[Federal Register: September 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 188)] [Notices] [Page 52520-52521] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr29se99-79] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Wild and Scenic River Suitability Study/Recommendation for the Escalante River Drainage, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Garfield County, UT AGENCY: National Park Service, USDI. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Park Service, USDI, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) which analyzes the suitability of sections of the Escalante River, Harris Wash, Coyote Gulch, Fortymile Gulch, Willow Gulch, Fiftymile Creek, Davis Gulch, Cow Canyon, Fence Canyon, Silver Falls Creek, Choprock Canyon, Neon Canyon, Moody Creek, East Moody Creek, Twentyfive Mile Wash (Glen Canyon NRA portion), Georgie's Canyon, Scorpion Gulch, Fools Canyon, Fold Canyon, Eastside Tributaries 1-4, Stevens Canyon, Big Hollow Wash, Hurricane Wash, Carcass Wash, Sooner Wash, Unnamed Wash of the Escalante River (3 miles upriver of Silver Falls Creek), North Fork of Silver Falls Creek, Middle Moody Creek, within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area boundary in Garfield County, Utah for inclusion into the National Wild and [[Page 52521]] Scenic River System. The National Park Service invites written comments and suggestions on the suitability of these river sections. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will also include a General Management Plan amendment. The amendment will provide interim protection for those rivers recommended to Congress until Congress rules on a final recommendation. Further, the agency gives notice that the environmental analysis process is underway. Interested and potentially affected persons, along with local, state, and other federal agencies, are invited to participate and contribute to the environmental analysis prior to final recommendation to Congress. Persons who comment on this process should note that the Department may make the names and addresses of commenters public. However, commenters may request that this information not be released and the Department of the Interior will then determine whether the information may be withheld under the Freedom of Information Act. DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the DEIS should be submitted on or before October 29, 1999. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and draft EIS should be directed to Norm Henderson, Wild and Scenic River EIS Team Leader, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040; telephone 520-608-6272. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This suitability analysis is being initiated in response to the Management Plan currently being prepared by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). A portion of this Plan includes an assessment of streams and rivers within the boundary of the GSENM for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Recognizing the need for consistency across jurisdictional boundaries, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA), Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Dixie National Forest have worked together with the GSENM during the eligibility phase of their wild and scenic rivers analysis. This increased the Monument's study area to include portions of rivers that extended onto other Federally managed areas and allowed the planning team to look at entire watersheds. Section 5(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542, 82 Stat. 906, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1271-1287) allows for the study of new potential wild and scenic rivers not designated under Section 3(a) or designated for study under Section 5(a) of the Act. Section 5(d)(1) states ``In all planning for the use and development of water and related land resources, consideration shall be given by all Federal agencies involved to potential national wild, scenic, and recreational river areas. The analysis will also include lands within \1/4\ mile from each stream bank. Preliminary alternatives include recommending a wild, scenic, or recreation designation for each segment and an alternative that recommends none of the segments for designation. Other appropriate alternatives may be considered. Joseph Alston, Superintendent, Glen Canyon NRA, is the responsible official for preparing the suitability study and DEIS. The Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20250 is the responsible official for recommendations for wild and scenic designation. Public input is now requested and will be used in preparation of the DEIS that is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for the public. At that time, the EPA will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the DEIS will be 60 days from the date the EPA's notice of availability appears in the Federal Register. After the comment period ends on the DEIS, comments will be analyzed and considered by the National Park Service in preparing the final EIS (FEIS). In the FEIS, the National Park Service will respond to comments received. The Secretary of the Interior will consider the comments, responses, and consequences discussed in the EIS, applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a recommendation to the President regarding suitability of these river segments for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The final decision on inclusion of a river in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System rests with the Congress of the United States. Dated: September 21, 1999. Willie R. Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. [FR Doc. 99-25248 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P