[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 31690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14792]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Management Plan/Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Big Cypress National Preserve, 
Florida

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service is 
preparing a General Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Addition lands portion of Big Cypress National 
Preserve in Collier County, Florida, and is initiating the scoping 
process for this document.

DATES: Open houses will be held on the following dates:

1. July 30, 2001, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Everglades City, Florida
2. July 31, 2001, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Naples, Florida
3. August 1, 2001, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Seminole Reservation, Florida
4. August 2, 2001, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Miami, Florida
    Comments on this scoping process should be received by August 17, 
2001. A General Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
should be available for review by January 2003.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting locations are:

1. Everglades City School, 415 School Drive, Everglades City, Florida, 
34139
2. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1450 Merihue Drive, Naples, 
Florida, 34102
3. Frank Billie Center, Seminole Tribe of Florida Reservation, CR 833, 
Florida, 33440
4. Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, 10901 Coral Way, Miami, 
Florida, 33165-2398
    Send requests to be placed on the mailing list to Susan Kaynor, EIS 
Coordinator, Big Cypress National Preserve, HCR 61, Box 110, Ochopee, 
Florida, 34141.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Big Cypress National 
Preserve, HCR 61, Box 110, Ochopee, Florida, 34141, telephone 941-695-
2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Addition Lands General Management Plan/
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/DEIS) is needed to address 
how the National Park Service can protect its resources and values, 
provide for recreational and other opportunities, and ensure public 
safety in the Addition Lands. Big Cypress National Preserve was 
established in 1974. In 1988, 147,280 acres, known as the Addition, 
were added to the Preserve, increasing the Preserve by 30%. The current 
management plan for the Preserve does not address the lands in the 
Addition and the complex visitor management and resource issues and 
needs of this area. In the GMP/DEIS and its accompanying public 
involvement process, the National Park Service will formulate and 
evaluate the environmental impacts of a reasonable range of 
alternatives that will provide protection for resources and values at 
Big Cypress National Preserve.
    A public scoping newsletter will be mailed in June 2001 to invite 
public participation in the scoping process and to describe the 
planning process. The general public and affected or interested parties 
are encouraged to provide comments and suggestions, and to identify 
issues and other reasonable alternatives that should be addressed in 
the General Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. If you wish for us to withhold your name and/or 
address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make 
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: April 25, 2001.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 01-14792 Filed 6-11-01; 8:45 am]
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