80_FR_74359 80 FR 74131 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Backcountry Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

80 FR 74131 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Backcountry Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 228 (November 27, 2015)

Page Range74131-74132
FR Document2015-30162

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Backcountry Management Plan (Plan/DEIS), Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The Plan/DEIS evaluates the impacts of three action alternatives that address backcountry and wilderness management.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74131-74132]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30162]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-GRCA-16825; PX.P0133318B.00.1]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Backcountry Management 
Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Backcountry Management 
Plan (Plan/DEIS), Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The Plan/DEIS 
evaluates the impacts of three action alternatives that address 
backcountry and wilderness management.

DATES: The NPS will accept comments from the public on the Plan/DEIS 
for 90 days following publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement. After the EPA Notice of Availability is published, 
the NPS will schedule public meetings to be held during the comment 
period. Dates, times, and locations of these meetings will be announced 
in press releases and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public 
Comment (PEPC) for the project at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA. Copies of the Plan/DEIS 
will also be available at the park library located in the Park 
Headquarters Building, 20 South Entrance Road, Grand Canyon, AZ.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Jalbert, Wilderness Coordinator, 
PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, (928) 638-7909, 
Linda_Jalbert@nps.gov or Rachel Bennett, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, 1824 S Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, (928) 638-
7326, Rachel_Bennett@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Backcountry Management 
Plan is to establish an up-to-date plan that addresses immediate 
backcountry issues and provides an adaptive management framework to 
preserve, while allowing the public to experience, Grand Canyon's 
unique backcountry and wilderness resources and values. The park's 
backcountry encompasses over 1.1 million acres, most of which are 
proposed for wilderness designation. The Plan/DEIS evaluates four 
alternatives--the no-action alternative (A) and three action 
alternatives (B, C, and D)--all of which are summarized below. 
Alternative B is the NPS preferred alternative. Alternative D is the 
environmentally preferable alternative.
    Alternative A, the no-action alternative, would continue existing 
management practices. Under this alternative user conflicts and 
concerns and resource impacts would continue to occur because extended 
day hiking and running (i.e. rim-to-rim day trips) would not be 
comprehensively managed. An interim process was developed in 2014 that 
requires organized groups participating in extended day hiking and 
running to apply for a special use permit and limits group size to 30. 
The interim policy is expected to remain in

[[Page 74132]]

