Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) will prepare a General

Management Plan (GMP) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for

Voyageurs National Park (hereinafter, ``the park''), Minnesota, in

accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 (NEPA). This notice is being furnished as required by NEPA

Regulations 40 CFR 1501.7.

To facilitate sound planning and environmental assessment, the NPS

intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the EIS,

and to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the

public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Comments and

participation in this scoping process are invited.

A series of public meetings will be held during the development of

the GMP and the preparation of the EIS. Notices of the dates, times,

and locations of these public sessions will be advertised in local and

regional media outlets prior to the event.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in several Minnesota

communities during the week of August 24-28. Specific locations and

times for those meetings have not been finalized. Information about the

scoping meetings can be obtained by telephoning Kathleen Przybylski at

218-283-9821 or by writing the Superintendent, Voyageurs National Park,

at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be directed to:

[[Page 41276]]

Superintendent, Voyageurs National Park, 3131 Highway 53, International

Falls, Minnesota 56649-8904.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Voyageurs National

Park, at the above address or at telephone number 218-283-9821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The park currently does not have a GMP.

Management of the park has been guided by a master plan completed in

1980. That plan is now out-of-date. In accordance with NPS Management

Policies, the GMP will set forth a management concept for the Park;

establish plans for conservation, recreation, and transportation in the

park; and identify strategies for resolving issues and achieving

management objectives. It is expected that the GMP will guide park

management for a period of 15 to 20 years. Some of the issues that need

to be addressed in the GMP are:

(1) Identify desired future conditions for visitor experiences and

resource quality. These ``desired futures'' will serve as a qualitative

basis from which a carrying capacity for the park can be developed, as

required by NPS Director's Order 2.

(2) Identify appropriate access and use of the park, particularly

related to the balance between different types of park uses and users.

(3) In association with the GMP, prepare a Visitor Use and

Facilities Plan. The plan would outline methods of achieving an

appropriate level and type of visitation to the Park. It would also

indicate what visitor support facilities are needed. Preparation of a

Visitor Use and Facilities Plan was directed by Public Law 97-405.

Other issues may be added to this list following completion of

public scoping.

The GMP/EIS will investigate alternatives ranging from no-action to

a variety of management approaches designed to guide visitor use and

provide for resource protection.

The environmental review of the GMP for the park will be conducted

in accordance with requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4371 et

seq.), NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal

regulations, and NPS procedures and policies for compliance with those

regulations.

The NPS estimates the draft GMP and draft EIS will be available to

the public by November 1999.

Dated: July 24, 1998.

Catherine A. Damon,

Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.

[FR Doc. 98-20542 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]

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