[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 68 (Friday, April 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 16419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7956]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study, Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement, National Trails System--Intermountain 
Region, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study

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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 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Walk National 
Historic Trail Feasibility Study, National Trails System--Intermountain 
Region, New Mexico.
    Four alternatives and their respective environmental consequences 
are presented in this study. Under alternative A, the no-action 
alternative, current practices and policies would continue. A national 
historic trail would not be designated, and interpretation and 
protection of Long Walk-related events and resources would not be 
coordinated. Under alternative B Congress would designate two national 
historic trails (dual designations) to emphasize the unique removal 
experiences of each Tribe within the contextual history. An auto tour 
route would be established. Interpretation and education would 
emphasize the distinctive Tribal and individual removal histories. The 
Secretary of the Interior would administer the trails through 
partnerships, primarily with the Nescalero Apache Tribe and the Navajo 
Nation. Under alternative C one national historic trail would be 
designated, emphasizing the removal experiences common to both Tribes. 
An auto tour route would be established. Interpretation and education 
would emphasize overviews of the Long Walk events. The Secretary of the 
Interior would administer the trail through partnerships, primarily 
with the Nescalero Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation. Under alternative C 
Congress would provide a grant program to the Tribes focusing on 
interpretation and education projects and resource protection on Tribal 
lands. All decisions about strategy, level of protection, etc., would 
be made by the Tribes. A national historic trail would not be 
designated. No other alternatives were considered. This study does not 
identify a preferred alternative.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement from the public for 60 days from the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of 
Availability. No public meetings are scheduled at this time.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov in the office of the 
Superintendent, Aaron Mahr, National Trails System--Intermountain 
Region, National Park Service, P.O. Box 728, Santa Fe, New Mexico 
87504-0728; (505) 988-6888.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon A. Brown, National Trails 
System--Intermountain Region, National Park Service, P.O. Box 728, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0728; (505) 988-6717.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment, you may submit your 
comments by any one of several methods. You may mail comments to Sharon 
A. Brown, National Trails System--Intermountain Region, National Park 
Service, P.O. Box 728, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0728. You may also 
comment via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. If you do not 
receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your 
Internet message, contact us directly at (505) 988-6717. Finally, you 
may hand-deliver comments to 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New 
Mexico 87505. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, 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 comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

    Dated: March 16, 2009.
Michael O. Snyder,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-7956 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
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