[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 194 (Monday, October 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 58265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23308]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Resource Protection Study, Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Resource Protection Study (RPS), Curecanti 
National Recreation Area.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Resource Protection 
Study for Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado.

Alternatives Evaluated

Alternative 1: No Action (Continuation of Existing Conditions)

    Under Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, NPS would continue 
to manage the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of 
Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA), and associated facilities, 
pursuant to Reclamation law, NPS law, the 1965 Memorandum of Agreement 
between NPS and Reclamation (1965 MOA), and other applicable laws and 
regulations. Reclamation would continue to manage the three dams and 
reservoirs, power plants, access roads, and other related facilities, 
to meet the purposes of the Colorado River Storage Project Act (CRSP); 
would continue to manage the East Portal area to meet the purposes of 
the Uncompahgre Project; and would continue to have unrestricted access 
to their lands and land interests, water and water interests, and 
facilities; pursuant to Reclamation law, the 1965 MOA, and other 
applicable laws and regulations. There would be no significant change 
in the NRA boundary. However, a permanent NPS presence would not be 
assured under this alternative.

Alternative 2: Proposed Action

    Under Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, NPS would manage the same 
natural, cultural, and recreational resources and facilities as 
Alternative 1, pursuant to Reclamation law, NPS law, including new 
legislation establishing the NRA with 10,040 acres of additional 
agreed-upon neighboring agency lands, a revised MOA with Reclamation, 
and other applicable laws and regulations. Reclamation would manage 
their same facilities and areas of responsibility as Alternative 1, and 
would have unrestricted access to their lands and land interests, water 
and water interests, and facilities, pursuant to Reclamation law, the 
revised NOA, and other applicable laws and regulations. NPS would be 
authorized to work in partnership with private landowners within a 
Conservation Opportunity Area of 24,300 acres outside the NRA boundary, 
to implement a variety of tools, including acquiring interests in land 
from willing landowners, such as fee simple acquisition and 
conservation easements, which would promote the long-term conservation 
of resources. A permanent NPS presence would be assured under this 
alternative, which is also the environmentally preferred alternative.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental 
Protection Agency of the Notice of Availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public inspection online 
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cure; in the office of the 
Superintendent, Curecanti National Recreation Area, 102 Elk Creek, 
Gunnison, CO 81230, Tel: (970) 641-2337; at the Montrose Public Lands 
Center, 2505 South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401, Tel: (970) 240-
5300; and at the following locations: Colorado State University Library 
in Fort Collins, Crawford Public Library, Delta Public Library, 
Gunnison County Library (Crested Butte and Gunnison branches), 
Hotchkiss Public Library, Mesa County Library in Grand Junction, 
Montrose Public Library, Paonia Public Library, and Western State 
College Library in Gunnison.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Rudd, Superintendent, Curecanti 
National Recreation Area, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230; Tel: (970) 
641-2337 x. 220; E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec8f8382828589b39e998888ac829c9fc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="482b272626212d173a3d2c2c0826383b662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>.

    Dated: April 9, 2008.
Rick M. Frost,
Acting Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.

    Editorial Note: This document was received by the Office of the 
Federal Register on September 29, 2008.

[FR Doc. E8-23308 Filed 10-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-EX-M


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