[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5494-5495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-LAMR-10224; 2310-0091-422]


Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan, Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is 
releasing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Off-
Road Vehicle Management Plan (Plan), Lake Meredith National Recreation 
Area (LAMR), Texas. The Plan/DEIS evaluates the impacts of four 
alternatives that address off-road vehicle (ORV) management in the 
national recreation area. It also assesses the impacts that could 
result from continuing the current management framework in the no 
action alternative. The selected alternative will guide ORV management 
at LAMR for the next 15 years.

DATES: The NPS will accept comments on the DEIS from the public for 60 
days following publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) of the Notice of the Availability of the DEIS. After the EPA 
Notice of Availability is published, NPS will schedule public meetings 
during the comment period. Dates, time, and locations of these meetings 
will be announced in press releases, a newsletter, and on the NPS 
Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site for the 
project at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/LAMR.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/LAMR. Copies of the Plan/DEIS 
will be available in the office of the Superintendent, Lake Meredith 
National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, 
419 E. Broadway, Fritch, Texas 79036-1460, or by phone at (806) 857-
3151.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Ott-Jones, Superintendent, Lake 
Meredith National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries National 
Monument, P.O. Box 1460, Fritch, Texas 79036-1460, or by phone at (806) 
857-3151, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this Plan/DEIS is to manage 
ORV use in the national recreation area for visitor enjoyment and 
recreation opportunities, while minimizing and correcting damage to 
resources. By special regulation (Title 36, Section 7.57 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations), the national recreation area allows the use of 
ORVs in two areas: Blue Creek and Rosita Flats. Action is needed at 
this time to comply with Executive Order 11644, provide for sustainable 
ORV use areas, address the lack of an approved plan, address resource 
impacts resulting from ORV use, and address the change in numbers, 
power, range, and capabilities of ORVs currently using the ORV areas.
    The Plan/DEIS evaluates four alternatives: A No Action Alternative 
(A) and three Action Alternatives (B, C, and D (preferred)). These are 
summarized briefly here. Other alternatives were explored but 
dismissed; these are discussed in some detail in the draft Plan/DEIS.
     Alternative A: No Action--The national recreation area 
would continue to operate under the 2007 Interim ORV Management Plan 
where ORVs are allowed below the 3,000 foot elevation line in Rosita 
Flats and from cutbank to cutbank at Blue Creek. Limited facilities are 
supplied. No additional management tools such as zoning, permits, or 
use limits would be implemented.
     Alternative B: Under this alternative, ORV use would be 
managed through a zone system. Uses would be separated into the 
following zones: Camping, hunting, resource protection, low speed, and 
beginner. At Rosita Flats, two areas would be established as ORV areas 
and a number of routes would be designated. At Blue Creek, ORVs would 
only be allowed on sandy bottom areas designated routes, with ORV use 
prohibited on vegetated areas. ORV users would be required to obtain a 
free permit for educational purposes.
     Alternative C: This alternative manages ORV use through a 
fee permit system and user limits. Permits would

[[Page 5495]]

include a fee and initially, there would be no limit on the number of 
permits. However, additional studies would be required to determine the 
appropriate use limit, and limits could be set in the future. ORV 
routes and areas would be designated, including one ORV area and 
designated routes at Rosita Flats and the sandy bottom area of Blue 
Creek.
     Alternative D: The preferred alternative manages ORV use 
through a zone system. Uses would be separated into the following 
zones: Camping, hunting, resource protection, low speed, and beginner. 
At Rosita Flats, two areas would be established as ORV areas and a 
number of routes would be designated. At Blue Creek, ORVs would only be 
allowed on sandy bottom areas designated routes, with ORV use 
prohibited on vegetated areas. ORV permits would be required and a fee 
would apply. Permit fees would be used to recover costs associated with 
ORV management. New and current education and outreach efforts would 
also continue under alternative D.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. You may mail comments to Office of the Superintendent, 
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries 
National Monument, P.O. Box 1460, Fritch, Texas 79036-1460. You may 
also submit your comments online on the PEPC Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/LAMR. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to 
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries 
National Monument, 419 E. Broadway, Fritch, Texas 79036. Oral 
statements and written comments will also be accepted during the public 
meetings. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other 
way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy 
or electronic) that do not include a signature and are submitted on 
behalf of others will not be accepted. 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. We will make all submissions 
from organizations or businesses, from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials, of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: December 14, 2012.
John Wessels,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-01434 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
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