[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 5362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-908]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Assessment of Suitability and Non-Suitability for 
Further Study of Lands Within Redwood National Park for Consideration 
as Wilderness Areas

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Civil Action No. 03-04 (RMC), The Wilderness 
Society v. Gale Norton, January 10, 2005, and in accordance with 
National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2001 section 6.2.1, the 
NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment to determine if 
lands within Redwood National Park meet criteria indicating suitability 
for preservation as wilderness.
    The Redwood National Park staff reviewed management related 
documents that discussed potential wilderness, reviewed existing 
resource conditions, and weighed this information against Primary 
Suitability Criteria, section 6.2.1.1, of Management Policies 2001.
    Since the expansion of Redwood National Park in 1978, the park has 
undertaken an intense watershed rehabilitation program with a focus on 
removing roads. Since park expansion in 1978, about 219 miles of road 
have been removed and another 123 miles are proposed for removal within 
the Redwood Creek portion of the park. The 1999 Final General 
Management/General Plan and FEIS for Redwood National and State Parks 
states that until watershed restoration activities are completed that 
no wilderness area will be proposed. The 1979 General Management Plan 
concluded that a wilderness recommendation would be premature until 
rehabilitation efforts are completed because of the continuing need for 
large construction vehicles and the maintenance and heavy use of roads, 
activities inconsistent with wilderness designation.
    Based on these findings, the NPS has concluded that the lands 
within Redwood National Park do not warrant further study for 
wilderness evaluation at this time. However, following successful 
completion of watershed restoration activities in 12-15 years, or 
during the next General Management Plan effort, reconsideration of 
wilderness suitability for certain tracts of land within Redwood Creek 
could be warranted.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Wilderness Suitability Assessment can be 
obtained by writing to: Superintendent, Redwood National Park, 1111 
Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information on 
this Determination should be directed to: Superintendent, Redwood 
National Park, 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The assessment standards outlined in NPS 
Management Policies (2001) to determine if a roadless, undeveloped area 
is suitable for preservation as wilderness are that it is over 5000 
acres in size or of sufficient size to make practicable its 
preservation and use in an unimpaired condition, and meets five 
wilderness character criteria: (1) The earth and its community of life 
are untrammeled by humans, where humans are visitors and do not remain; 
(2) the area is undeveloped and retains its primeval character and 
influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation; (3) the 
area generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces fo 
nature, with the imprint of humans' work substantially unnoticeable; 
(4) the area is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural 
conditions; and (5) the area offers outstanding opportunities for 
solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation.
    Public notices announcing the park's intention to conduct this 
suitability assessment were placed in the Times Standard Newspaper in 
Humboldt County on December 7, 8 and 9, 2005, and in the Del Norte 
Triplicate, in Del Norte County on December 13, 14, and 15, 2005.

    Dated: January 6, 2006.
Steve P. Martin,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 06-908 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
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