, Superintendent, Aztec 
Ruins National Monument, 84 County Road 2900, Aztec, New 
Mexico 87410; telephone, (505) 334-6174, extension 222; e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: April 1, 2009.
Rick M. Frost,
Acting Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-8667 Filed 4-14-09; 8:45 am]
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