9168 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 24, 1999 / Notices visitor experience, and sensitive program within the parks. Some of these Management Plan; Three Rivers, resource areas. issues include but are not limited to: a California 93271 (telephone (559) 565± FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: continued decline in ecosystem health 3164 or email [email protected].). Contact Superintendent, Padre Island due to fire suppression, increased The official responsible for approval National Seashore, at the above address hazards and costs associated with fire is the Regional Director, Pacific West and telephone number. suppression, and more stringent air Region, National Park Service. The official responsible for implementation Dated: February 26, 1999. quality regulations. is Michael J. Tollefson, Superintendent, John Gibson, Comment and Approval Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Acting Superintendent, Padre Island National As noted, the National Park Service Parks. The draft fire management plan Seashore. will undertake an environmental and environmental document are [FR Doc. 99±4481 Filed 2±23±99; 8:45 am] analysis effort to address issues and expected to be available for public BILLING CODE 4310±70±P alternatives for fire management in review in January, 2000. At this time it Sequoia and Kings Canyon National is anticipated that the final plan and Parks. At this time, it has not been environmental document are to be DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR determined whether an Environmental completed in June, 2000. National Park Service Assessment or Environmental Impact Dated: February 16, 1999. Statement will be prepared, however, John J. Reynolds, Notice of Scoping for Fire Management this scoping process will aid in the Regional Director, Pacific West. preparation of either document. Plan Sequoia and Kings Canyon [FR Doc. 99±4484 Filed 2±23±99; 8:45 am] National Parks Tulare & Fresno As the first step in this undertaking, Counties, California a series of five public scoping meetings BILLING CODE 4310±70±P will be conducted during March, 1999. California cities where scoping meetings DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in will be held are: • accordance with the provisions of the Wednesday March 3, 7:00 pm at National Park Service National Environmental Policy Act (42 Fort Miller Middle School Cafeteria, U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.) that public scoping 1302 E. Dakota, Fresno; Record of Decision; Final General has been initiated for a conservation • Wednesday March 10, 7:00 pm at Management Plan/Environmental planning and impact analysis process the Tulare County Education Center Impact Statement; Oregon Caves for updating the fire management plan (Education Building Corner of Burrel National Monument, Oregon for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Ave. near the County Civic Center), Parks. The purpose of the scoping Visalia; ACTION: Notice of Approval of Record of process is to elicit early public comment • Monday March 15, 7:00 pm at the Decision. Visitor Center Auditorium at Griffith regarding issues and concerns, a SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) suitable range of alternatives and Park, Los Angeles; of the National Environmental Policy • Monday March 22, 7:00 pm at the appropriate mitigating measures, and Act of 1969, as amended, and the Presidio Visitor Center, 1st floor the nature and extent of potential regulations promulgated by the Council conference room, Building 102 on environmental impacts which should be on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Montgomery St., San Francisco addressed. 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, (adjacent parking available on parade National Park Service, has prepared a Background grounds); Sequoia and Kings Canyon National • Tuesday March 23, 7:30 pm at Record of Decision on the Final General Parks, units of the National Park Three Rivers Union School gym. Management Plan/Environmental System, are managed as one For those unable to attend meetings, Impact Statement for Oregon Caves administrative unit. Extensive research a scoping document will be available National Monument in Oregon. has shown that fire is a significant through the park. The main topics DATES: The Record of Decision was natural process across a large portion of addressed in the scoping document and recommended by the Superintendent of the 864,000 acres of the parks. An meetings are: background information Oregon Caves National Monument, extensive fire management program was on the fire management program; a concurred by the Deputy Regional begun in 1968 and has continued to the review of relevant policy and law Director, Pacific West Region, and present time. All forms of fire affecting the fire management program; approved by the Regional Director, management, from aggressive an assessment of current fire Pacific West Region, on December 23, suppression to managing natural management needs; and the 1998. (lightning) ignitions, have been used to identification of issues and alternatives ADDRESSES: Inquiries regarding the achieve natural and cultural resource related to the fire management in the Record of Decision or the management and hazard fuel reduction parks. Environmental Impact Statement should goals. The parks fire management Interested individuals, organizations, be submitted to the Superintendent, program also has a significant fire and agencies are invited to provide Oregon Caves National Monument, prevention and suppression function. comments or suggestions. Written 19000 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, The last revision of the fire comments regarding the fire OR 97523, phone (541) 592±2100. management plan culminated in a management program must be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of Finding Of No Significant Impact, dated postmarked no later than June 7, 1999. the Record of Decision follows: November 1, 1989. Since that time, a For additional information on the The Department of the Interior, range of new issues, improved scoping meetings, or to request a copy National Park Service (NPS), has information, and unforeseeable of the scoping background material and prepared this Record of Decision (ROD) constraints have emerged which have provide comments, please contact: on the final Environmental Impact the potential to affect the future Superintendent, Sequoia and Kings Statement (EIS) for the General direction of the fire management Canyon National Parks; Attn: Fire Management Plan for Oregon Caves VerDate 20-FEB-99 10:26 Feb 23, 1999 Jkt 183247 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.XXX pfrm01 PsN: 24FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 24, 1999 / Notices 9169 National Monument, Oregon. This ROD sales. No boundary change would be cooperation on various issues such as is a statement of the decision made, included, no change to current fire management and tourism. other alternatives considered, public administrative facilities would occur, Basis for Decision involvement in the decision making and the Monument would remain open process, the basis for the decision, the to cave tours year-round under After careful consideration of public environmentally preferable alternative, Alternative A. comments throughout the planning and measures to minimize Alternative BÐThis is the ``minimum process, including comments on the environmental harm. requirements alternative'', representing draft EIS, the selected action best the minimum actions necessary to accomplishes the legislated purpose of Decision (Selected Action) protect the natural and cultural the Monument and balances the Oregon Caves National Monument resources of the Monument and protect statutory mission of the NPS to provide will implement Alternative C. identified the health and safety of the public. long-term protection of the Monument's as the action that best satisfies the Alternative B includes the development resources and significance, while Monument and NPS missions, as well as of adequate administrative and allowing for appropriate levels of visitor the Monument's long-term management collection storage facilities in the use and appropriate means of visitor objectives. Some actions remain Chateau. Cave tours would be operated enjoyment. The selected action also best consistent with those presented in the with NPS interpretive guides, and a accomplishes identified management draft EIS. Others were modified in the cave tour reservation system would be goals and desired future conditions, final EIS to respond to public comments established and based at the IVVC. A with the fewest environmental impacts. and concerns. The selected action cooperative agreement between the U.S. recognizes both the need to protect Forest Service (USFS) and NPS would Environmentally Preferable Alternative natural and cultural resources and to set aside 3.410 acres as a protected area The alternative which causes the least provide appropriate opportunities for within the SNF. Under this agreement, damage to the cultural and biological visitors and area residents. protection would be provided to the environment, and that best protects, Specific actions to be implemented Lake Creek and upper Cave Creek preserves, and enhances resources is under the selected action are watersheds, the public water supply, Alternative C. summarized below: and foreground and middleground Measures to Minimize Environmental Adequate administrative and viewsheds as seen from the Monument. Harm collection storage will be provided at The caves would be open to public use the administrative site. Cave tours will from mid-March to