[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 52337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SER-EVER-16068; PXPD078991D001]


Everglades General Management Plan/East Everglades Wilderness 
Study, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Everglades National Park, 
Florida

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan/
East Everglades Wilderness Study (EIS/GMP/EEWS) for Everglades National 
Park, Florida. The last comprehensive planning effort for Everglades 
National Park was completed in 1979. Much has changed since then--
patterns and types of visitor use have changed, the Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan was approved, and in 1989 the East 
Everglades Addition (109,506 acres) was added to restore Northeast 
Shark River Slough. Recent studies have enhanced the NPS's 
understanding of resources, resource threats, and visitor use in the 
national park. This GMP will provide updated management direction for 
the entire park, including the East Everglades Addition. The EEWS 
provides a forum for evaluating lands within the East Everglades 
Addition for possible recommendation to Congress for inclusion in the 
national wilderness preservation system.

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

ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review online at 
www.parkplanning.nps.gov/ever. A limited number of CDs and hard copies 
will be made available at Everglades National Park headquarters. You 
may request a copy by contacting Supervisory Park Planner, Fred 
Herling, at Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 93363, 
Homestead, FL 33034; telephone 305-242-7704.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Everglades National Park Supervisory 
Park Planner, Fred Herling, at the address and telephone number shown 
above, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping for the GMP was initiated in 
2003. The EEWS was added to the scope of the project in 2006. Public 
meetings, five newsletters, and internet updates kept the public 
informed and involved throughout the planning process. The Draft GMP/
EEWS/EIS was distributed to other agencies, interested organizations, 
and individuals for their review and comment in February of 2013. Nine 
public meetings and many additional stakeholder meetings were held on 
the draft plan in southern Florida. A wilderness hearing was held as 
part of each of the public meetings.
    The draft document was revised as a result of public and agency 
feedback received during the public comment period. The Final GMP/EEWS/
EIS provides a framework for management, use, and development options 
of the national park for the next 20 or more years. The EIS presents 
and analyzes the environmental impacts of four alternatives: 
alternative 1 (no action), alternative 2, the NPS preferred alternative 
and alternative 4. (Alternative 3 was dismissed from detailed 
analysis.) The alternatives present a range of resource protection 
directions, visitor opportunities, visitor facilities, and proposed 
wilderness.
     Alternative 1 (no action) provides a baseline for 
evaluating changes and impacts of the three action alternatives. Under 
this alternative the current management framework would continue and no 
wilderness would be proposed for the East Everglades Addition.
     Alternative 2 would strive to maintain and enhance visitor 
opportunities and protect natural systems while preserving many 
traditional routes and ways of visitor access. It proposes 39,500 acres 
for designation as wilderness within the East Everglades Addition.
     The NPS preferred alternative, would support restoration 
of natural systems while providing improved opportunities for quality 
visitor experiences. It proposes about 42,200 acres for designation as 
wilderness and about 43,100 acres for designation as potential 
wilderness within the East Everglades Addition. Elements of this 
alternative would support the resilience of the Everglades National 
Park to climate change concerns, such as sea level rise, coastal 
erosion, and higher storm surges, all of which may affect cultural and 
natural resources as well as visitor experience at the park.
     Alternative 4 would provide a high level of support for 
protecting natural systems while improving opportunities for certain 
types of visitor activities. Alternative 4 would eliminate commercial 
airboat tours within the park. It proposes 42,700 acres for designation 
as wilderness and 59,400 acres for designation as potential wilderness 
within the East Everglades Addition.
    The responsible official for this Final EIS is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, NPS 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: August 6, 2015.
Barclay C. Trimble,
Acting, Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-21358 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JD-P