[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22961-22962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11370]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of the Draft General Management Plan and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Effigy Mounds National Monument, 
Iowa

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Effigy Mounds National 
Monument, Iowa.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service 
announces the availability of a Draft General Management Plan (GMP)/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Effigy Mounds National 
Monument (Monument), Iowa.

DATES: The GMP/EIS will remain available for public review for 60 days 
following the publishing of the notice of availability in the Federal 
Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Public meetings 
will be held during the 60-day review period on the GMP/EIS, and 
specific dates and locations will be announced in local and regional 
media sources of record and on the NPS planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/efmo.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the GMP/EIS are available by request by writing to 
Superintendent Phyllis Ewing, Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 
Highway 76, Harpers Ferry, Iowa 52146, or by telephoning 563-873-3491. 
The document is also available to be picked-up in person at the address 
above. The document can be found on the Internet on the NPS Planning 
Web site at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/efmo.
    You may submit your comments by any of several methods. You may 
comment via the Internet through the NPS planning Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/efmo; simply click on the link to the Effigy 
Mounds National Monument. You may mail comments to Superintendent 
Ewing, Effigy Mounds National Monument, at the address above. Finally, 
you may hand-deliver comments to the park headquarters at the address 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Phyllis Ewing, Effigy 
Mounds National Monument, 151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry, Iowa 52146, 
telephone 563-873-3491.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Monument was established by presidential 
proclamation on October 25, 1949 to protect significant prehistoric 
earth mounds found in northeast Iowa. Subsequent legislation expanded 
the purpose and significance by specifying the wildlife, scenic, and 
other natural values of the area. The Monument's authorized boundary 
was expanded in 1961 and again in 2000 until it now encompasses a total 
of 2,256 acres.
    The purpose of the GMP is to set forth the basic management 
philosophy for the Monument and to provide strategies for addressing 
issues and achieving identified management objectives. The GMP/EIS 
describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and one other action alternative for the future management direction of 
the Monument. A no action alternative is also evaluated.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative B) in the draft General 
Management Plan would provide an enhanced visitor experience with 
increasing understanding of the monument while protecting and 
preserving natural and cultural resources. An overall goal for the park 
would be to serve as a catalyst for mound research and management in 
the region. A new multi-purpose facility in the visitor center area 
would accommodate research needs and a small visitor contact station on 
newly

[[Page 22962]]

acquired land contiguous to the Sny Magill unit would allow visitors 
regular access to this area. In addition to the recommended boundary 
addition at Sny Magill, the draft plan also recommends three other 
tracts be added in order to protect resources and to support park 
operations.
    Before including your address, telephone number, electronic mail 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, 
you should be aware that your entire comment (including your personal 
identifying information) may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. 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 2, 2009.
David N. Given,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. E9-11370 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
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