[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 16159-16160] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-7738] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for a [[Page 16160]] general management plan, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw County, Michigan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a general management plan for Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale National Park currently operates under a Master Plan written in 1963. Because the master plan is severely outdated, the park does not have a comprehensive plan to set forth the basic management philosophy for the park, direct decision-making, and provide strategies for addressing issues and achieving management objectives. This planning effort will result in a comprehensive general management plan that guides the future use of resources and facilities; identifies future needs for facility types; clarifies research and resource management needs and priorities; encompasses preservation of natural and cultural resources; and addresses changing levels of park visitation over the next 10-15 year period. Carrying capacity issues will be addressed by incorporating the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) process into the general management plan effort. The EIS will describe a range of alternatives for management of Isle Royale National Park, including the no action alternative, and analyze their impacts on natural and cultural resources, recreation use, and any other current uses. Major issues to be addressed in the EIS will include the following: 1. Island visitation has outgrown park infrastructure and operations. This contributes to crowding that already occurs in some areas due to the commercial boat schedules. 2. Increasing motorized boat use is taxing park operations and infrastructure and is causing friction between motorized and nonmotorized users. 3. Visitor facilities are deteriorating. It is increasingly difficult and expensive to replace these facilities due to laws passed since 1963. It is currently undetermined what facilities are appropriate on the island and if facilities should be enlarged to respond to the increasing visitation or if visitation should be limited and facilities reduced. Additional issues to be addressed in the EIS may be identified during the scoping process. Federal, State, local agencies, and individuals or organizations are invited to participate in the scoping process. The scoping process includes: 1. Identification of potential issues. 2. Identification of potential impact topics and topics to be analyzed in depth. 3. Determination of potential cooperating agencies and assignment of responsibilities. Public scoping will begin in summer of 1995 and continue through the fall. Prior public notice of scoping processes will be issued. The public is encouraged to send written comments and suggestions concerning preparation of the EIS to Mr. Doug Barnard, Superintendent, Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1895. The National Park Service will accept comments at this address at any time during the EIS process. However, to facilitate timely identification of issues and impact topics to be addressed in the EIS, the National Park Service recommends that initial comments be submitted by October 31, 1995. The responsible official is William W. Schenk, Regional Director, Midwest Region, National Park Service, Omaha, Nebraska. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1895, phone 906-337-4991 (summer) or 906-482-0986 (winter). Dated: March 20, 1995. William W. Schenk, Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 95-7738 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P