place until the completion of the Backcountry Management Plan Final EIS 
and Record of Decision. Commercial overnight backpacking would not be 
capped, would continue to occur in all backcountry management zones, 
and would be managed by commercial use authorizations. Commercial 
backpacking operators would continue to compete with the non-commercial 
public for backcountry permits which are limited by use area. River-
assisted backcountry travel would continue to be managed with a rule 
that allows up to five miles of river travel on one backcountry permit. 
Under the no-action alternative, no additional campsites would be added 
to the corridor-zone campgrounds to address the bottleneck for 
overnight users. Under this alternative, overnight backpacking would 
continue at the level that occurred in 2012, which was 94,277 user 
nights (one user night is one person in the backcountry for one night). 
The no-action alternative is required by NEPA as a baseline against 
which action alternatives can be compared and evaluated.
    Common to all action alternatives, NPS proposes an adaptive 
management process for extended day hiking and running (i.e. rim-to-rim 
day trips), human waste management, use area management, day use at 
Tuweep, and management of canyoneering and climbing. For example, 
seasonal day use permits are proposed for rim-to-rim and extended day 
hiking and running in the cross-canyon corridor in order to collect 
data and educate visitors. Future adaptive management actions could 
include limiting group size (e.g. 30), limiting overall number of 
people per day (e.g. 250), year-round day use permits, or designating 
specific days for these activities. Also common to all action 
alternatives, NPS proposes to authorize the majority of commercial 
overnight backpacking through longer-term concessions contracts 
(estimated at 3-5 contracts) instead of the commercial use 
authorization permits currently used. Commercial use authorizations 
would continue to be issued for commercial groups conducting three or 
less trips per year.
    Alternative B, the NPS preferred alternative, focuses on providing 
a variety of recreational activities and a high level of protection for 
natural and cultural resources and wilderness character. Changes would 
include a reduction in group size for overnight backpacking, from a 
maximum of 11 to a maximum of 6, in two of the most remote wilderness 
zones. Alternative B would manage river-assisted backcountry travel 
using 31 route-based river sections and would include development of 
four additional campsites at Cottonwood Campground in the cross-canyon 
corridor. Commercially guided services would be limited by zone and 
would be allowed only in less remote backcountry areas, while the most 
remote wilderness areas would remain free of guided activities. 
Commercial overnight backpacking use would be capped, and commercial 
guides would no longer compete with the non-commercial public for 
backcountry permits. Overnight use in the popular cross-canyon corridor 
would increase by approximately 3% (from 53,821 to a projected 55,531 
user nights). Overall, overnight use in the backcountry is expected to 
decrease by 1% (93,116 user nights), primarily as a result of the 
reduction in group size in two of the wilderness zones.
    Alternative C focuses on recreational activities and expanded 
opportunities for these activities. Group sizes for overnight 
backpacking would be the same as at present. Alternative C proposes to 
manage river-assisted backcountry travel using 11 river sections. Up to 
eight additional campsites would be developed at Indian Garden, 
Cottonwood Campground and Roaring Springs. Commercially guided services 
would be allowed in more use areas throughout the backcountry when 
compared with Alternatives B and D. Commercial overnight backpacking 
use would be capped. Overnight use in the cross-canyon corridor would 
increase by approximately 10% (from 53,821 to a projected 59,421 user 
nights). Overall, overnight use in the backcountry is expected to 
increase by 5% (99,273 user nights), primarily as a result of the 
increase in campsites in the corridor zone and designated campsites 
along backcountry road corridors.
    Alternative D, the environmentally preferable alternative, would 
focus on resource protection and opportunities for solitude. 
Recreational use would be concentrated in non-wilderness areas and 
facility improvement would be limited. Group size for overnight 
backpacking would be reduced, from a maximum of 11 to a maximum of 6, 
in all backcountry zones except the corridor zone. Commercially guided 
activities would be focused in non-wilderness zones. Commercial 
overnight backpacking use would be capped and only allowed in the 
corridor zone. These actions would allow for self-exploration and 
increased opportunities for solitude in all wilderness zones. Overnight 
use in the popular cross-canyon corridor would increase by 
approximately 2% (from 53,821 to a projected 54,846 user nights). 
Overall, overnight use in the backcountry is expected to decrease by 3% 
(91,405 user nights) primarily from the decrease in group size outside 
the corridor.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. You may submit comments online at http://
parkplanning.nps.gov/grca. You may also mail comments to 
Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, 
AZ 86023. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to Grand Canyon 
National Park Headquarters, 20 South Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon, AZ.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. We will make all submission from organizations and 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: November 3, 2015.
