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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1190-1191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00114]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[PPSESEROC3, PPMPSAS1Y.YP0000; NPS-SERO-CHAT, EVER, GUIS, JELA, LIRI, 
VIIS-DTS# NPS0035785]

Assessment of Eligible and Ineligible Lands for Consideration as 
Wilderness Areas, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 
Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte 
National Historical Park and Preserve, Little River Canyon National 
Preserve, Virgin Islands National Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964, and in accordance with 
National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2006, the NPS intends 
to evaluate all previously unassessed lands within the following parks 
for their eligibility for inclusion in the national wilderness 
preservation system: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 
Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte 
National Historical Park and Preserve, Little River Canyon National 
Preserve, and Virgin Islands National Park.

DATES: Each of the listed parks will begin its wilderness eligibility 
assessment on January 7, 2025. All assessments are expected to be 
completed by January 7, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are 
encouraged to provide written information that may assist the NPS in 
identifying lands eligible or ineligible for designation as wilderness. 
Suggestions and requests for further information should be directed to: 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior Region 2--South 
Atlantic Gulf, 100 Alabama St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PJ Walker, Regional Wilderness 
Coordinator, by phone at 404-507-5709, via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In furtherance of the Wilderness Act of 1964 
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), NPS Management Policies 2006 section 6.2.1 
provides that all lands administered by the NPS, including new units 
and additions to existing units since 1964, will be evaluated for their 
eligibility for inclusion in the national wilderness preservation 
system. Accordingly, the NPS intends to evaluate all previously 
unassessed lands within the following parks for wilderness eligibility: 
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (all lands), Everglades 
National Park (three small, noncontiguous areas not previously 
assessed), Gulf Islands National Seashore (Cat Island Unit), Jean 
Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (Barataria Preserve 
Unit), Little River Canyon National Preserve (all lands), and Virgin 
Islands National Park.
    For areas determined to be ineligible for wilderness designation, 
the wilderness preservation provisions in the NPS Management Policies 
2006 would not apply (NPS Management Policies 2006 section 6.2.1.3). 
However, ineligible lands will continue to be managed in accordance 
with the NPS Organic Act and all other laws, Executive orders, 
regulations, and policies applicable to units of the national park 
system.
    Lands and waters found to possess the characteristics and values of 
wilderness, as defined in the Wilderness Act and determined eligible 
pursuant to the wilderness eligibility assessment, will be formally 
studied to develop the recommendation to Congress for wilderness 
designation (NPS Management Policies 2006 section 6.2.2). The 
wilderness study will include the appropriate level of analyses under 
the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic 
Preservation Act. Congress alone can designate wilderness areas.
    Determinations of eligibility and subsequent future actions will be

[[Page 1191]]

announced in the Federal Register upon completion of these assessments.

Mark A. Foust,
Regional Director, Interior Region 2--South Atlantic-Gulf.
[FR Doc. 2025-00114 Filed 1-6-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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