[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71762-71763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25176]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-NER-FIIS-21587; PX.XDESCPP02001]
Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Fire
Island National Seashore General Management Plan
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of
the Abbreviated Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement (Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS) for Fire Island National
Seashore, New York. The focus of this plan is to guide and direct NPS
management strategies for the next 15 to 20 years that support the
protection of important natural resources and processes; significant
recreation resources; cultural resources of national, state, and local
significance; and unique residential communities. The Abbreviated Final
GMP/EIS also includes revisions to the Draft Wilderness Stewardship
Plan and Backcountry Camping Policy for the Otis Pike Fire Island High
Dune Wilderness (WSP) which will guide decisions regarding the future
use and protection of the congressionally designated Otis Pike Fire
Island High Dune Wilderness and areas adjacent to the wilderness that
are designated backcountry camping areas.
DATES: October 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS and WSP are available
electronically at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis. A limited
number of printed copies will be available upon request by contacting
the Superintendent, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street,
Patchogue, NY 11772-3596, 631-687-4770.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National
Seashore, 631-687-4770, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island National Seashore (the
Seashore), a unit of the national park system, is located along the
south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. The Seashore is
composed of two distinct units: A 26-mile stretch of Fire Island, the
32-mile-long barrier island that runs parallel to the south shore of
Long Island; and the William Floyd Estate, situated on the south shore
of Long Island near the east end of Fire Island. The Fire Island unit
encompasses 19,579 acres of upland, tidal, and submerged lands,
including an extensive system of dunes, centuries-old maritime forests,
solitary beaches, nearly 1,400 acres of federally designated
wilderness, and the historic Fire Island Lighthouse. The William Floyd
Estate is a 613-acre property that was the home of one of New York's
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NPS released a Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GMP/EIS) on June 15, 2015 for a
90-day public review period. The Draft GMP/EIS evaluated two sets of
alternatives to address the specific needs of these two distinct units.
One set addresses park-wide alternatives for the Seashore with a
primary emphasis on the barrier island and includes a no-action
alternative and two action alternatives. The other set of alternatives
focuses specifically on the William Floyd Estate and includes a no-
action alternative and a single action alternative.
Comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS resulted in minor changes to
the text but did not significantly alter the alternatives or the impact
analysis; thus, the National Park Service has prepared an Abbreviated
Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement
(Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS). The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS discusses
the public and agency comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS and
provides NPS responses. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS contains errata
sheets that show factual corrections to the text of the Draft GMP/EIS
or where the text has been revised to reflect minor additions or
changes suggested by commenters.
As in the Draft GMP/EIS, the Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS identifies
the NPS Preferred Alternative as the combination of Management
Alternative 3 for Fire Island & Park-wide with Management Alternative B
for the William Floyd Estate because together they best meet the
Seashore's management goals and convey the greatest number of
significant beneficial results, relative to their potential impacts, in
comparison with the other alternatives. Management Alternative 3 in
combination with Management Alternative B would do the most to ensure
the cooperative stewardship of Fire Island National Seashore's dynamic
coastal environment and its cultural and natural systems while
recognizing its larger ecological, social, economic, and cultural
context and meeting the specific needs and management goals of the
William Floyd Estate.
Circulated with the Draft GMP/EIS for public review was the Draft
Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Backcountry Camping Policy for the Otis
Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness (WSP). The purpose of the WSP is
to guide decisions regarding the future use and protection of the
congressionally designated Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness
and adjacent areas that are designated backcountry camping areas. It
identifies the core qualities of wilderness character and outlines the
framework through which the wilderness can be preserved, consistent
with law, policy, and the specific legislative history applicable to
this wilderness. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS contains errata sheets
that show changes and clarifications to the Draft WSP. Some of the
changes are a result of public comments while others are editorial in
nature. When finalized, the WSP will replace the 1983
[[Page 71763]]
Wilderness Management Plan and the 2011 Fire Island National Seashore
Interim Backcountry Camping Policy.
Dated: October 11, 2016.
Michael, A. Caldwell,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25176 Filed 10-17-16; 8:45 am]
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