[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67168-67169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25354]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan, Record of Decision, Big Bend National 
Park, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Big 
Bend National Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision for the General Management Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement for Big Bend National Park, Texas. On September 13, 
2004, the Director, Intermountain Region approved the Record of 
Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to 
implement the General Management Plan, described as the Preferred 
Alternative contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
issued July 9, 2004. In the preferred alternative, a new visitor center 
will be built at Panther Junction to provide room for interpretive 
media to adequately interpret key aspects of the park's stories and to 
help visitors plan their stays. The space in the headquarters building 
vacated by the visitor center function will be redesigned for staff 
offices. A storage warehouse,

[[Page 67169]]

bunkhouse, and employee residence will also be built at Panther 
Junction. The natural resources and collection management building 
should adequately provide for the collection storage needs for the 
duration of this plan. If additional storage collection space is 
needed, the other new storage areas will be evaluated to accommodate 
this need. One employee residence and one employee bunkhouse will be 
removed from Chisos Basin to reduce human water use at the area. At Rio 
Grande Village the RV campground will be enlarged by about 40% in area, 
with no more than 30 total sites. Cottonwood Campground campsites will 
be relocated away from bank cave-in areas, and a new egress road will 
be constructed. Fifteen percent of park personnel will be moved to 
gateway communities where offices and residences will be built or 
leased. This course of action and two alternatives were analyzed in the 
Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of 
foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate 
mitigating measures identified. The full Record of Decision includes a 
statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives 
considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the 
environmentally preferable alternative, a finding on impairment of park 
resources and values, a listing of measures to minimize environmental 
harm, an overview of public involvement in the decisionmaking process, 
and a statement of findings.

Basis for Decision

    In reaching its decision to select the preferred alternative, NPS 
managers considered the purposes for which the park was established and 
other laws and policies that apply to lands in the park, including the 
NPS Organic Act, National Environmental Policy Act, NPS Director's 
Order 12 (Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and 
Decisionmaking), and the NPS Management Policies 2001. The NPS also 
carefully considered public comments received during the planning 
process.
    To develop a preliminary preferred alternative, the planning team 
evaluated the alternatives that had been reviewed by the public. The 
alternatives were tested against the decision points and issues 
identified by the public and park to determine their relative 
advantages. The following conclusions were reached:
    <bullet> The preferred alternative includes more actions that are 
beneficial to the cultural and natural resources than other 
alternatives.
    <bullet> The preferred alternative will enhance the visitor's 
experience by providing multiple opportunities for visitors to make 
intellectual and emotional connections to the park. Enhanced 
interpretation, programs, and activities will enable visitors to link 
tangible resources with the intangible meanings and significance of the 
park. The proposed development will provide opportunities for the 
interpretive division to fully address the various themes and 
complexities of the park.

Findings on Impairment

    The NPS has determined that implementation of the proposal will not 
constitute an impairment to Big Bend National Park's resources and 
values. This conclusion is based on a thorough analysis of the 
environmental impacts described in the Environmental Impact Statement, 
the public comments received, relevant scientific studies, and the 
professional judgment of the decision-maker guided by the direction in 
the NPS Management Policies. Overall, the plan results in benefits to 
park resources and values and opportunities for their enjoyment, and it 
does not result in their impairment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John H. King, Big Bend National Park, 
P.O. Box 129, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-0129, (915) 477-2251.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Record of Decision may be 
obtained from the contact listed above.

    Dated: November 8, 2004.
Bernard C. Fagan,
Deputy Chief, NPS Office of Policy .
[FR Doc. 04-25354 Filed 11-15-04; 8:45 am]
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