[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34925-34926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17084]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement for Sitka National Historical Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement for Sitka National Historical Park.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of a 
draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) 
for Sitka National Historical Park, in the City and Borough of Sitka, 
Alaska. The document describes and analyzes the environmental impacts 
of a proposed action and two action alternatives for the future 
management of the park. A no action alternative also is evaluated. This 
notice announces that public meetings will be held to solicit comments 
on the draft GMP/EIS.

DATES: There will be a 60-day public review period for comments on this 
document. Comments on the draft GMP/EIS must be received no later than 
August 24, 1998. Public meetings will be held in Sitka, Alaska, on July 
20, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Shee Atika Hotel.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be submitted to the 
Superintendent, Sitka National Historical Park, 106 Metlakatla Street, 
P.O. Box 738, Sitka, Alaska 99835. A limited number of copies of the 
draft GMP/EIS are available by request from the aforementioned address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Johnson, Job Captain, National 
Park Service, Denver Service Center. Telephone: (303) 969-2342 FAX: 
(303) 987-6679.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), 
the National Park Service has prepared a GMP/EIS with proposed guidance 
for management of Sitka National Historical Park for the next 15-20 
years. This document was developed in consultation with The Sitka Tribe 
of Alaska and the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center.
    The draft GMP/EIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts 
of a proposed action, two other action alternatives, and a no action 
alternative. The proposed action, alternative 1, would balance resource 
management and visitor use. It would improve visitor

[[Page 34926]]

access and safety and the accuracy of information available to 
potential park and city visitors. It also would better protect cultural 
resources and enhance existing park partnerships. Alternative 2, the 
no-action alternative, would continue current management direction. 
Benefits would continue for visitors in information and interpretation, 
but crowding in the visitor center unit would result in adverse visitor 
safety conditions. In addition, the uses of adjacent lands would 
continue to have adverse effects on visual resources and land use. 
Alternative 3 would emphasize resource preservation. This alternative 
would increase protection of cultural and natural resources, moderately 
benefit visual resources and the visitor experience, and improve park 
administration and operation. Alternative 4 would accommodate more 
visitors during peak visitation times. It would lead to some 
improvement in visitor access and circulation in and near the park, 
improvements in opportunities for information about Sitka attractions, 
and a better visitor experience.

    Dated: June 18, 1998.
Paul R. Anderson,
Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 98-17084 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
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