[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41349-41350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14833]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-VALL-33293; PPIMVALL10; PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000; 222P103601]


Assessment of Eligible and Ineligible Lands for Consideration as 
Wilderness Areas, Valles Caldera National Preserve

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to assess Valles Caldera National Preserve 
lands for wilderness eligibility.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964, and in accordance with 
National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies (2006), Section 6.2.1, 
the NPS has initiated an assessment of lands within the authorized 
boundary of Valles Caldera National Preserve for their eligibility for 
inclusion in the national wilderness preservation system.

DATES: The eligibility assessment will be formally initiated on July 
12, 2022.

ADDRESSES: A map of lands to be assessed is on file at Valles Caldera 
National Preserve Headquarters, 90 Villa Louis Martin, Jemez Springs, 
NM 87025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the wilderness 
character of these lands, and requests for information about the 
eligibility assessment process, should be directed to: Brian Smith, 
Valles Caldera National Preserve, Environmental Protection Specialist, 
575-829-4100, [email protected], or by mail at Valles Caldera 
National Preserve, PO Box 359, Jemez Springs, New Mexico 87025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NPS Management Policies (2006) Section 6.2.1 
requires that ``All lands administered by the National Park Service, 
including new units or additions to existing units since 1964, will be 
evaluated for their eligibility for inclusion in the national 
wilderness preservation system.'' The lands to be assessed at Valles 
Caldera National Preserve include approximately 88,900 acres designated 
to be managed by the National Park Service since 2014 by Section 3043 
of Public Law 113-291 (December 19, 2014).
    Section 6.2.1.1 and 6.2.1.2 of NPS Management Policies (2006) 
describe the primary eligibility criteria and additional considerations 
in determining eligibility that will be used during the assessment 
process. Pursuant to Section 6.2.1.3 of NPS Management Policies (2006), 
the determination of an area's eligibility, or ineligibility, for 
further study will be approved by the Director before publication of 
the final eligibility determination in the Federal Register.
    For areas determined to be ineligible for wilderness designation, 
the wilderness preservation provisions in the NPS Management Policies 
(2006) would not apply (NPS Management Policies (2006) Section 
6.2.1.3). However, ineligible lands will continue to be managed in 
accordance with the NPS Organic Act and all other laws, executive 
orders, regulations, and policies applicable to units of the national 
park system.
    Lands and waters found to possess the characteristics and values of 
wilderness, as defined in the Wilderness Act and determined eligible 
pursuant to the wilderness eligibility assessment, will be formally 
studied to develop the recommendation to Congress for wilderness 
designation (NPS Management Policies (2006), Section 6.2.2). The 
wilderness study will be supported by appropriate documentation of 
compliance with the

[[Page 41350]]

National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic 
Preservation Act.

Michael Reynolds,
Regional Director, Interior Regions 6, 7, & 8.
[FR Doc. 2022-14833 Filed 7-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P