[Federal Register: March 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 10241-10242]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02mr98-100]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Isle Royale National Park
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 the National Park Service announces the availability
of the Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement
(GMP/EIS) for Isle Royale National Park. This notice also announces
public meetings for the purpose of receiving public comments on the
Draft GMP/EIS.
The purpose of the general management plan is to set forth the
basic management philosophy and to provide the strategies for
addressing issues and achieving management objectives over the next 15
to 20 years. This Draft GMP/EIS describes and evaluates five
alternatives for the management of Isle Royale National Park.
Alternative A (No Action): Alternative A is the no-action, or
status quo, alternative and provides a baseline for comparison of the
other four alternatives.
Proposed Action: The proposed action is the National Park Service's
preferred alternative. It would emphasize separation of uses and
improvement of visitor experiences. Rock Harbor and Windigo would
continue to be the focus of visitor services. Some historic structures
would be preserved. Use would be distributed fairly evenly across the
island. Limits on use would be likely. Lodging and other services would
be reduced at Rock Harbor.
Alternative B: Alternative B would expand facilities and services
at the ends of the island and create a more primitive experience toward
the center. Cultural resources would be preserved only at the ends of
the island. Use limits would be imposed in some zones. Some facilities
in developed areas would be expanded to serve visitors preparing to
enter the backcountry.
Alternative C: Alternative C would scale back all development to
create a more primitive park. No interpretive media or formal programs
would be offered on the island. All cultural resources would be
documented and allowed to deteriorate. A narrower range of experiences
would be available. Visitor numbers would be lowered and use limits
would be instituted islandwide. All concessions and related facilities
would be removed.
Alternative D: Alternative D was modified to become the proposed
action, above.
Alternative E: Alternative E would allow management of the park to
continue as it is now, but visitor numbers would be controlled and
would be low. Historic structures would be preserved according to
significance. A variety of uses would continue and would take place
across the island.
The potential consequences of the actions in the alternatives on
natural resources, cultural resources, visitor use and experiences,
park operations, and the socioeconomic environment have been evaluated.
In general, all alternatives would better protect the park's natural
resources than the current management direction (alternative A).
Alternative C would provide the greatest benefit to natural resources
but would have the most negative effects on cultural resources and on
visitor use. The proposed action and alternative E would best protect
cultural resources. Impacts on park operations from the alternatives
would be mixed; the
[[Page 10242]]
workload would remain roughly the same (except in alternative C, where
it would be reduced), but the emphasis would change depending on the
alternative. The alternatives would not appreciably affect the
socioeconomic environment.
DATES: Public meetings to solicit comment on the Draft GMP/EIS will be
held on the following dates: April 22, 1998 (St. Paul, Minnesota),
April 23 (Duluth, Minnesota), April 24 (Houghton, Michigan), and April
27 (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Times and locations for the meetings can be
obtained by contacting Isle Royale National Park at 906-482-0986.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft GMP/EIS should be submitted no later
than May 15, 1998 to: Planning Team Leader, Isle Royale General
Management Plan, National Park Service, Denver Service Center-RP, P.O.
Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225.
Public review copies of the Draft GMP/EIS will be available at the
following locations: Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service,
1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20013; Department of the Interior
Natural Resource Library, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20013;
National Park Service, Midwest Regional Office, 1709 Jackson Street,
Omaha, Nebraska 68102; Isle Royale National Park, 800 E. Lakeshore
Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931; and local public libraries. The Draft
GMP/EIS can also be viewed via the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/
planning/current.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Douglas A. Barnard or
Chief Ranger Pete Armington 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton,
Michigan, or at telephone number 906-487-7140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Isle Royale National Park was authorized by
the Act of March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1514).
Dated: February 23, 1998.
David N. Given,
Deputy Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 98-5282 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]
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