Sue E. Masica,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30162 Filed 11-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-CB-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 228 / Friday, November 27, 2015 / Notices 74131 under the National Register criteria for Kay County the impacts of three action alternatives evaluation. Lake Ponca Duck Pond Historic District, L.A. that address backcountry and Before including your address, phone Cann Dr. & Edam Rd., Ponca City, wilderness management. 15000872 DATES: The NPS will accept comments number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your Oklahoma County from the public on the Plan/DEIS for 90 comment, you should be aware that days following publication by the U.S. Fairview Community Center, 206 E. your entire comment—including your Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Broadway, Fairview, 15000873 personal identifying information—may of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Santa Fe Depot, 146 S. E.K. Gaylord Blvd., be made publicly available at any time. Environmental Impact Statement. After Oklahoma City, 15000874 While you can ask us in your comment the EPA Notice of Availability is to withhold your personal identifying Rogers County published, the NPS will schedule public information from public review, we Foyil Filling Station, (Route 66 in Oklahoma meetings to be held during the comment cannot guarantee that we will be able to MPS) 12243 S. Andy Payne Blvd., period. Dates, times, and locations of do so. Claremore, 15000875 these meetings will be announced in press releases and on the NPS Planning, CALIFORNIA Tulsa County Environment, and Public Comment Madera County Belmont Apartments, 1314 S. Denver Ave., (PEPC) for the project at http:// W., Tulsa, 15000876 parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA. Devils Postpile National Monument Ranger Cabin, Minaret Summit Rd., Mammoth TEXAS ADDRESSES: Information will be Lakes, 15000859 available for public review and Dallas County comment online at http:// Solano County Sharrock, Everard Jr., Farm, 6900 Grady parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA. Copies of Niblo Rd., Dallas, 15000877 the Plan/DEIS will also be available at Harrier, Daniel Webster, House, 739 Ohio St., Vallejo, 15000860 VIRGINIA the park library located in the Park Headquarters Building, 20 South FLORIDA Loudoun County Entrance Road, Grand Canyon, AZ. Franklin County Stoke, 23587 Stoke Farm Ln., Aldie, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 15000878 Linda Jalbert, Wilderness Coordinator, Marshall House, N. bay side shore, Little St. George Island, Little St. George Island, Page County PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, 15000861 (928) 638–7909, Linda_Jalbert@nps.gov Locust Grove, 6601 Ida Rd., Stanley, 15000879 or Rachel Bennett, Environmental Osceola County Protection Specialist, 1824 S Thompson Monument of States, E. Monument Ave. & WASHINGTON Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, (928) 638– Lakeview Dr., Kissimmee, 15000862 King County 7326, Rachel_Bennett@nps.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IOWA Woolworth, F.W., Company Store, 724 S. 3rd St., Renton, 15000880 purpose of the Backcountry Dallas County Management Plan is to establish an up- Spokane County to-date plan that addresses immediate Minburn Railroad Depot, 210 4th St., Minburn, 15000863 Christiansen, George and Blanche, House, backcountry issues and provides an 1329 E. Overbluff Rd., Spokane, 15000881 adaptive management framework to NORTH CAROLINA Authority: 60.13 of 36 CFR part 60. preserve, while allowing the public to Dare County experience, Grand Canyon’s unique Dated: October 29, 2015. backcountry and wilderness resources U–576 and BLUEFIELDS (shipwrecks and J. Paul Loether, and values. The park’s backcountry remains), (World War II Shipwrecks along Chief, National Register of Historic Places/ encompasses over 1.1 million acres, the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico MPS) National Historic Landmarks Program. most of which are proposed for Address Restricted, Hatteras, 15000864 [FR Doc. 2015–30104 Filed 11–25–15; 8:45 am] wilderness designation. The Plan/DEIS OKLAHOMA BILLING CODE 4312–51–P evaluates four alternatives—the no- action alternative (A) and three action Beckham County alternatives (B, C, and D)—all of which Vannerson Homestead, Address Restricted, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR are summarized below. Alternative B is Erick, 15000865 the NPS preferred alternative. National Park Service Alternative D is the environmentally Cleveland County [NPS–IMR–GRCA–16825; preferable alternative. University of Oklahoma Armory, 103 W. PX.P0133318B.00.1] Alternative A, the no-action Brooks St., Norman, 15000866 alternative, would continue existing Draft Environmental Impact Statement management practices. Under this Garfield County for Backcountry Management Plan, alternative user conflicts and concerns Fuksa, John and Mary, Farm, 1228 E0580 Rd., Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona and resource impacts would continue to Bison, 15000867 occur because extended day hiking and AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. Kisner, Robert R. and Minnie L., House, 1111 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: Notice of availability. running (i.e. rim-to-rim day trips) would Wynona Ave., Enid, 15000870 not be comprehensively managed. An Marshall Hall, 100 S. University Ave., Enid, SUMMARY: The National Park Service interim process was developed in 2014 15000868 (NPS) announces the availability of the that requires organized groups Public Library of Enid and Garfield County, Draft Environmental Impact Statement participating in extended day hiking 120 W. Maine St., Enid, 15000869 for the Backcountry Management Plan and running to apply for a special use Santa Fe Freight Depot, 702 N. Washington (Plan/DEIS), Grand Canyon National permit and limits group size to 30. The Ave., Enid, 15000871 Park, Arizona. The Plan/DEIS evaluates interim policy is expected to remain in VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Nov 25, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM 27NON1

