[Federal Register: April 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 17081-17082]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap03-117]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management
Plan, County of Hawaii, HI; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement
Summary: Pursuant to provisions in Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190), the National Park
Service is initiating conservation planning and environmental impact
analysis for a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) for the recently
designated Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. This effort will
provide an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and CMP that
encompasses protection of sacred, cultural and natural resources,
visitor use and interpretation, and facilities. This National Historic
Trail traces approximately 175 miles of the prehistoric coastal Ala Loa
(``long trail'') on the island of Hawaii, from Upolu Point on the
northern tip of the island, south along the entire west coast, around
Ka Lae (South Point), and then up to the eastern boundary of Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park. The original trail linked many pre-contact
communities on the island, as well as locations of many significant
events in Hawaiian history.
The Ala Kahakai Trail was designated a National Historic Trail by
the United States Congress on January 24, 2000. This designation was
derived from a trail feasibility study entitled Ala Kahakai National
Trail Study (and Final Environmental Impact Statement, January 1998),
as well as on testimony offered by community advocacy groups for the
trail. On November 13, 2000, the 106th U.S. Congress and President
William Clinton officially incorporated the trail into the National
Trails System. Pub. L. 106-509 calls for establishment of a continuous
trail, which is to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
Alternatives: As basis for preparing the Ala Kahakai NHT CMP/EIS,
the NPS jointly with the State of Hawaii, Native Hawaiian groups,
private landowners and other stakeholders will identify and analyze
several alternative management concepts, consistent with agency policy.
At this time, in addition to establishing an environmental baseline by
developing a ``No Action'' alternative (maintaining existing conditions
and management), the conservation planning process is expected to
identify several alternative options for providing visitor use
opportunities and suitable protection strategies. The CMP/EIS will
evaluate the potential environmental impacts of each alternative, and
identify appropriate mitigation actions. The alternatives will be based
upon input from the community, an environmental constraints analysis
using updated Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data, and other
analytical and decision-making methods.
Impact Analysis Issues: The CMP/EIS will be tiered to the 1998 Ala
Kahakai National Trail Study and EIS. All issues and concerns which
informed completion of that project will be updated through
consultations and discussions with current landowners, agencies, Native
Hawaiian groups, local business owners, and other stakeholders. A
planning newsletter is available detailing issues identified to date
(copies may be obtained as noted below). At this time, topics to be
addressed include:
(1) Protection of sacred and cultural Native Hawaiian sites from
intended and unintended damage by trail users;
(2) Management of marine and terrestrial natural resources that are
or may be affected by increased public use of the Ala Kahakai;
(3) Landowner liability with regard to access across privately-
owned property, as well as trespassing, littering, and other property
offenses (approximately 50% of the trail corridor, much of which may be
owned in fee simple by the State of Hawaii, traverses private lands);
(4) Trail maintenance and monitoring by volunteer community-based
groups;
(5) Facility development and maintenance; and
(6) Safety and security of trail users.
Scoping/Public Involvement: There will be public open house
meetings held throughout the various stages of the overall conservation
planning process. These meetings will be hosted in communities across
the various regions along the designated trail route. The first public
meetings will be to elicit comments that identify new concerns and
issues, provide essential environmental information, and suggest trail
design alternatives. These initial meetings will take place beginning
on March 22, 2003. A final summary of all information developed in the
scoping phase will be available. Subsequently, draft management
alternatives will be developed and available for review through a
second round of public meetings. Finally, public meetings to foster
broad review of the Draft CMP/EIS will be hosted. All meetings will be
noticed and publicized through the local news media, direct mailings,
and on the trail's Web site.
Comments: All responses conveying new information or concerns are
encouraged at this time, and may be submitted by any one of several
methods. Mail comments to Mr. Mike Donoho, Planning Team Leader, 73-
4786 Kanalani Street, 14, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740; or transmit
via email c/o mike_donoho@nps.gov (include your name and return
address in your email message); or via facsimile to (808) 329-2597. All
written scoping comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later
than 30 days from the date that this notice is published in the Federal
Register--as soon as this date has been determined it will be widely
publicized, including posting on the trail's Web site to be established
in spring 2003.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular
business hours. If individuals submitting comments request that their
name or/and address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be
honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated
prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be
circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as
allowable by law. As always: NPS will make available to public
inspections all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals
[[Page 17082]]
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
Decision Process: Availability of the Draft CMP/EIS for review and
comment will be officially announced by notice of availability in the
Federal Register, as well as through local and regional news media,
area libraries, and direct mailing. At this time, distribution of the
document is anticipated during fall 2004. After due consideration of
all comments and information received, a Final CMP/EIS would be
prepared which at this time is anticipated could be completed during
summer 2005. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final
decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently
the official responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Ala
Kahakai National Historic Park.
Dated: February 13, 2003.
Arthur E. Eck,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 03-8494 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
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