65220 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 10, 2004 / Notices 

Fire Management Plan, Chiricahua 

National Monument. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 

U.S.C. 4332(c), the National Park 

Service announces the availability of 

draft Environmental Impact Statement 

for the Fire Management Plan, 

Chiricahua National Monument, 

Arizona.

DATES: The National Park Service will 

accept comments from the public on the 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

for January 10, 2005. No public 

meetings are scheduled at this time.

ADDRESSES: Information will be 

available for public review and 

comment in the office of the 

Superintendent, Alan Whalon, 

Chiricahua National Monument, at 

13063 E. Bonita Canyon Road, Willcox, 

AZ 85643.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ecologist, Carrie Dennett, Chiricahua 

National Monument, (520) 824–3560 

ext. 308. Additional information may be 

requested by phone at (520) 824–3560 or 

through e-mail at 

CHIR_resource_management@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you 

wish to comment, you may submit your 

comments by any one of several 

methods. You may mail comments to 

Chiricahua National Monument, 13063 

E. Bonita Canyon Road, Willcox, AZ 

85643. You may also comment via the 

Internet to 

CHIR_resource_management@nps.gov.

Please submit Internet comments as an 

ASCII file avoiding the use of special 

characters and any form of encryption. 

Please also include ‘‘Attn: Ecologist’’

and your name and return address in 

your Internet message. If you do not 

receive a confirmation from the system 

that we have received your Internet 

message, contact us directly at Ecologist, 

(520) 824–3560 ext. 308. Finally, you 

may hand-deliver comments to 13063 E. 

Bonita Canyon Road, Willcox, AZ, 

85643. 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 name and/or 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: August 25, 2004. 

Steve Martin, 

Director, Intermountain Region, National 

Park Service.

[FR Doc. 04–24985 Filed 11–9–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service 

Environmental Impact Statement 

Availability

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: The National Park Service 

announces the availability of the Record 

of Decision for the Final Environmental 

Impact Statement for Saratoga National 

Historical Park General Management 

Plan. 

SUMMARY: In September 2004, the 

Regional Director, Northeast Region, 

National Park Service approved the 

Record of Decision (ROD) of the Final 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

Saratoga National Historical Park 

General Management Plan. The ROD is 

a statement of the background of the 

project, the decision made, synopsis of 

the other alternatives considered, the 

basis for the decision, the 

environmentally preferable alternative, 

a summary of measures to minimize 

environmental harm, and an overview 

of the public involvement in the 

decisiomaking process. The ROD is now 

available from the National Park 

Service. 

Decision (Selected Action) 

After thorough analysis and extensive 

public involvement, the National Park 

Service will implement Alternative D 

(the Preferred Alternative identified in 

the Draft and abbreviated Final 

Environmental Impact Statements) to 

help guide management of Saratoga 

National Historical Park. Alternative D 

was selected because it supports the 

purpose and significance of the park, 

and minimizes impacts on the park’s 

resources while providing for public use 

and enjoyment of those resources. 

Alternative D: Focus on the Burgoyne 

Campaign seeks to improve visitor 

understanding of the events that led to 

the 1777 British surrender by providing 

a more complete and logical depiction 

of these events. This approach also 

includes—secondary to the strategic 

factors—interpretation of the efforts to 

commemorate the military events and 

opportunities to reflect on their 

meaning. Additionally, Alternative D 

enables the park to expand its 

partnerships with other Burgoyne 

Campaign—related sites and regional 

entities in the Champlain-Hudson and 

Mohawk valleys. 

Other Alternatives Considered 

Three additional alternatives were 

considered analyzed for impacts on the 

environment. They are summarized 

below. Alternative D was formed by 

combining elements of alternatives B 

and C. 

Alternative A: Focus on Current 

Management Objectives allowed for 

incremental action toward existing 

objectives with minimum change to the 

park’s current management philosophy 

and physical conditions. This concept 

would have entailed no significant 

expansion of the park’s participation in 

regional initiatives over the current 

situation. Alternative A served as the 

‘‘no-action’’ alternative required by the 

National Environmental Policy Act. 

Alternative B: Focus on the Battles, 

Siege, and Surrender concentrated on 

improving visitor understanding of the 

events that led to the 1777 British 

surrender at Saratoga by providing a 

more complete and logical depiction of 

these events. It rehabilitated key 

landscape features to help the visitor 

understand conditions faced by the 

armed forces and how landscape 

conditions were used and manipulated 

to serve tactical needs. This concept 

also enabled park staff to work with 

regional partners in developing outreach 

initiatives. 

