[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71730-71731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29769]


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 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2031-A046-409]


General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Off-Road Vehicle 
Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Big Cypress 
National Preserve Addition, Florida

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Off-Road 
Vehicle Management Plan (FEIS/GMP/WS/ORV Plan), Big Cypress National 
Preserve (Preserve) Addition.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director's 
Order Number 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order Number 12 
(Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-
making), the NPS announces the availability of a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement for the GMP/WS/ORV Plan for the Big Cypress National 
Preserve Addition, Florida.
    The 1991 GMP for the original Preserve contains no guidance for the 
approximately 147,000 acres added to the Preserve in 1988 by Public Law 
100-301 (the Addition). A GMP is needed to clearly define resource 
conditions and visitor experiences to be achieved in the Addition.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental 
Protection Agency of the Notice of Availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review online at 
http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/bicy. In addition, a limited number of 
CDs and hard copies will be made available at Preserve headquarters. 
You may also request a hard copy or CD by contacting Big Cypress 
National Preserve, 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida 34141-
1000; telephone 239-695-1103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping was initiated in the summer 
of 2001. Public meetings and seven newsletters were used to keep the 
public informed and involved throughout the planning process for the 
Addition. The Draft GMP/WS/ORV Plan/EIS was distributed to other 
agencies, interested organizations, and individuals for their review 
and comment during the summer of 2009. Four public meetings and 
wilderness hearings were held.
    The draft document was revised as a result of public and agency 
feedback received during the public comment period. The Final GMP/WS/
ORV Plan/EIS provides a framework for management, use, and development 
options for the Addition by the NPS for the next 15 to 20 years. It 
describes four management alternatives for consideration, including a 
no-action alternative that continues the current management framework. 
The three action alternatives present a range of ORV opportunities, 
proposed wilderness, and visitor facilities. The document analyzes the 
environmental impacts of the alternatives.
    The four alternatives (with names as they appear in the document) 
are as follows:
    Alternative A: No-Action Alternative--the continuation of current 
management practices and trends. The enabling legislation would be the 
long-term document to guide management and development of the Preserve.
    Alternative B: The concept for management under alternative B would 
be to enable visitor participation in a wide variety of outdoor 
recreational experiences. It would nearly maximize motorized access to 
sustainable trails (up to 132 miles of motorized trails), provide the 
least amount of proposed wilderness (about 37,567 acres), and develop 
limited new hiking-only trails. The entire off-road vehicle (ORV) trail 
system would be implemented without phased establishment and the 
assessment of monitoring results. New visitor and operations facilities 
along the I-75 corridor would also be provided.
    Preferred Alternative: The preferred alternative would provide 
diverse frontcountry and backcountry recreational opportunities, 
enhance day

[[Page 71731]]

use and interpretive opportunities along road corridors, and enhance 
recreational opportunities with new facilities and services. This 
alternative would provide substantial ORV access to sustainable trails 
(approximately 130 miles of motorized trails), provide a moderate 
amount of proposed wilderness (about 47,067 acres), provide 
nonmotorized trail opportunities and new camping opportunities, and 
develop a partnership approach to visitor orientation. Implementation 
of the ORV trail system would be phased to ensure protection of 
sensitive species and the environment. Areas found to be eligible for 
wilderness designation but not proposed as wilderness would be 
protected through management zoning that would maintain and protect 
natural values. New visitor and operations facilities along the I-75 
corridor would also be provided.
    Alternative F: Alternative F would emphasize resource preservation, 
restoration, and research while providing recreational opportunities 
with limited facilities and support. This alternative would provide the 
maximum amount of wilderness (about 71,260 acres), no ORV use, and 
minimal new facilities for visitor contact along I-75.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Big Cypress National Preserve at the 
address and telephone number shown above.
    The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, NPS, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 
Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: November 18, 2010.
Gayle Hazelwood,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-29769 Filed 11-22-10; 4:15 pm]
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