[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 2412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1018]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for
Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a draft general
management plan (GMP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) for
Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon. This notice also announces
public open houses for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft
document. All comments received will become part of the public record
and copies of comments, including names, addresses and telephone
numbers provided by respondents, may be released for public inspection.
DATES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be received no later than
March 13, 1998. Public meetings will be held as follows:
February 9, 1998, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at
the Illinois Valley Senior Center, 520 East River Street, Cave
Junction, OR; and
February 10, 1998, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at
the Grants Pass City Council Chambers, 101 NW ``A'' Street, Grants
Pass, OR.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be sent to the
Superintendent, Oregon Caves National Monument, 19000 Caves Highway,
Cave Junction, OR 97523. Public reading copies of the draft GMP/EIS
will be available for review at the following locations, as well as
other local libraries around the Oregon Caves National Monument area:
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the
Interior, 18th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20240, telephone:
(202) 208-6843; Columbia Cascades Support Office, National Park
Service, Room 650, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-1060, telephone:
(206) 220-4154; Oregon Caves National Monument, 19000 Caves Highway,
Cave Junction, OR 97523, telephone: (541) 592-2100; Office of Public
Affairs, National Park Service, Pacific West Region, 600 Harrison
Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107-1372, telephone: (415) 427-
1300; Technical Information Center, National Park Service, Denver
Service Center, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Denver, CO 80225-0287,
telephone: (303) 969-2534; Portland Public Library, 801 SW. 10th
Avenue, Portland, OR 97205 , telephone: (503) 248-5123.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This draft GMP/EIS describes and analyzes
the environmental consequences of four alternative strategies for
guiding future management of the national monument. The major subject
areas are natural and cultural resources, visitor services, and park
management and operations. Alternative A is the ``no action''
alternative, which means a continuation of the existing policies and
programs. Alternative B is the ``minimum requirements'' alternative and
describes those minimum actions that are required for the safe and
effective operation of the park. Included is a 3,310-acre protected
area within adjacent National Forest lands to protect cave ecology and
the public water supply. Alternative C (the proposed action and
preferred alternative) emphasizes enhanced protection of the monument
resources and visitor experiences through park-led cave tours, an on-
site visitor center in an adaptively reused historic building,
establishment of a caves reservation system, and enhancement of non-
motorized trails in a protected forest setting. It also provides for
increased protection of the cave hydrology, surface forest environment,
and public water supply through a 3,310-acre addition to the monument
from adjacent National Forest lands. Alternative D emphasizes increased
visitor services and recreation opportunities combined with increased
watershed protection. A 2,373-acre addition and a 937-acre protected
area are also part of the alternative. The draft EIS evaluates the
potential environmental impacts associated with the strategies
comprising the four alternatives. The official responsible for a
decision on the proposed action is the Regional Director, Pacific West
Region, National Park Service.
Dated: January 8, 1998.
Charlotte A. Munson,
Acting Superintendent, Columbia Cascades Support Office.
[FR Doc. 98-1018 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
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