Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact

Statement, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National

Battlefield

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

(FEIS) for the General Management Plan for Nez Perce National

Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park

Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared an abbreviated Final

Environmental Impact Statement that responds to comments received on

the Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

The Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

(GMP/DEIS) was released for public review on October 15, 1996 (61 FR

200), and the public comment period closed December 11, 1996. During

this comment period, seventeen public hearings were held and numerous

written comments were also received. The FEIS contains responses to the

comments received and modifications to the document as needed in

response to the comments. Modifications pertain primarily to proposed

site boundaries,

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particularly for privately-owned sites where the landowners objected to

the boundaries as proposed. The proposed action for overall park

management remains unchanged.

DATES: The no-action period on this final environmental impact

statement will end 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency

has published a notice of availability of the FEIS in the Federal

Register. For further information, contact: Frank Walker,

Superintendent, Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole

National Battlefield, Route 1 Box 100, Spalding, Idaho 83540, (208)

843-2261.

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

review at the following locations:

Lewiston Public Library--Lewiston, Idaho

Grangeville Centennial Library--Grangeville, Idaho

Prairie Community Library--Cottonwood, Idaho

Craigmont City Library--Craigmont, Idaho

Asotin County Library--Clarkston, Washington

Clearwater Memorial Library--Orofino, Idaho

Culdesac City Library--Culdesac, Idaho

Kamiah Community Library--Kamiah, Idaho

Nez Perce County Library--Lapwai, Idaho

Nezperce City Library--Nezperce, Idaho

Enterprise City Library--Enterprise, Oregon

Wallowa County Library--Wallowa, Oregon

Joseph Public Library--Joseph, Oregon

Blaine County Library--Chinook, Montana

NPS Office of Public Affairs--Washington, D.C.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Final Environmental Impact Statement

for the General Management Plan presents a proposal and two alternative

strategies parkwide and site-specific, for guiding future management of

the national historical park. The major subject areas are natural and

cultural resources, public use, nonfederal lands, and park management

and operations. Many overall actions would be designed to unify park

sites, upgrade interpretation, and help visitors recognize the

connection between the park's individual sites. Nez Perce life ways

would be respected. Plans would be developed to manage resources and

vegetation, eliminate exotic and noxious plants, and reintroduce native

species. The park would continue to work with local governments on

issues that could affect park resources. Nez Perce people would be

encouraged to participate in decisions about park planning, management,

and operation. Alternative 1 is a continuation of current management

practices, often referred to as a ``no action'' alternative.

Alternative 2 is a minimum requirement in terms of lower cost

improvements and minimum protection and safety actions. Alternative 3

goes beyond the minimum requirements alternative, building on the

initiatives of alternative 2. The proposed actions for overall

management would retain the general management direction of the park,

but appropriate individual management techniques would be applied in

certain cases. Incremental steps would be taken to improve visitor

services and operations. More cooperative agreements and other

partnership mechanisms would be developed as needed to protect

resources, include Nez Perce people in park management, and improve

interpretation. Some facilities would be rehabilitated or expanded,

modest developments would be added at some sites to meet requirements,

and some historic structures would be adaptively used. The site-by-site

proposed action varies with the site. The DEIS evaluated the potential

environmental impacts associated with the strategies comprising the

three alternatives. The official responsible for a decision on the

proposed action is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National

Park Service.

Dated: August 11, 1997.

William C. Walters,

Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 97-22649 Filed 8-25-97; 8:45 am]

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