74132 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 228 / Friday, November 27, 2015 / Notices place until the completion of the river sections and would include backcountry is expected to decrease by Backcountry Management Plan Final development of four additional 3% (91,405 user nights) primarily from EIS and Record of Decision. Commercial campsites at Cottonwood Campground the decrease in group size outside the overnight backpacking would not be in the cross-canyon corridor. corridor. capped, would continue to occur in all Commercially guided services would be If you wish to comment, you may backcountry management zones, and limited by zone and would be allowed submit your comments by any one of would be managed by commercial use only in less remote backcountry areas, several methods. You may submit authorizations. Commercial while the most remote wilderness areas comments online at http:// backpacking operators would continue would remain free of guided activities. parkplanning.nps.gov/grca. You may to compete with the non-commercial Commercial overnight backpacking use also mail comments to Superintendent, public for backcountry permits which would be capped, and commercial Grand Canyon National Park, PO Box are limited by use area. River-assisted guides would no longer compete with 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. Finally, backcountry travel would continue to be the non-commercial public for you may hand-deliver comments to managed with a rule that allows up to backcountry permits. Overnight use in Grand Canyon National Park five miles of river travel on one the popular cross-canyon corridor Headquarters, 20 South Entrance Rd, backcountry permit. Under the no- would increase by approximately 3% Grand Canyon, AZ. action alternative, no additional (from 53,821 to a projected 55,531 user Before including your address, phone campsites would be added to the nights). Overall, overnight use in the number, email address, or other corridor-zone campgrounds to address backcountry is expected to decrease by personal identifying information in your the bottleneck for overnight users. 1% (93,116 user nights), primarily as a comment, you should be aware that Under this alternative, overnight result of the reduction in group size in your entire comment, including your backpacking would continue at the level two of the wilderness zones. personal identifying information, may that occurred in 2012, which was 94,277 Alternative C focuses on recreational be made publicly available at any time. user nights (one user night is one person activities and expanded opportunities While you can ask us in your comment in the backcountry for one night). The for these activities. Group sizes for to withhold your personal identifying no-action alternative is required by overnight backpacking would be the information from public review, we NEPA as a baseline against which action same as at present. Alternative C cannot guarantee that we will be able to alternatives can be compared and proposes to manage river-assisted do so. We will make all submission evaluated. backcountry travel using 11 river from organizations and businesses, and Common to all action alternatives, sections. Up to eight additional from individuals identifying themselves NPS proposes an adaptive management campsites would be developed at Indian as representatives or officials of process for extended day hiking and Garden, Cottonwood Campground and organizations or businesses, available running (i.e. rim-to-rim day trips), Roaring Springs. Commercially guided for public inspection in their entirety. human waste management, use area services would be allowed in more use management, day use at Tuweep, and areas throughout the backcountry when Dated: November 3, 2015. management of canyoneering and compared with Alternatives B and D. Sue E. Masica, climbing. For example, seasonal day use Commercial overnight backpacking use Regional Director, Intermountain Region, permits are proposed for rim-to-rim and would be capped. Overnight use in the National Park Service. extended day hiking and running in the cross-canyon corridor would increase by [FR Doc. 2015–30162 Filed 11–25–15; 8:45 am] cross-canyon corridor in order to collect approximately 10% (from 53,821 to a BILLING CODE 4312–CB–P data and educate visitors. Future projected 59,421 user nights). Overall, adaptive management actions could overnight use in the backcountry is include limiting group size (e.g. 30), expected to increase by 5% (99,273 user DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR limiting overall number of people per nights), primarily as a result of the day (e.g. 250), year-round day use increase in campsites in the corridor Bureau of Reclamation permits, or designating specific days for zone and designated campsites along [RR02054000, 15XR0687NA, these activities. Also common to all backcountry road corridors. RX.18527901.3000000] action alternatives, NPS proposes to Alternative D, the environmentally authorize the majority of commercial preferable alternative, would focus on Central Valley Project Improvement overnight backpacking through longer- resource protection and opportunities Act Water Management Plans term concessions contracts (estimated at for solitude. Recreational use would be 3–5 contracts) instead of the commercial concentrated in non-wilderness areas AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, use authorization permits currently and facility improvement would be Interior. used. Commercial use authorizations limited. Group size for overnight ACTION: Notice of availability. would continue to be issued for backpacking would be reduced, from a commercial groups conducting three or maximum of 11 to a maximum of 6, in SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation less trips per year. all backcountry zones except the has made available to the public the Alternative B, the NPS preferred corridor zone. Commercially guided Water Management Plans for seven alternative, focuses on providing a activities would be focused in non- entities. For the purpose of this variety of recreational activities and a wilderness zones. Commercial overnight announcement, Water Management high level of protection for natural and backpacking use would be capped and Plans (Plans) are considered the same as Water Conservation Plans. Reclamation mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES cultural resources and wilderness only allowed in the corridor zone. These character. Changes would include a actions would allow for self-exploration is publishing this notice in order to reduction in group size for overnight and increased opportunities for solitude allow the public an opportunity to backpacking, from a maximum of 11 to in all wilderness zones. Overnight use review the Plans and comment on the a maximum of 6, in two of the most in the popular cross-canyon corridor preliminary determinations. remote wilderness zones. Alternative B would increase by approximately 2% DATES: Submit written comments on the would manage river-assisted (from 53,821 to a projected 54,846 user preliminary determinations on or before backcountry travel using 31 route-based nights). Overall, overnight use in the December 28, 2015. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Nov 25, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM 27NON1


Document Created: 2015-12-14 14:04:33
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 14:04:33
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability.
DatesThe NPS will accept comments from the public on the Plan/DEIS for 90 days following publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. After the EPA Notice of Availability is published, the NPS will schedule public meetings to be held during the comment period. Dates, times, and locations of these meetings will be announced in press releases and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) for the project at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA.
ContactLinda Jalbert, Wilderness Coordinator, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, (928) 638-7909, [email protected] or Rachel Bennett, Environmental Protection Specialist, 1824 S Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, (928) 638- 7326, [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 74131 
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