General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Natural Bridges National Monument, UT

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan, Final

Environmental Impact Statement, Natural Bridges National Monument, UT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Availability of final environmental impact statement and

general management plan/development concept plan for Natural Bridges

National Monument.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the

availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/General

Management Plan/Development Concept Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Natural Bridges

National Monument, Utah.

DATES: A 30-day no-action period will follow the Environmental

Protection Agency's notice of availability of the FEIS/GMP/DCP.

ADDRESSES: Public reading copies of the FEIS/GMP will be available for

review at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Natural Bridges National Monument, Box 1,

Natural Bridges, Lake Powell, Utah 84533-0101, (801) 259-5174

[[Page 26326]]

Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of

Interior, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone: (202)

208-6843

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS/GMP analyzes two alternatives which

are being considered to direct the management and development of

Natural Bridges National Monument.

The alternatives include: (1) No Action--Under this alternative,

existing facilities and management actions would remain unchanged; (2)

Proposed Plan--Under the proposal, the administrative/visitor center

would be expanded to provide 900-1,400 square feet of office and sales

space; removal and rehabilitation of a small picnic area, the addition

of a comfort station and benches for visitor comfort along the loop

road; the addition of housing for 12 future employees; redesign of the

visitor center parking area to improve vehicular circulation; and the

addition of a garage and storage building in the maintenance area.

The FEIS/GMP in particular evaluates the environmental consequences

of the proposed action and proposal on water resources, flood plains,

wetlands, geology, soils, vegetation, wildlife, threatened and

endangered species, air quality, visual resources, cultural resources,

ethnographic resources, visitor use, interpretation, socioeconomic

data, health and safety, law enforcement, other agencies, management

and operations, and cumulative impacts. The environmental consequences

of the proposal and no-action alternative considered are fully

disclosed in the FEIS/GMP/DCP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Natural Bridges

National Monument, at the above address and telephone number.

Ron Everhart,

Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.

[FR Doc. 97-12504 Filed 5-12-97; 8:45 am]

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