[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67187-67188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26872]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-OZAR-13117; PX.P0097321D.00.1]


Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan/
Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact Statement for the Ozark National 
Scenic Riverways, Missouri

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Draft General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact 
Statement (GMP/WS/EIS) for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways 
(Riverways) in Missouri.

DATES: The Draft GMP/WS/EIS will remain available for public review and 
comment for 60 days following the publishing of the Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft GMP/WS/EIS will be available to the 
public by request by writing to the Superintendent, Ozark National 
Scenic Riverways, 404 Watercress Drive, PO Box 490, Van Buren, MO 
63965. The document is available on the Internet at the NPS Planning, 
Environment, and Public Comment Web site (PEPC) at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Bill Black, at the 
address above, or by telephone at 573-323-4236.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the NPS, announce the availability of 
the Draft GMP/WS/EIS for the Riverways.

[[Page 67188]]

This plan will guide the management of the Riverways for the next 15 to 
20 years. The GMP/WS/EIS considers and describes four draft conceptual 
alternatives--a no-action and three action alternatives, including the 
NPS preferred alternative. The anticipated environmental impacts of 
these alternatives are also analyzed.
    The no-action alternative would extend existing conditions and 
management trends into the future. This no-action alternative serves as 
a basis of comparison for evaluating the action alternatives. The NPS 
would maintain the Big Spring Wilderness Study Area's primitive, 
natural character to maintain its wilderness eligibility.
    Alternative A would focus on creating visitor experiences and 
providing resource conditions that help visitors better understand the 
riverways of the past, including traditional river recreation 
activities reminiscent of those that occurred when the Riverways was 
established. Management would emphasize greater opportunities for 
traditional, non-mechanized forms of recreation and visitor experiences 
that are quieter, less crowded, and slower paced. Management would also 
focus on protecting natural resources and systems. Under this 
alternative, most of the Big Spring Wilderness Study Area would be 
recommended for wilderness designation.
    Alternative B, the NPS preferred alternative, would enhance 
opportunities for visitors to discover and learn about the natural 
wonders and Ozark heritage of the Riverways, while maintaining a mix of 
traditional recreational and commercial activities. Emphasis would be 
placed on increasing opportunities for visitor education and 
connections to natural resources and cultural landscapes. Most of the 
Big Spring Wilderness Study Area would be recommended for wilderness 
designation.
    Alternative C would seek to provide a diversity of outdoor 
recreational opportunities and experiences while maintaining the highly 
scenic natural setting and cultural resources. The Riverways would be 
managed to support higher levels and diverse types of recreational 
opportunities, with a focus on more intensive management to ensure that 
excessive impacts on resources or public safety would not occur. In 
addition, land-based recreational opportunities would be increased 
under this alternative. Approximately half of the Big Spring Wilderness 
Study Area would be recommended for wilderness designation.
    The Draft GMP/WS/EIS focuses on key natural and cultural resources, 
visitor uses and experiences, soundscapes, park operations, and 
socioeconomic characteristics that have the potential to be affected if 
any of the alternatives were implemented.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comment by any one of 
several methods. You are encouraged to submit comments via the PEPC Web 
site at the address above. You may mail comments to the National Park 
Service, Chris Church, Project Manager, Denver Service Center Planning 
Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225. Finally, you may mail 
comments to the Superintendent at the address above. 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, from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials, of 
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

    Dated: May 16, 2013.
Michael T. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-26872 Filed 11-7-13; 8:45 am]
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