[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89142-89143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29529]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-GOGA-22437; PPSESER003, PPMPSASIY.YPOOOO]


Final Environmental Impact Statement Dog Management Plan for 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Dog Management Plan 
(Plan), Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), California.

[[Page 89143]]


DATES: December 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the Plan/FEIS will be available for 
public inspection at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dogplan. A limited 
number of hard copies will be available at Park Headquarters, Fort 
Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 94123.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Savidge, Park Headquarters, 
Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 94123; phone (415) 561-
4725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current dog management in the park is based 
on a number of factors. Areas included in the GGNRA Citizens' Advisory 
Commission's 1979 pet policy, followed by the park for over twenty 
years, are currently managed in accordance with the June 2, 2005, 
decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of 
California (U.S. vs. Barley, 405 F.Supp. 2d 1121 (2005)) which 
prohibited the NPS from enforcing the NPS-wide regulation requiring on 
leash walking of pets (36 CFR 2.15(a)(2)) in areas where the park had 
previously allowed off leash use until notice and comment rulemaking 
under 36 CFR 1.5(b) is completed. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was 
published for a 90-day notice and public comment period on February 24, 
2016. A final rule will be published after a 30-day no action period on 
the FEIS, and after a Record of Decision has been signed.
    The purpose of the Plan/FEIS is to determine the manner and extent 
of dog use in appropriate areas of the park, provide a clear, 
enforceable dog management policy, preserve and protect natural and 
cultural resources and natural processes, provide a variety of visitor 
experiences, improve visitor and employee safety, and reduce user 
conflicts.
    The Plan/FEIS evaluates the impacts of six alternatives for dog 
management in 22 areas of GGNRA. The range of alternatives includes the 
consensus recommendations of the GGNRA Negotiated Rulemaking Committee 
for Dog Management, the 1979 Pet Policy, the current NPS policy 36 CFR 
2.15, voice and sight-control dog walking and commercial dog walking. 
The preferred alternative includes site specific treatments from 
multiple action alternatives that together allow for a balanced range 
of visitor experiences, including areas that prohibit dogs, and areas 
that allow on-leash and voice and sight-control dog walking. It 
includes the following key elements: The Negotiated Rulemaking 
Committee's consensus agreement on overarching plan guidelines and 
committee recommendations on commercial dog walking limits; on-leash 
and/or voice and sight-control--dog walking in multiple specific areas 
of the park where impacts to sensitive resources and visitor experience 
were minimized; no dogs in areas of the park where impacts would be 
unacceptable and could not be mitigated; a monitoring-based management 
program measuring compliance in on-leash and voice and sight-control 
dog walking areas which will provide information that can result in a 
range of management responses as needed, including further 
restrictions, training requirements or temporary or long-term closures 
to a use if that use approaches an unacceptable level; and permit 
requirements for both private and commercial dog walkers for more than 
three dogs, with a maximum of six, in limited areas of the park.

    Dated: December 2, 2016.
Laura E. Joss,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-29529 Filed 12-8-16; 8:45 am]
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