[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 17763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7871]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


National Park Service Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact 
Statement Record of Decision

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Servicewide Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision for the Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) covering all units of the National Park System. 
On March 5, 2010, the Deputy Director of the National Park Service 
approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as 
practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the 
Preferred Alternative contained in the FEIS issued on November 27, 
2009. Three alternatives were evaluated in the FEIS, each of which 
would clarify the rights and responsibilities of researchers and NPS 
management in connection with the allocation of benefits from valuable 
discoveries, inventions, and other developments that result from 
research involving specimens lawfully collected from units of the 
National Park System. The No Action Alternative allows scientists to 
use material originating as National Park Service research specimens to 
conduct research that may lead to commercial products but without any 
obligation to share the benefits with the National Park Service. 
Another alternative prohibits scientific research involving National 
Park Service research specimens that is in any way associated with the 
development of commercial products. A third alternative, the 
Environmentally Preferred Alternative, allows the National Park Service 
and researchers who study material associated with a Scientific 
Research and Collecting Permit to enter into benefits-sharing 
agreements on a case-by-case basis before using their research results 
for any commercial purpose. This Environmentally Preferred Alternative 
has three considerations regarding the disclosure of financial 
information: Always disclose, never disclose, or comply with 
confidentiality laws regarding disclosure. The Preferred Alternative 
implements the benefits-sharing agreement requirement, while complying 
with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure of royalty rate or 
related information.
    The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, 
synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, 
a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, a finding 
of no impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to 
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in 
the decision-making process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Mills, Benefits-Sharing EIS, 
Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 
82190, (307) 344-2203, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Record of Decision may be 
obtained from the contact listed above; online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov (select ``Washington Office'' from the park menu 
and then follow the link for benefits-sharing); in the office of the 
National Park Service Associate Director for Natural Resource 
Stewardship and Science, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC; and in the 
office of the Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

    Dated: March 5, 2010.
Daniel N. Wenk,
Deputy Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7871 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
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