81 FR 71762 - Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Fire Island National Seashore General Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 201 (October 18, 2016)

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Abbreviated Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The focus of this plan is to guide and direct NPS management strategies for the next 15 to 20 years that support the protection of important natural resources and processes; significant recreation resources; cultural resources of national, state, and local significance; and unique residential communities. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS also includes revisions to the Draft Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Backcountry Camping Policy for the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness (WSP) which will guide decisions regarding the future use and protection of the congressionally designated Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness and areas adjacent to the wilderness that are designated backcountry camping areas.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71762-71763]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25176]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NER-FIIS-21587; PX.XDESCPP02001]


Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Fire 
Island National Seashore General Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Abbreviated Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement (Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS) for Fire Island National 
Seashore, New York. The focus of this plan is to guide and direct NPS 
management strategies for the next 15 to 20 years that support the 
protection of important natural resources and processes; significant 
recreation resources; cultural resources of national, state, and local 
significance; and unique residential communities. The Abbreviated Final 
GMP/EIS also includes revisions to the Draft Wilderness Stewardship 
Plan and Backcountry Camping Policy for the Otis Pike Fire Island High 
Dune Wilderness (WSP) which will guide decisions regarding the future 
use and protection of the congressionally designated Otis Pike Fire 
Island High Dune Wilderness and areas adjacent to the wilderness that 
are designated backcountry camping areas.

DATES: October 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS and WSP are available 
electronically at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis. A limited 
number of printed copies will be available upon request by contacting 
the Superintendent, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street, 
Patchogue, NY 11772-3596, 631-687-4770.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National 
Seashore, 631-687-4770, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island National Seashore (the 
Seashore), a unit of the national park system, is located along the 
south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. The Seashore is 
composed of two distinct units: A 26-mile stretch of Fire Island, the 
32-mile-long barrier island that runs parallel to the south shore of 
Long Island; and the William Floyd Estate, situated on the south shore 
of Long Island near the east end of Fire Island. The Fire Island unit 
encompasses 19,579 acres of upland, tidal, and submerged lands, 
including an extensive system of dunes, centuries-old maritime forests, 
solitary beaches, nearly 1,400 acres of federally designated 
wilderness, and the historic Fire Island Lighthouse. The William Floyd 
Estate is a 613-acre property that was the home of one of New York's 
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
    Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NPS released a Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GMP/EIS) on June 15, 2015 for a 
90-day public review period. The Draft GMP/EIS evaluated two sets of 
alternatives to address the specific needs of these two distinct units. 
One set addresses park-wide alternatives for the Seashore with a 
primary emphasis on the barrier island and includes a no-action 
alternative and two action alternatives. The other set of alternatives 
focuses specifically on the William Floyd Estate and includes a no-
action alternative and a single action alternative.
    Comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS resulted in minor changes to 
the text but did not significantly alter the alternatives or the impact 
analysis; thus, the National Park Service has prepared an Abbreviated 
Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement 
(Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS). The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS discusses 
the public and agency comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS and 
provides NPS responses. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS contains errata 
sheets that show factual corrections to the text of the Draft GMP/EIS 
or where the text has been revised to reflect minor additions or 
changes suggested by commenters.
    As in the Draft GMP/EIS, the Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS identifies 
the NPS Preferred Alternative as the combination of Management 
Alternative 3 for Fire Island & Park-wide with Management Alternative B 
for the William Floyd Estate because together they best meet the 
Seashore's management goals and convey the greatest number of 
significant beneficial results, relative to their potential impacts, in 
comparison with the other alternatives. Management Alternative 3 in 
combination with Management Alternative B would do the most to ensure 
the cooperative stewardship of Fire Island National Seashore's dynamic 
coastal environment and its cultural and natural systems while 
recognizing its larger ecological, social, economic, and cultural 
context and meeting the specific needs and management goals of the 
William Floyd Estate.
    Circulated with the Draft GMP/EIS for public review was the Draft 
Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Backcountry Camping Policy for the Otis 
Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness (WSP). The purpose of the WSP is 
to guide decisions regarding the future use and protection of the 
congressionally designated Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness 
and adjacent areas that are designated backcountry camping areas. It 
identifies the core qualities of wilderness character and outlines the 
framework through which the wilderness can be preserved, consistent 
with law, policy, and the specific legislative history applicable to 
this wilderness. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS contains errata sheets 
that show changes and clarifications to the Draft WSP. Some of the 
changes are a result of public comments while others are editorial in 
nature. When finalized, the WSP will replace the 1983

[[Page 71763]]

Wilderness Management Plan and the 2011 Fire Island National Seashore 
Interim Backcountry Camping Policy.

    Dated: October 11, 2016.
Michael, A. Caldwell,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25176 Filed 10-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P