[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 33239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13607]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-0411-10066; 9530-0905-454]


Prairie Stewardship Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, San Juan 
Island National Historical Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for Prairie Stewardship Plan, San Juan Island National Historical Park, 
Washington.

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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 (NPS) is initiating the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Prairie 
Stewardship Plan, as called for in the 2008 General Management Plan. 
The Prairie Stewardship Plan (plan) will establish management goals for 
perpetuating this sensitive ecosystem, while also providing for the use 
and enjoyment of the park by current and future generations. The 
purpose of the scoping process is to elicit public comments regarding 
the full spectrum of public issues and concerns, suitable stewardship 
actions, and nature and extent of potential environmental consequences 
and appropriate mitigation strategies which should be addressed in the 
EIS process.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A range of alternatives for stewardship of 
prairie areas in San Juan Island National Historical Park (Park) will 
be developed through this conservation planning and environmental 
impact analysis process, which will include at least no-action and 
preferred alternatives. Topics which the EIS/plan is expected to 
address include: (1) Designing a flexible, adaptable, diverse, and 
sustainable plan that reflects shared objectives responsive to 
community concerns and NPS mandates; (2) determining the best means to 
perpetuate native and native endemic species by considering a full 
range of potential management actions to improve prairie stewardship; 
(3) determining the best means to manage nonnative invasive plant and 
animal species; (4) identifying management actions for specific areas 
within the national historical park; (5) incorporating monitoring and 
evaluation tools to measure success; and (6) allowing for adaptive 
management based on the results of restoration actions. The EIS will 
evaluate and compare the potential environmental consequences of all 
the alternatives, and appropriate mitigation strategies will be 
included. The ``environmentally preferred'' alternative will also be 
identified.
    In July, 2010 the NPS released an Environmental Assessment for the 
proposed plan. Issues and concerns emerged in regards to 
appropriateness of proposed stewardship actions, and conflicts between 
desired visitor experience and protection of cultural and natural 
resource protection could not be resolved. As a result, it was 
determined that an EIS would be prepared. Subsequently the Park has 
conducted two workshops to improve community relationships, including 
an Adaptive Management Workshop in July, 2011 and a Prairie Stewardship 
Educational Symposium in September, 2011. These workshops brought 
together interested community members, NPS staff, and scientists to 
identify issues and concerns, discuss common ground, and begin 
collection of relevant environmental information to facilitate planning 
for preparation of the plan/EIS.
    All interested persons, organizations, and agencies are encouraged 
to submit comments and suggestions on issues and concerns that should 
be addressed in preparing the plan/EIS, and the range of appropriate 
alternatives that should be examined. All prior comments and 
information received in regards to the 2010 Environmental Assessment 
will be carried forward and fully considered in developing the Draft 
EIS.

DATES: The NPS is beginning public scoping via a letter to state and 
federal agencies, American Indian tribes, local and regional 
governments, organizations and businesses, researchers and 
institutions, and interested members of the public. Written comments 
concerning the scope of the plan/EIS and submittal of relevant 
environmental information must be postmarked or transmitted not later 
than September 4, 2012. Public meetings will be scheduled during the 
scoping period. Dates, times, and locations of the meetings will be 
announced on the park Web page and via local and regional newspapers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerald Weaver, Chief of Resource 
Management, San Juan Island National Historical Park (contact via 
telephone (360) 378-2240 x2224 or Email: [email protected]). 
General information about San Juan Island National Historical Park is 
available at http://www.nps.gov/sajh.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals, organizations, and other entities 
wishing to provide input to this phase of developing the plan/EIS 
should mail written comments to Superintendent, San Juan Island 
National Historical Park, P.O. Box 429, Friday Harbor, Washington, 
98250. Comments may also be hand-delivered to the Superintendent's 
Office in Friday Harbor. Telephone: (360) 378-2240.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, 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.
    As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for approving the 
Prairie Stewardship Plan/EIS is Christine Lehnertz, Regional Director, 
Pacific West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently the official 
responsible for implementation of the approved plan would be the 
Superintendent, San Juan Island National Historical Park.

    Dated: March 1, 2012.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-13607 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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