Alternative C: Focus on the Park as 

Memorial Grounds presented the park as 

a memorial landscape that had been 

commemorated in numerous ways over 

generations, from the erection of 

monuments, to the establishment of 

State and Federal parkland, to 

contemporary efforts to link important 

sites through regional heritage 

initiatives. This approach preserved and 

enhanced interpretation of key 

landscape features to help the visitor 

understand the military events of 1777 

and the efforts to commemorate those 

events. Moreover, this alternative 

envisioned the park as an important 

gateway to the regional initiatives of the 

Champlain-Hudson and Mohawk 

valleys. 

Decision Rationale 

The major Federal laws and policies 

that apply to Federal agency actions in 

the General Management Plan are the 

National Park Service Organic Act and 

General Authorities Act, the public laws 

creating and augmenting Saratoga 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 10, 2004 / Notices 65221

National Historical Park, the National 

Parks and Recreation Act of 1978, the 

National Environmental Policy Act, and 

related provisions of the National Park 

Service Management Policies 2001. The 

management action selected complies 

with the requirements of Federal law, 

including those statutes listed above. 

The potential impacts of the 

alternatives were identified and 

evaluated. An analysis of impacts was 

included in the Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement. The planning team 

based the impact analysis and 

conclusions largely on the review of 

existing research and studies, 

information provided by experts in the 

National Park Service and other 

agencies and organizations, and the 

professional judgment of the staff of 

Saratoga National Historical Park. 

Where possible, locations of sensitive 

resources were compared with the 

locations of proposed developments and 

modifications. The analysis was 

qualitative in nature. Where necessary 

and appropriate in all the alternatives, 

the planning team proposed mitigating 

measures to minimize or avoid impacts. 

Impacts were categorized as direct, 

indirect, or cumulative and were 

characterized by type, duration, and 

intensity. 

After a review of potential impacts, 

the team concluded that Alternative D 

best protects contributing resources, 

while enhancing public access to those 

resources. Overall, Alternative D 

provides the greatest number of 

beneficial impacts in comparison to the 

other alternatives. Alternative D was 

also selected as the environmentally 

preferred alternative as it causes the 

least damage to the biological and 

physical environment, while best 

protecting, preserving, and enhancing 

historic, cultural, and natural resources. 

Consultation 

Consultation and coordination with 

appropriate federal and state agencies 

were conducted throughout the 

preparation of the General Management 

Plan. Regarding historic properties of 

significance to Indian tribes, 

consultation with the Stockbridge 

Munsee Band of Mohican Indians was 

initiated in February 2001 and 

continued throughout the planning 

process via mailings of newsletters, the 

draft plan, and the Final Environmental 

Impact Statement. Regarding cultural 

resources, consultation with the New 

York State Historic Preservation Officer 

was initiated in January 2001 and 

continued throughout the process via 

mailings of newsletters, an advance 

copy of the draft plan, the actual draft 

plan, and the Final Environmental 

Impact Statement. The State Historic 

Preservation Officer responded with 

formal comments on the draft plan and 

concluded that the National Park 

Service made a convincing case for the 

selection of Alternative D as the 

Preferred Alternative. The National Park 

Service will continue 106 consultation 

with the New York State Historic 

Preservation Officer on specific actions, 

as outlined on page 210 of the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement.

Description of Public Involvement in 

the Decisionmaking Process 

Public scoping for the plan was 

initiated in March 2000 when the 

planning team held two public sessions. 

At these meetings, team members 

discussed the purpose and significance 

statements and the park’s goals with the 

participants. Also in March 2000, the 

team invited over 30 scholars and 

resource specialists to define the park’s 

interpretive themes. 

The team followed the scoping 

sessions with a newsletter in August 

2000, which highlighted comments 

received from the public and reported 

on the status of planning. The 

newsletter was distributed to over 700 

people and was also made available on 

the park’s Web site. 

The team then developed three 

alternatives, which, along with the 

interpretive themes, were presented in 

the second newsletter, published in the 

autumn of 2001. This newsletter was 

distributed to over 1,000 people and 

was posted on the park’s Web site. 

