[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37438-37439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15208]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-CUVA-10100; 6065-4000-409]


Draft Trail Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement 
for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a draft Trail Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for 
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.

DATES: The draft Trail Management Plan and Environmental Impact 
Statement will be available for public comment for a 60-day public 
review period. Comments must be received no later than 60 days after 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of 
availability in the Federal Register. Public meetings will be held; 
specific dates, times, and locations will be announced in the local 
media, on the Internet, and will also be available by contacting the 
park at 440-546-5905.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Plan/EIS is available on the Internet on the 
NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site at: http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/cuyahogatrailplan. Copies may also be obtained 
by making a request in writing or picked up in person at Cuyahoga 
Valley National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent Austin at the 
address above or by telephone at 440-546-5905.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the NPS, have prepared a comprehensive 
updated Trail Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. The 
Plan/EIS will serve as a blueprint to guide the expansion, elimination, 
restoration, management, and use of the trail system and its associated 
trail facilities over the next 15 years. Since 1985, when our first 
Trail Plan was established, many changes have occurred that require an 
update to the Plan. These include the Park's growth in visitation and 
programs, some park trails requiring increased operational investment 
due to their location and use patterns, expansion of regional trail 
networks, and change in outdoor recreation trends.
    Several alternative actions, including the No Action, were 
considered in the development of the draft EIS. These are summarized 
briefly here. Other alternatives were explored but dismissed; these are 
discussed in the draft EIS.
    Alternative 1--No Action: The trails, authorized uses, and 
facilities addressed in this plan would remain as they currently exist. 
We would continue trail management under current park policies, 
protocols and monitoring. A continuation of trail projects would occur 
on an individual basis and as opportunities arise with separate 
planning and compliance.
    Actions Common to All Action Alternatives--All action alternatives 
share common actions to assist in meeting the goals of the Plan/EIS. 
These include the restoration of the existing trail system, adoption of 
Sustainable Trail Guidelines, and the consideration of trail 
facilities. Trail facilities evaluated include a water trail system 
with non-motorized boat launch sites along the Cuyahoga River, 
trailside and riverside campsites, and improved parking facilities.
    Alternative 2A--Re-Use: Alternative 2A emphasizes the importance of 
enhancing the existing trail system's sustainability for future 
generations with limited expansion and reuse of existing corridors.
    Alternative 2B--Re-Use with Mountain Bike Use: Alternative 2B is 
the same as Alternative 2A with the addition of an authorization for a 
linear mountain bike trail on existing trails within the Park and on 
lands owned and managed by our partners.
    Alternative 3A--Recreation Focus: ``Trail Hubs'' will serve as 
interchangeable areas for recreational trail use that provides the full 
variety of trail experiences the Park has to offer. Trail hubs would be 
placed at existing visitor facilities throughout the park to establish 
activity centers for trail use and other activities.
    Alternative 3B--Recreation Focus with Mountain Bike Use: 
Alternative 3B is the same as Alternative 3A with the addition of new 
mountain bike trails

[[Page 37439]]

consisting of two zones of short loop routes.
    Alternative 4A--Destination Focus: Park features and attractions 
are the focus of this Alternative with the trail system serving as the 
main visitor access to these features. Expansion of the primitive 
hiking experience occurs to the greatest extent in Alternative 4A.
    Alternative 4B--Destination Focus with Mountain Bike Trails: 
Alternative 4B is the same as Alternative 4B with the addition of new 
mountain bike trails. The mountain bike trail system consists of a long 
point-to-point trail with shorter loop trails to provide a variety of 
lengths and experiences to the mountain bike user.
    Alternative 5--Re-Use, Recreation & Destination: Preferred 
Alternative. Alternative 5 combines trail elements from all of the 
Alternatives and proposed trail facilities that will best fit the park. 
Alternative 5 proposes the following trail elements: (1) Implementing 
45 additional miles of trail, including a new 10-mile mountain bike 
trail; (2) incorporating actions common to all action alternatives 
including restoration of trails, Sustainable Trail Guidelines, and 
expansion and improvement of trail facilities; (3) improvement of 10 
existing parking areas and the introduction of 4 new parking areas; and 
(4) establishment of expanded community partnerships to establish 30+ 
miles of bike lanes on public roads within CVNP.
    We welcome comments on the Plan/EIS either by mail or through the 
NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site at: http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/cuyahogatrailplan. Before including your 
address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your 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 comments 
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, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: May 14, 2012.
Michael T. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-15208 Filed 6-20-12; 8:45 am]
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