[Federal Register: March 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12365-12366]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr03-57]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Canyon De
Chelly National Monument, Arizona
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
for the general management plan, Canyon De Chelly National Monument.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act,
the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact
statement for the general management plan for Canyon De Chelly National
Monument. The environmental impact statement will be approved by the
Director, Intermountain Region.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is in Apache County, Arizona, on
the Navajo Reservation. The monument was authorized by Congress on
February 14, 1931, following approval of the monument by the Navajo
Tribal Council. Congress charged the National Park Service with the ``*
* * care, maintenance, preservation, and restoration of the prehistoric
ruins, or other features of scientific or historical interest.'' The
National Park Service was also given the right to provide improvements
for the ``* * *. administration and protection of the monument * * *,''
and for the ``* * *. care and accommodation of visitors.''
The general management plan will prescribe the resource conditions,
visitor experiences, and the nature of the relationship with the Navajo
Nation and canyon community that are to be achieved and maintained in
the monument over the next 15 to 20 years. The clarification of what
must be achieved according to law and policy will be based on review of
the monument's purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of
laws and policies directing monument management. Management decisions
to be made where law, policy, or regulations do not provide clear
guidance or limits will be based on the purposes of the monument, the
range of public expectations and concerns, resource analysis, an
evaluation of the natural, cultural, and social impacts of alternative
courses of action, and consideration of long-term economic costs. Based
on determinations of desired conditions, the general management plan
will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor
activities, and development that would be appropriate in the monument
in the future. Alternatives will be developed through this planning
process and will include, at a minimum, no-action and the preferred
alternative.
Major issues include protection of natural and cultural resources;
the adequacy of interpretive programs; and potential partnerships with
the Navajo Nation and associated American Indian communities, as well
as other agencies, organizations, and local interests.
DATES: The National Park Service will conduct public scoping for 60
days from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. Open house meetings regarding the general management plan
will be held during the public scoping period. Specific dates, times,
and locations will be announced in the local media and will also be
available by contacting the Superintendent of Canyon De Chelly National
Monument.
ADDRESSES: Throughout the scoping and planning process information will
be available for public review and comment in the office of the
superintendent (Scott Travis, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, PO
Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Scott Travis, Canyon De
Chelly National Monument, PO Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503; Tel: (928) 674-
5500; FAX: (928) 674-5507; e-mail: scott--travis@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment on the general
management planning process for Canyon de Chelly National Monument, or
on any issues associated with the
[[Page 12366]]
plan, you may submit your comments by any one of several methods. You
may mail comments to Superintendent Scott Travis, Canyon de Chelly
National Monument, PO Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503. You may also e-mail
comments to scott--travis@nps.gov. Finally, you may hand-deliver
comments to the Canyon de Chelly National Monument visitor center (3
miles east of Chinle, Arizona on Highway 7). Our practice is to make
comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available
for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents
may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which
we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also may be
circumstances in which we would withhold from the record a respondent's
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your address,
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We
will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Dated: January 22, 2003.
Karen P. Wade,
Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 03-6207 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P