In addition to publishing the 

newsletter, the planning team sought 

public input at three meetings with 

various stakeholder groups. In July 

2001, the team presented the 

preliminary alternatives to area planners 

and to local and county officials. In 

October 2001, stakeholders provided 

input at a meeting that focused on 

treatment of the Schuyler Estate. A 

meeting in April 2002 addressed the 

feasibility of developing a regional 

visitor center in Old Saratoga. 

Throughout the process, the 

superintendent kept local, county, and 

State officials informed on the progress 

of the plan, and consulted with them on 

specific issues. 

Input from these sources made it 

apparent that a new alternative, 

combining favored elements of the 

initial concepts, was desirable. In 

response, the planning team developed 

‘‘Alternative D,’’ as the Preferred 

Alternative. 

Alternative D was highlighted in the 

Draft General Management Plan/Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement, made 

available for a 60-day public review 

period starting in January 2004. Some 

2000 draft plan summary newsletters 

were distributed. The full draft plan was 

distributed to a list of nearly 60 

recipients, which included the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, the 

New York State Historic Preservation 

Officer, the Stockbridge Munsee Band of 

Mohican Indians, and other agencies 

and organizations. Both the summary 

newsletter and the full draft plan were 

made available on the Internet and at 

area libraries. On January 22, 2004, the 

team held a public open house at the 

park visitor center, which was attended 

by some 45 people. Over the course of 

the public comment period, a total of 32 

written comments were received. The 

team carefully reviewed all responses 

and incorporated substantive comments 

in the Final Environmental Impact 

Statement for the General Management 

Plan. 

The consensus of the public comment 

period was that National Park Service 

was pursuing the correct path for the 

park in Alternative D, the Preferred 

Alternative. Comments from individuals 

and public agencies did not require the 

National Park Service to add other 

alternatives, significantly alter existing 

alternatives, or make changes to the 

impact analysis of the effects of any 

alternative. Thus, an abbreviated format 

was used for the responses to comments 

in the final Environmental Impact 

Statement, in compliance with the 1978 

implementing regulations (40 CFR 

1503.4[c]) for the National 

Environmental Policy Act. 

In August 2004, the abbreviated Final 

Environmental Impact Statement was 

made available to the public for a 30-

day ‘‘no-action period,’’ which 

concluded on September 2, 2004. The 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

was distributed to a list of nearly 100 

recipients, which included the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, the 

New York State Historic Preservation 

Officer, the Stockbridge Munsee Band of 

Mohican Indians, and other agencies, 

organizations, officials, and individuals. 

Conclusion 

Alternative D, the selected action, 

provides the most comprehensive and 

proactive strategy among the 

alternatives considered for meeting the 

National Park Service’s purposes, goals, 

and objectives for managing Saratoga 

National Historical Park in accordance 

with Congressional direction, Federal 

laws, and National Park Service 

Management Policies. The selection of 

Alternative D, as reflected by the 

analysis contained in the Final 

Environmental Impact Statement would 

not result in the impairment of park 

65222 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 10, 2004 / Notices 

resources or values and would allow the 

National Park Service to conserve park 

resources and provide for their 

enjoyment by these and future 

generations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Superintendent, Saratoga National 

Historical Park, 648 Route 32, 

Stillwater, New York 12170–1604, 

telephone (518) 664–9821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of 

the Record of Decision may be obtained 

from the Superintendent listed above.

Dated: September 23, 2004. 

Robert W. McIntosh, 

Associate Regional Director, Planning & 

Partnerships, Northeast Region.

[FR Doc. 04–24984 Filed 11–9–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–52–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service 

Boston Harbor Islands Advisory 

Council; Notice of Meeting 

Notice is hereby given in accordance 

with the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act (Pub. L. 92–463) that the Boston 

Harbor Islands Advisory Council will 

meet on Wednesday, December 1, 2004. 

The meeting will convene at 4 p.m. at 

the New England Aquarium Conference 

Center, Central Wharf, Boston, MA. 

The Advisory Council was appointed 

by the Director of National Park Service 

pursuant to Public Law 104–333. The 28 

members represent business, 

educational/cultural, community and 

environmental entities; municipalities 

surrounding Boston Harbor; Boston 

Harbor advocates; and Native American 

interests. The purpose of the Council is 

to advise and make recommendations to 

the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership 

with respect to the development and 

implementation of a management plan 

and the operations of the Boston Harbor 

Islands national park area. 

