# Environmental Statements Availability; Mississippi National River and Recreation Area > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-2375 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** February 1, 1995 - **Citation:** 60 FR 6282 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR National Park Service FES 95-1 Environmental Statements Availability; Mississippi National River and Recreation Area AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Comprehensive Management Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final Comprehensive Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FCMP/FEIS) that describes and analyzes a proposed action and three alternatives for the future management and use of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota. The Draft Comprehensive Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released for public review on July 5, 1993 (58 FR 32546), and the public comment period closed October 11, 1993. During this period, four public hearings were held; written comments also were received. The FCMP/FEIS contains responses to the comments received and modifications to the text as needed in response to the comments. The proposed action and alternatives all have been designed to preserve, protect, and enhance the significant values of the waters and land of the Mississippi River corridor within the Saint Paul- Minneapolis metropolitan area. They differ primarily in approach to overall management emphasis and level of federal involvement. The proposed action provides a framework to balance and coordinate natural, cultural, and economic resource protection, visitor use, and sustainable development activities. It minimizes adverse effects on the river corridor and conflicts between users while providing for a broad spectrum of land and water uses and managed growth. Corridor management policies would be applied in a practical manner, with individual communities retaining flexibility to respond to unusual situations in special ways, providing that the resources identified in Public Law 100-696, the unit's enabling legislation, are protected. The proposed action emphasizes the importance of biological diversity in the corridor. It also recognizes the importance of economic activities and provides for the commercial use of the corridor consistent with P.L. 100-696. Commercial navigation activities would be continued. A wide range of visitor use activities would be encouraged. The National Park Service would have a lead role in coordinating interpretation for the corridor. Alternative A (no action) would continue existing resource protection activities, land and water management, and visitor use programs. No overall comprehensive plan would be adopted. Local communities would continue to manage the river with minimal coordination and cooperation. Political boundaries would continue to delineate different management regulations, and the 72-mile segment of the Mississippi River would be managed according to different plans. Alternative B would place a greater emphasis on resource protection, more restrictive land management, and passive recreation activities. Efforts for resource protection would be coordinated between the National Park Service and existing state, federal, and local programs, with the National Park Service taking the lead on protection of natural and cultural resources. Alternative C would place greater emphasis on the use and development potential of the corridor; increased tourism and new commercial and industrial development would be encouraged to a greater degree. There would be less land management activity in alternative C, and visitor activities [[Page 6283]] would emphasize more active recreation. Nationally significant resources would be protected under existing laws, regulations, and policies, and they would be marketed more intensively to stimulate visitation. Major impact topics assessed for the proposed action and alternatives include cultural resources, economic environment, commercial navigation, water resources, air quality, soil and vegetation, threatened and endangered species, and recreational use. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, 175 East Fifth Street, Suite 418, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101; (612) 290-4160 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the FCMP/FEIS will be available at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area headquarters at the above address. In addition, public reading copies of the FCMP/FEIS will be available for inspection at libraries located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area; the Department of the Interior Library; the National Park Service Public Affairs Office, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; and at the Midwest Regional Office, National Park Service, 1709 Jackson Street, Omaha, NE 68102. In addition, all Federal Repository libraries will receive copies. The 30-day no action period will end on February 20, 1995. A record of decision will follow the 30-day no action period. Dated: January 13, 1995. Willie R. Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. [FR Doc. 95-2375 Filed 1-31-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-2375. Public record. Not legal advice.