[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41596-41597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16662]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SER-GUIS-15248: PPSESEROC3, PPMPSAS1Y.YP0000]


Final General Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the

[[Page 41597]]

National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan (Final 
EIS/GMP) for Gulf Islands National Seashore (National Seashore), 
Florida and Mississippi. Consistent with NPS laws, regulations, and 
policies and the purpose of the National Seashore, the Final EIS/GMP 
will guide the management of the area over the next 20+ years.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
its Notice of Availability of the Final EIS/GMP in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final EIS/GMP will be available 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GUIS. To request a copy, contact 
Larissa Read, National Park Service, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box 
25287, Denver Colorado 80225-0287, telephone (303) 969-2472. A limited 
number of compact disks and printed copies of the Final EIS/GMP will be 
made available at Gulf Islands National Seashore Headquarters, 1801 
Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Brown, Superintendent, Gulf 
Islands National Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, 
Florida 32563-5000; telephone (850) 934-2604.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS/GMP responds to, and 
incorporates agency and public comments received on the Draft EIS, 
which was available for public review from September 9, 2011, through 
December 9, 2011. A total of four public meetings were held on October 
18, 2011, and November 8, 2011, at the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center 
in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and on October 20, 2011, and November 10, 
2011, at the Davis Bayou Visitor Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 
A total of 181 comments were received. The NPS responses to substantive 
agency and public comments are provided in Chapter 5 of the Final EIS/
GMP, Consultation and Coordination section.
    The Final EIS/GMP evaluates four alternatives for managing use and 
development of the National Seashore:
     Alternative 1, the No Action alternative, represents the 
continuation of current management action and direction into the 
future.
     Alternative 2 would reduce the level of infrastructure 
rebuilt on the barrier islands and allow natural processes to 
predominate.
     Alternative 3 is the NPS Preferred Alternative. 
Alternative 3 would enhance visitor education, research, and resource 
protection opportunities. The seashore would be managed as an outdoor 
classroom for exploring the natural and human history of the Gulf of 
Mexico's barrier islands and coastal environments. Interpretive 
programs would focus on illustrating how barrier islands act as 
protectors of the mainland coastline, and the part these islands have 
played in the last 5,000 years of historic human occupation.
     Alternative 4 would expand and diversify visitor 
opportunities throughout the seashore by leveraging additional 
partnerships.
    When approved, the plan will guide the management of the National 
Seashore over the next 20+ years.
    The responsible official for this Final EIS/GMP is the Regional 
Director, NPS Southeast Region, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: June 17, 2014.
Sherri L. Fields,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-16662 Filed 7-15-14; 8:45 am]
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