[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32836-32837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15302]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Final General Management 
Plan, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Bristol County, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of final environmental impact statement/ 
final geneal management plan.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and 
National Park Service Policy, this notice announces the availability 
for public review of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Final 
General Management Plan for New Bedford Whaling National Historical 
Park, Bristol County, Massachusetts. In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act 102(2)(C) of 1969, the environmental

[[Page 32837]]

impact statement was prepared to assess the impacts of implementing the 
general management plan.
    The Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Final General Management 
Plan presents a Proposal and two Management Alternatives, then assesses 
the potential environmental and socioeconomic effects of the actions 
presented on site resources, visitor experience, and the surrounding 
area. The Proposal and the Alternatives differ in their approaches to 
management. In the Proposal, the National Park Service would share 
stewardship responsibility for resource protection with its partners 
and offer visitor programs complementary to partners' activities. NPS 
interpretive and educational activities would promote resource 
stewardship. Alternative 1 (Management Option 1) is essentially the 
status quo, the National Park Service would bring a national voice and 
visibility to New Bedford through its publications and facilitate 
coordination of park partners' visitor-services and resource-protection 
programs. In Alternative 3 (Management Option 3) the National Park 
Service would assume the lead role among park partners, exercising 
intensive and extensive involvement in resource preservation, 
collections management, and visitor programming.

DATES: The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be made available 
on July 2, 2001. Following a 30-day no action period a Record of 
Decision documenting the agency's decision will be issued.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the document will be available for 
review at the following locations:

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park--Visitor Center, 33 
William Street, New Bedford, MA. The visitor center is open everyday 
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA. 
The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 
Friday and Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is closed on 
Sundays.

    To request a copy of the document, please call (508) 996-4095, fax 
(508) 994-8922, or write Superintendent, New Bedford Whaling National 
Historical Park, 33 William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740.

John Piltzecker,
Superintendent, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
[FR Doc. 01-15302 Filed 6-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P