[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 26990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10793]



[[Page 26990]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SER-CHCH-15252; PPSESEROC3, PPMPSAS1Y.YP0000]


General Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement, 
Lookout Mountain Battlefield, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National 
Military Park, Tennessee and Georgia

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Termination of Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service 
(NPS) is terminating preparation of an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for a general management plan (GMP) for Chickamauga and 
Chattanooga National Military Park (Park), Tennessee and Georgia. 
Instead, the NPS will prepare two environmental assessments (EA) to 
support amendments to the 1987 general management plan, one for the 
Lookout Mountain Battlefield unit and one for the Moccasin Bend unit.

DATES: The Lookout Mountain Battlefield GMP Amendment EA is expected to 
be distributed for public comment in summer 2014. The NPS will notify 
the public by mail, local and regional media, Web site, and other 
means, of public review periods and meetings associated with the EA; 
all announcements will include information on where and how to obtain a 
copy of the EA, how to comment on the EA, and the length of the public 
comment period. All public review and other written public information 
will be made available online through the NPS Planning, Environment, 
and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/chch 
and the Park Web site at www.nps.gov/chch. At this point in time, the 
NPS does not have an anticipated release date for the Moccasin Bend GMP 
Amendment EA.

ADDRESSES: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, P.O. Box 
2128, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Szyjkowski at the address above, 
or by telephone at (423) 752-5213, extension 121.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for a 
GMP for the entire Park was published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2008 (73 FR 241, Pages 76054 and 76055). The NPS then 
engaged in a scoping process which included extensive public 
involvement and consultation with federally recognized tribes, and the 
initial development of a range of management alternatives. Subsequent 
to that process, the NPS determined the focus of the overall planning 
effort should address only specific areas within the Park that have the 
greatest need for management guidance. These areas are the Lookout 
Mountain National Battlefield and Moccasin Bend National Archeological 
District, both of which include new lands added to the Park since the 
last GMP was completed and could benefit from updated planning guidance 
particularly related to resource protection and visitor use. The NPS 
determined that the current planning process should continue 
immediately for the Lookout Mountain Battlefield unit followed by later 
planning at Moccasin Bend to better phase the work between the two 
units. The results of these efforts will amend the 1987 GMP related to 
management of both units. A separate planning process for the Moccasin 
Bend National Archeological District will be initiated at a later date.
    The NPS has determined that an EA rather than an EIS is the 
appropriate level of documentation for the Lookout Mountain Battlefield 
GMP amendment. The EA for the GMP amendment for Lookout Mountain 
Battlefield unit will consider three alternatives and their related 
impacts. The no-action alternative would continue the present 
management direction as guided by the 1987 GMP. Two action alternatives 
would focus primarily on improving the visitor experience, increasing 
operational efficiency and providing access to the new lands. 
Preliminary analysis of the alternatives shows there is no potential 
for significant impacts to park resources and values and no concerns or 
issues were expressed during the public scoping process for the GMP 
that have the potential for highly controversial impacts. In February 
2013, the NPS issued a newsletter that described these alternatives. 
The NPS also held an open house on February 28, 2013, to discuss the 
alternatives with the public. Many comments were received on the 
alternatives. While the NPS may modify the alternatives based on the 
comments received, none of the comments or any potential changes to the 
alternatives would result in anticipated significant impacts to natural 
or cultural resources in the Park or to visitor experience. For these 
reasons, the NPS determined the proposal would not constitute a major 
federal action requiring an EIS.
    The responsible official for this Draft EIS is the Regional 
Director, NPS Southeast Region, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: April 30, 2014.
Sarah Craighead,
 Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-10793 Filed 5-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JD-P