[Federal Register: October 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 52151-52152]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12oc01-109]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft wilderness suitability
study and draft environmental impact statement for Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore, Wisconsin.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) will prepare a wilderness
suitability study to evaluate portions of Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore for possible designation as wilderness, in accordance with
the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and NPS Management
Policies (2001). To facilitate sound analysis of environmental impacts,
the NPS is gathering information necessary for the preparation of the
wilderness suitability study and the associated environmental impact
statement (EIS). Suggestions and information are being sought from
other agencies, tribes, organizations, and the public on the scope of
issues and range of alternatives to be addressed. Comments and
participation in this scoping process are invited and encouraged. This
notice is being furnished as required by National Environmental Policy
Act regulations 40 CFR 1501.7.
A series of scoping sessions with local, county, state, and tribal
governments, neighboring agencies, and the public is scheduled to be
held in late July 2001. The purpose of these meetings will be to
explain the wilderness suitability study process, and to provide an
opportunity for governments, tribes, agencies, communities, and
interested citizens to express the issues and concerns they believe the
study should address. At least one public session will be held in
Bayfield, Wisconsin. Notice of the dates, times, and locations of
public scoping sessions will be advertised in local media outlets prior
to the events. Persons wishing to receive direct mail notification of
the public scoping sessions should contact the park's Management
Assistant at the address or telephone number below. Up-to-date
schedules, draft documents, current information regarding the
wilderness suitability study and EIS, and an address for electronically
transmitted comments can be found on the park's Web site at http://
www.nps.gov/apis/wstudy.htm. Written comments may also be mailed to the
park's Management Assistant at the address below.
ADDRESSES: General park information requests, or requests to be added
to the project mailing list should be directed to: Superintendent,
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Route 1, Box 4, Bayfield, Wisconsin
54814. Telephone: 715-779-3397. E-mail: apis_superintendent@nps.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments, and information
concerning the scope of the EIS and other matters should be directed
to: Management Assistant, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, at the
address above. Telephone: 715-779-3398
[[Page 52152]]
extension 102. e-mail: apis_management_assistant@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NPS Management Policies (2001) section
6.2.1 requires a wilderness suitability assessment as a prelude to a
wilderness suitability study. This requirement was met by the 1989
General Management Plan (GMP) for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
During the GMP planning process, it was determined that about 97% of
the park's land base was potentially suitable for wilderness, and
required further study. Since that time, in accordance with the GMP,
these lands have been managed as though they were wilderness, so the
conclusions of the assessment remain accurate and valid. Copies of the
GMP are available at the address above.
The environmental review of the wilderness suitability study and
EIS for the Lakeshore will be conducted in accordance with requirements
of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4371 et seq.), NEPA regulations (40 CFR
1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and National Park
Service procedures and policies for compliance with those regulations.
Dated: May 14, 2001.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-25643 Filed 10-11-01; 8:45 am]
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