[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 26067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10423]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-BITH-12033: PX.PD109246K.00.1]


General Management Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 
Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management 
Plan, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement from the public for 60 days after the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this Notice of 
Availability. Public meetings on the draft will be scheduled during the 
comment period. Interested parties are encouraged to check the park Web 
site and local media for information.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BITH, in the office of the 
Superintendent, Doug Neighbor, 6044 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625, 409-951-
6801, and at the following location: Fire Management Office, 860 CR 
1040, Woodville, TX 75997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Neighbor, Superintendent, Big 
Thicket National Preserve, 6044 FM Road 420, Kountze, TX 77625, email 
address [email protected]; 409-951-6801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The document describes four management 
alternatives for Big Thicket National Preserve, including a no-action 
alternative and the National Park Service preferred alternative. The 
anticipated environmental impacts of those alternatives are also 
analyzed. Alternative 1, the no-action alternative, would extend 
existing conditions and management trends into the future. This 
alternative serves as a basis of comparison for evaluating the action 
alternatives. Alternative 2, the NPS preferred alternative, would 
support a broad ecosystem approach for preserve management using 
partnerships and collaboration. This alternative recognizes the 
challenges associated with management of cross-boundary resource issues 
and the importance of encouraging partnerships to address and resolve 
resource issues. The National Park Service would proactively engage in 
regional planning and policy efforts for the benefit of resource 
protection, compatible visitor use, and other issues both within and 
outside the preserve boundaries. Initiatives that advance the long-term 
protection of the preserve's natural resources would receive the 
primary focus of management attention and funding. Appropriate visitor 
uses and experiences would also be improved and expanded. Preserve 
staff would expand and encourage new partnership agreements with 
outside public and private organizations. Alternative 3 would emphasize 
natural resource preservation and research while providing self-reliant 
recreational opportunities. Alternative 4 would seek to increase the 
importance of the preserve and the National Park Service to the people 
in the communities of southeast Texas and to visitors from all over the 
world. If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one 
of several methods. You are encouraged to submit comments via the 
Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BITH. You may also mail 
comments to National Park Service, Denver Service Center--Erin 
Flanagan, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225. Finally, you may hand-
deliver comments to 6044 FM Road 420, Kountze, TX 77625. 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.

    Dated: January 15, 2013.
John Wessels,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-10423 Filed 5-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-CB-P