The Agenda for this meeting is as 

follows: 

1. Call to Order, Introductions of 

Advisory Council members present 

2. Review and approval of minutes of 

the September meeting 

3. Planning for the outreach program, 

reports from interest groups 

4. Prepare for the March elections 

5. Report from the NPS 

6. Public Comment 

7. Next Meetings 

8. Adjourn 

The meeting is open to the public. 

Further information concerning Council 

meetings may be obtained from the 

Superintendent, Boston Harbor Islands. 

Interested persons may make oral/

written presentations to the Council or 

file written statements. Such requests 

should be made at least seven days prior 

to the meeting to: Superintendent, 

Boston Harbor Islands NRA, 408 

Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110, 

telephone (617) 223–8667.

Dated: October 6, 2004. 

George E. Price, Jr., 

Superintendent, Boston Harbor Islands NRA.

[FR Doc. 04–24981 Filed 11–9–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–52–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service 

Cape Cod National Seashore, South 

Wellfleet, MA, Advisory Commission 

Two Hundred Fiftieth; Notice of 

Meeting 

Notice is hereby given in accordance 

with the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770, 5 

U.S.C. App 1, Section 10), that a 

meeting of the Cape Cod National 

Seashore Advisory Commission will be 

held on December 6, 2004. 

The Commission was reestablished 

pursuant to Public Law 87–126 as 

amended by Public Law 105–280. The 

purpose of the Commission is to consult 

with the Secretary of the Interior, or his 

designee, with respect to matters 

relating to the development of Cape Cod 

National Seashore, and with respect to 

carrying out the provisions of sections 4 

and 5 of the Act establishing the 

Seashore. 

The Commission members will meet 

at 1 p.m. at Headquarters, Marconi 

Station, Wellfleet, Massachusetts for the 

regular business meeting to discuss the 

following: 

1. Adoption of Agenda 

2. Approval of Minutes of Previous 

Meeting (September 27, 2004) 

3. Reports of Officers 

4. Reports of Subcommittees 

5. Superintendent’s Report: Update on 

ORV Permit Distribution Process; 

Update on Salt Pond Visitor Center 

Project; Update on Highlands Center 

Project; Update on Hunting EIS; Update 

on Treatment of Phragmites at Pamet 

Bog; Proposed Herring River Restoration 

Project; News from Washington 

6. Old Business: Role of Dune Shack 

Sub-Committee in Reviewing 

Ethnography Report 

7. New Business 

8. Date and agenda for next meeting 

9. Public comment and 

10. Adjournment 

The meeting is open to the public. It 

is expected that 15 persons will be able 

to attend the meeting in addition to 

Commission members. 

Interested persons may make oral/

written presentations to the Commission 

during the business meeting or file 

written statements. Such requests 

should be made to the park 

superintendent at least seven days prior 

to the meeting. Further information 

concerning the meeting may be obtained 

from the Superintendent, Cape Cod 

National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site 

Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667.

Dated: October 13, 2004. 

Michael B. Murray, 

Acting Superintendent.

[FR Doc. 04–24982 Filed 11–9–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–52–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service 

Juan Bautista de Anza National 

Historic Trail Advisory Commission; 

Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: Notice is given in accordance 

with the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act that the third meeting of the Juan 

Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail 

Advisory Commission will be held as 

follows:

DATES/TIMES: Saturday, November 13, 

from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 

November 14, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 12 

p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino 

Real, Santa Clara, California. The 

meeting on November 13 will be in the 

Seminar Room of Casa Italiana and on 

November 14 in the Weigand Room, 

Arts and Sciences Building. For a map 

of the campus go to http://www.scu.edu/

map/. Saturday afternoon there will be 

a tour of Mission Santa Clara Ası ́s. The 

public is welcome.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COPIES OF

MEETING MINUTES CONTACT: Meredith 

Kaplan, Juan Bautista de Anza National 

Historic Trail, 1111 Jackson Street, Suite 

700, Oakland, California 94607, at (510) 

817–1438, or meredith_kaplan@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Advisory Commission was 

established in accordance with the 

National Trails System Act (915 U.S.C. 

1241 et seq), as amended by Public Law 

191–365 to consult with the Secretary of 

Interior on planning and other matters 

relating to the trail. 

Agenda 

1. Welcome 

2. Review trail status 

3. Web de Anza update