National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Badlands National Park South Dakota Oglala Sioux Tribe Parks and Recreation Authority Oglala Sioux Tribe SOUTH UNIT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK FINAL GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT April 2012 Photo Credit: Andrew Mace South Unit Final General Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement Badlands National Park – South Unit South Dakota Badlands National Park, established in 1939 (as systems, preserving cultural resources, and Badlands National Monument) and redesignated providing opportunities for quality visitor in 1978, is located approximately 70 miles from experiences at the South Unit. The purpose of Rapid City, South Dakota. Most of the park is the plan is to ensure that park managers and the bordered by Buffalo Gap National Grassland, public share the same vision of how best to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and private achieve the park’s purpose and protect its lands, primarily ranches and farms. The entire resources unimpaired for future generations. park is comprised of 242,756 acres, 64,144 acres This GMP/EIS describes the general path for of which have been designated as Wilderness. park managers to follow in managing the South The South Unit, which includes the Palmer Unit for the next 20 or so years. The plan does Creek Unit, consists of 133,300 acres. not provide specific and detailed answers to Between 1982 and 1999, the North and South every issue facing the park. Rather, it is a Units have been managed under a Master Plan framework to assist South Unit managers in and Development Concept Plan, but it became making decisions today and into the future. clear that a new plan would be needed to address Alternative A, the No-Action Alternative, issues and concerns confronting the park in the reflects current conditions and activities at the new millennium. Accordingly, in 1999 the Park. It is provided as a baseline against which National Park Service (NPS) authorized the to compare the other action alternatives. development of a new plan that would Alternative B primarily focuses on expanded reevaluate the park’s needs and desired future access and opportunities for visitors to the South conditions for both the North and South Units of Unit. Opportunities include interpretation of Badlands National Park. natural and cultural resources. Alternative C In 2000, the NPS held public scoping meetings primarily focuses on preservation and protection as the initial stage of work on a new general of natural and cultural resources, and restoration management plan (GMP). In 2002, of natural systems. Access would be limited disagreements arose between the NPS and the primarily to the perimeter of the South Unit. Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) regarding plans to Visitor opportunities include interpretation of conduct paleontological activities in the South natural, cultural, and paleontological resources. Unit, ultimately leading to a moratorium on such Alternative D (the preferred alternative) activities. The NPS, OST, and Bureau of Indian primarily focuses on restoration of natural Affairs (BIA) entered into formal consultation ecosystems with expanded access and concerning the future management of the South recreational opportunities for visitors. Additional Unit. At that time, the decision was made to opportunities would include interpretation of continue the GMP process for the North Unit natural, cultural, and paleontological resources. only, and to postpone the South Unit General The preferred alternative would promote Management Plan / Environmental Impact understanding of Oglala Sioux history, culture, Statement (South Unit GMP/EIS) until 2006. In and land management principles through 2006, the GMP was started, it included public education and interpretation. Visitor activities meetings, newsletters, planning team meetings would be focused in a developed front-country with NPS and Tribal members, review of public area that would provide a variety of services and and agency comments, and incorporation of amenities around the perimeter, while the ideas into alternatives. interior of the South Unit would be managed as backcountry. Natural resources management The South Unit GMP/EIS provides would focus on survey and research to provide comprehensive guidance for perpetuating natural data to support future restoration, interpretation, United States Department of the Interior · National Park Service Summary and educational activities. Cultural resources individuals for review. Following distribution of management would focus on protection and the final plan and a 30-day no-action period, a preservation of historic, spiritual, and Record of Decision, approved by the Regional ceremonial sites and materials. Director, will document the NPS selection of an alternative for implementation. This document has been distributed to other agencies and interested organizations and ii Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Unit. At that time, the decision was made to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BADLANDS continue the planning process for the North Unit NATIONAL PARK only, and to postpone the South Unit general management plan until 2006. Badlands National Park, established in 1939 (as Badlands National Monument) and redesignated In late 2006, concurrently with the arrival of a in 1978, is located approximately 70 miles from new park superintendent, the OST charged a Rapid City, South Dakota. Most of the park is tribal agency, the Oglala Sioux Parks and bordered by Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Recreation Authority (OSPRA), with the the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and private responsibility to work with the NPS, and the lands, primarily ranches and farms. The entire South Unit general management plan effort park is comprised of 242,756 acres, 64,144 acres resumed. of which have been designated as Wilderness. This general management plan provides The South Unit, which includes the Palmer comprehensive guidance for perpetuating natural Creek Unit, consists of 133,300 acres. systems, preserving cultural resources, and providing opportunities for quality visitor PURPOSE FOR THE GENERAL experiences at the South Unit. Its purpose is to MANAGEMENT PLAN / ensure that park managers and the public share the same vision of how best to achieve the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT park’s purpose and protect its resources STATEMENT unimpaired for future generations. Park planning is a decision-making process, and general management planning is the broadest IMPLEMENTATION OF THE level of decision making for parks. General GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN management plans are required for all units of the National Park System and are intended to Although the South Unit General Management establish the future management direction of a Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (South park. Unit GMP/EIS) provides the analysis and justification for future South Unit funding Since 1982, the North and South Units had been proposals, this plan does not guarantee future managed under a Master Plan and Development NPS funding. Many actions would be necessary Concept Plan, but it became clear that a new to achieve the desired conditions for natural plan would be needed to address issues and resources, cultural resources, visitor experience, concerns confronting the park in the new and facilities as envisioned in this plan. The NPS millennium. Accordingly, in 1999, the National or the OST will request funding to achieve these Park Service (NPS) authorized the development desired conditions; although both entities hope of a new plan that would reevaluate the park’s to secure this funding and will prepare needs and desired future conditions for both the accordingly, the South Unit may not receive North and South Units of Badlands National enough funding to achieve all desired Park. In 2000, the NPS held public scoping conditions. meetings as the initial stage of work on a new general management plan. In 2003, The implementation of the approved plan also disagreements arose between the NPS and could be affected by other factors. Once the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) regarding the conduct South Unit GMP/EIS has been approved, of paleontological activities in the South Unit, additional feasibility studies and more detailed ultimately leading to a moratorium on such planning and appropriate environmental activities. The NPS, OST, and Bureau of Indian documentation may be required before any Affairs (BIA) entered into formal negotiations proposed actions can be carried out. Additional concerning the future management of the South planning and/or revisions may be needed, iii Summary depending on which alternative is implemented Zone, Semi-primitive Zone, Preservation Zone, and what funding levels are achieved. These Driving/Sightseeing Zone, and Research Zone), more detailed plans would tier off of this South and the planning team added the Ceremonial Unit GMP/EIS, describing specific actions Zone. To avoid overlap in intent, these zones managers intend to take to achieve desired were refined to four key zones based on the conditions and long-term goals. Some of these focus of the alternatives: Natural Area / implementation plans are prepared for parks in Recreation Zone, Preservation Zone, Research response to NPS policies. Zone, and Development Zone. When the Record of Decision is signed, Regardless of the title of the management zone, implementation would not be possible without the NPS and the OST intend to preserve and legislation and funding. The status quo would protect natural and cultural resources to the remain in effect