[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12323-12324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4753]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[5017-7145-409]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management 
Plan, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Virgin Islands

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the General Management Plan (DEIS/GMP), Buck Island Reef 
National Monument, Virgin Islands.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director's 
Order Number 2 (Park Planning) and Director's Order Number 12 
(Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-
making) the NPS announces the availability of a DEIS/GMP for Buck 
Island Reef National Monument, Virgin Islands.

[[Page 12324]]

    The document provides a framework for management, use, and 
development options for Buck Island Reef National Monument by the NPS 
for the next 15 to 20 years. It describes four management alternatives 
for consideration, including a No-Action Alternative that continues 
current management policies and the NPS's preferred alternative. The 
document analyzes the environmental impacts of the alternatives.

DATES: There will be a 60-day comment period beginning with the 
Environmental Protection Agency's publication of its notice of 
availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS/GMP are available by contacting the Park 
Superintendent at Christiansted National Historic Site, 2100 Church 
Street, 100 Danish Customs House, St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820-4611; 
telephone: 340-773-1460. An electronic copy of the DEIS/GMP is 
available on the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the Superintendent, Buck 
Island Reef National Monument, at the address and telephone number 
shown above. An electronic copy of the DEIS/GMP is available on the 
Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=357.
    The responsible official for this DEIS/GMP is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, NPS, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There will be a 60-day comment period 
beginning with the Environmental Protection Agency's publication of its 
notice of availability in the Federal Register. If you wish to comment 
on the DEIS/GMP, you may submit your comments by any one of several 
methods. You may mail comments to the Superintendent at the address 
shown above. You may also submit a comment via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Finally, you may present your comments in person 
at the public meetings to be held on St. Croix during the public review 
period.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in 
your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    The DEIS/GMP presents three management alternatives for Buck Island 
Reef National Monument in addition to the no-action alternative. As a 
no-take marine reserve, the DEIS/GMP seeks to achieve an acceptable 
standard of service for resource protection and visitor experience 
within the park's 19,015 acres.
    The four alternatives and their key provisions are summarized. 
Alternative A (No-action Alternative): The continuation of current 
management practices and trends. This alternative would limit anchoring 
and provide access to Buck Island for up to 87 vessels. Alternative B 
(The NPS Preferred Alternative): This alternative provides for moorings 
and limited opportunities for anchoring for vessels at designated 
locations. No bow and stern anchoring would be permitted under this 
alternative, and anchoring would be phased out over 10 years. This 
alternative would provide access to Buck Island for up to 72 vessels. 
Alternative C: This alternative provides for bow and stern anchoring 
and new moorings. Access to Buck Island would be provided for up to 92 
vessels. Alternative D: This alternative provides for recreational 
opportunities similar to existing conditions under Alternative A, with 
the exception that shoreline bow and stern anchoring would be 
eliminated. Access to Buck Island would be provided for up to 112 
vessels.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 
1506.6.

    Dated: February 17, 2012.
Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-4753 Filed 2-28-12; 8:45 am]
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