6392 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 27 / Wednesday, February 9, 2000 / Notices

The applicant requests a permit for

the purpose of determining management

strategies for the Karner blue butterfly

(Lycaeides melissa samuelis) in

southwestern Newaygo County,

Michigan. The applicant proposes to

complete the following activities which

may take the Karner blue butterfly: (1)

Control and eliminate invasive alien

plants, particularly spotted knapweed

(Centaurea maculosa), by the initiation

of a proposed burn regime, hand-pulling

and spot-burning, (2) research and

monitoring of the species to determine

the impacts of the management regime

described above, and (3) to expand and

restore suitable habitat for occupation

by the species. Take (kill, harass) is

expected to occur in association with

proposed activities. Activities are

proposed for the enhancement of

survival of the species in the wild.

Written data or comments should be

submitted to the Regional Director, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological

Services Operations, 1 Federal Drive,

Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111–4056,

and must be received within 30 days of

the date of this publication.

Documents and other information

submitted with this application are

available for review by any party who

submits a written request for a copy of

such documents to the following office

within 30 days of the date of publication

of this notice: U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Ecological Services Operations,

1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling,

Minnesota 55111–4056. Telephone:

(612/713–5350); FAX: (612/713–5292).

Dated: February 3, 2000.

Charles M. Wooley,

Assistant Regional Director, Ecological

Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

[FR Doc. 00–2986 Filed 2–8–00; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Environmental Assessment for

Construction of a Raised Boardwalk

and Improvements to Wildlife Viewing

Areas at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the

Environmental Assessment for the

proposed construction of a raised

boardwalk and improvements to

wildlife viewing areas at Dyke Marsh

Wildlife Preserve (Dyke Marsh).

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on

Environmental Quality regulations and

National Park Service policy, the

National Park Service announces the

availability of an Environmental

Assessment for the proposed

construction of a raised boardwalk and

improvements to wildlife viewing

opportunities at Dyke Marsh Wildlife

Preserve, within the George Washington

Memorial Parkway (Parkway). The

Environmental Assessment examines

several alternatives for the specific

location, size, and configuration of the

boardwalk. The National Park Service is

soliciting comments on this

Environmental Assessment. These

comments will be considered in

evaluating it and making decisions

pursuant to the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The Environmental Assessment

will remain available for public

comment 30 days from the date of

publication in the Federal Register.

Written comments should be received

no later than March 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this

Environmental Assessment should be

submitted in writing to: Ms. Audrey F.

Calhoun, Superintendent, George

Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey

Run Park, McLean, Virginia 22101. The

Environmental Assessment will be

available for public inspection Monday

through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:00

p.m. at GWMP Headquarters, Turkey

Run Park, McLean, VA, on the National

Park Service Website www.nps.gov/

gwmp/Dmcons.html and at several

libraries in Alexandria, Fairfax and

Arlington, Virginia.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Park Service proposes to

construct a raised boardwalk and

viewing platform at the end of the ‘‘Haul

Road’’ trail in Dyke Marsh, now called

Dyke Marsh trail, an area that is

currently difficult to access because of

persistent wet conditions. The intent of

the proposed raised boardwalk is to

provide better access and viewing

opportunities than the current

proliferation of informal social trails

currently afford, and to encourage

visitor use patterns that are more

consistent with protection of the area’s

sensitive ecosystem. Specifically, the

proposed action aims to:

• Provide enhanced opportunities to

view wildlife and the environs of Dyke

Marsh by improving access to the area,

and affording a slightly elevated vantage

point from which visitors may view

wildlife and enjoy the surroundings.

• Enhance the protection of the area’s

natural resources by providing

appropriate facilities (i.e., a raised

boardwalk and interpretive waysides)

that encourage visitor use patterns and

activities that are consistent with

responsible management of the Dyke

Marsh ecosystem.

• Provide for increased educational

opportunities and public understanding

of Dyke Marsh and wetland ecology.

The proposed action is based on

longstanding observations by National

Park Service staff, general park visitors,

and members of the Friends of Dyke

Marsh. The current trail system neither

provides adequate access to the marsh,

nor is appropriate for the protection of

vegetation and wildlife, including

migratory and nesting bird species.

While the Dyke Marsh trail provides

reasonably good access to a point

somewhat beyond the existing wooden

footbridge, beyond that point the trail

simply degenerates into a network of

poorly defined, muddy social trails,

many of which are inundated at high

tide. While the social trails suggest a

desire by visitors to be able to access the

area, it is clear that there is no well

defined or officially provided trail to

meet that need. The existing conditions

are insensitive to protection of

vegetation and wildlife, and encourage

the inappropriate and unmanaged

development of more social trails. In

addition, tidal fluctuations effectively

limit opportunities to access some of the

most scenic and interesting portions of

the marsh, since much of the area is

inundated or excessively muddy much

of the time.

Increasingly, Dyke Marsh serves as a

venue for environmental education and

science programs for local school

systems. The Parkway’s expanding

Parks-As-Classrooms program, as well

as a multi-park science oriented

program brings elementary and high

school aged students to Dyke Marsh for

educational programs. Construction of

the boardwalk and viewing platform

would enhance educational

opportunities by making the marsh

more easily accessible and improving

wildlife viewing opportunities.

All interested individuals, agencies,

and organizations are urged to provide

comments on the Environmental

Assessment. The National Park Service

in making a final decision regarding this

matter will consider all comments

received by the closing date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Bart Truesdell, (703) 289–2530.

Audrey F. Calhoun,

Superintendent, George Washington

Memorial Parkway.

[FR Doc. 00–2883 Filed 2–8–00; 8:45 am]

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