[Federal Register: July 27, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 39195-39196]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy01-123]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH; Intent To Prepare Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for Rural Landscape Management
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact
statement
[[Page 39196]]
for rural landscape management in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) will prepare a draft
environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the long-term
management of the rural landscape in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Park managers have understood the park's mandate to include the
preservation of the rural landscape--the Valley's agricultural lands
and associated structures. Various attempts to stem the decline of this
landscape within the park's boundaries have not prevented farms from
falling into disuse and disrepair. The park is proposing to implement a
fresh approach to rural landscape management to better protect and
revitalize this cultural resource.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A preliminary set of alternatives (including the park's preferred
alternative) for protecting the rural landscape have been developed:
(1) No action. Manage the rural landscape through a combination of
historical leasing, short-term special use permits, mowing, and
utilization of structures for adaptive reuse. Continue current program
activities without changing their emphasis.
(2) Contract farming. Manage the rural landscape by hiring
employees or contractors to implement a network of working farms as
modeled by the NPS.
(3) Historical farming. Manage the rural landscape through the
establishment of demonstration farms that replicate farming practices
of specific historical eras.
(4) Countryside Initiative (Preferred Alternative). Manage the
rural landscape by developing sustainable farms through long-term
leases with private individuals. More information on this alternative
can be found online at: http://www.nps.gov/cuva/technical/countryside/
index.htm.
(5) Vista protection. Manage the rural landscape primarily for
scenic values by emphasizing the restoration of farm structures for
residential, office, or other non-agricultural use and clear and mow
fields absent any agricultural purpose.
The park proposed completing an Environmental Assessment (EA) in
May 2001 to assess the issues and alternatives for the proposed action.
Public scoping was initiated for the EA and included letters to
numerous agencies and organizations and a press release to local media.
Park managers now believe that an EIS is more appropriate given the
scope and complexity of the proposed action. All information generated
during the EA scoping process will be retained for use in the EIS
process. Anyone who contributed comments for the EA need not resend
their comments.
Comments
To facilitate sound analysis of environmental impacts, the NPS is
gathering information necessary for the preparation of the EIS.
Suggestions on environmental issues to be analyzed and additional
alternatives to consider are being sought from other agencies, tribes,
organizations, and the public. 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.
Scoping comments will be accepted for a period of forty-five (45)
days from the issuance of this notice. A public scoping open house
session will be scheduled no sooner than fifteen (15) days from the
issuance of this notice. This open house will provide an opportunity
for governments, tribes, agencies, communities, and interested citizens
to learn more about the proposed action and express the issues and
concerns they believe the EIS should address. Notice of the date, time,
and location of this public scoping session will be advertised in local
media outlets prior to the event. Persons wishing to receive direct
mail notification of the public scoping sessions should contact the
park at the address or telephone number below. Interested agencies and
organizations are also invited to arrange meetings to provide input
directly to the park. Such meetings can be arranged by contacting the
EIS Team Leader at the address and telephone below. The public meeting
notice, draft documents, and general information regarding the EIS will
be found on the park's web site at http://www.nps.gov/cuva/
ruraleis.htm. Written comments may also be mailed or e-mailed to the
park's Superintendent at the address below.
Decision Process
The environmental review of the EIS for rural landscape management
at Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be conducted in accordance with
requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA regulations (40
CFR parts 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and NPS
procedures and policies for compliance with those regulations.
Addresses
Written comments, general park information requests, or requests to
be added to the project mailing list should be directed to:
Superintendent, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road,
Brecksville, Ohio 44141. Telephone: 440-546-5903. E-mail:
cuva_superintendent@nps.gov.
For Further Information Contact
For information concerning the scope of the EIS and to arrange
Agency meetings should be directed to Kevin Skerl, EIS Team Leader,
Cuyahoga Valley National Park at the address above. Telephone: 330-650-
5071 extension 4. E-mail: kevin_skerl@nps.gov.
Dated: June 19, 2001.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 01-18761 Filed 7-26-01; 8:45 am]
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