81 FR 74810 - Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 208 (October 27, 2016)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 208 (October 27, 2016)
| Page Range | 74810-74811 | |
| FR Document | 2016-26009 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 74810-74811] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-26009] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-NER-FIIS-DTS-21798; PX.P0201786a.00.1] Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Breach Plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The Draft Breach Plan/EIS presents and analyzes the potential consequences of three alternatives that will guide the management of the breach that occurred in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness during Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012. DATES: The comment period will end on December 12, 2016. A public meeting will be held on November 7, 2016. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Breach Plan/EIS will be available online for public review at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. A limited number of hard copies will be available upon request. The public meeting will be held at the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal at 150 West Ave. in Patchogue, New York. Comments can be submitted electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. Comments in hard copy (e.g., in a letter) can be sent by U.S. Postal Service or other mail delivery service or hand-delivered to: Chris Soller, Superintendent, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY 11772. Written comments will also be accepted at the public meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY, 11772, 631-687-4770. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy created three breaches in the barrier island system off the south shore of Long Island, New York, including one within the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Area (Fire Island Wilderness) which is within the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore (Seashore). The existing Breach Contingency Plan, developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1996, is the only guidance currently in effect to address breaches along coastal Long Island from Fire Island Inlet east to Montauk Point. Action is needed at this time because the Breach Contingency Plan is outdated and does not adequately address management of breaches in the Fire Island Wilderness. Managing a breach in designated wilderness is different from managing breaches outside wilderness areas, as the NPS must manage federal wilderness to preserve wilderness character. Management of the Fire Island Wilderness must comply with the Wilderness Act of 1964; the 1980 Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Act (Pub. L. 96-585); and the 1983 Wilderness Management Plan, Fire Island National Seashore, which governs NPS actions taken in the Fire Island Wilderness. However, while the wilderness breach must be managed to protect wilderness character, the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Act does not preclude closure of a wilderness breach if closure were needed ``to prevent loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage to the Great South Bay and surrounding areas.'' Therefore, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NPS prepared this Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Breach Plan/EIS) to develop a management strategy for the breach in the Fire Island Wilderness. The Draft Breach Plan/EIS has several goals:Ensuring the continued integrity of the wilderness character; protecting the natural and cultural features of the Seashore and its surrounding ecosystems; protecting human life; and managing the risk of economic and physical damage to the surrounding areas. Scoping and early engagement with other agencies, tribes, stakeholders, and the public began in late 2014 and continued through 2015. Formal public scoping was initiated with the publication of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register (80 FR 53886, Sept. 8, 2015). Early in the scoping period, the US Army Corps of Engineers, New York district and the State of New York, Department of Environmental Conservation agreed to be cooperating agencies in development of the Breach Plan/EIS. The Draft Breach Plan/EIS evaluates two action alternatives and the no-action alternative. Alternative 1--Mechanical closure of the wilderness breach as soon as possible. Alternative 2 (no action)--The evolution, growth, and/or closure of the wilderness breach would be determined by natural barrier island processes and no human intervention would occur to close the breach or to reopen the breach if it were to close by natural processes. Alternative 3 (proposed action and NPS preferred alternative)--The evolution, growth, and/or closure of the breach would be determined by natural barrier island processes, and human intervention to close the breach would occur only ``to prevent loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage to the Great South Bay and surrounding areas.'' The NPS would develop criteria that indicate the breach poses a threat to life and/or property. As long as monitoring data show that the established criteria have not been exceeded, the NPS would allow the breach to be shaped entirely by natural processes with no human intervention. The breach may remain open or it may close naturally. If monitoring data indicate that the established criteria have been exceeded, the breach would be mechanically closed as soon as practicable. Alternative 3 is identified as the NPS preferred alternative because it allows the breach to be managed according to NPS resource management policies and wilderness directives while allowing closure if necessary to prevent ``loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage to the Great South Bay and surrounding areas.'' [[Page 74811]] The Draft Breach Plan/EIS analyzes the impacts of these three alternatives on the human environment by examining five key issues: (1) The wilderness breach is geologically bound by erosion- resistant clay in the geological record to the east and west of the breach; however, there is uncertainty regarding how the breach will evolve in the future (narrow or widen from existing conditions), how far it might migrate along the coast, and how it affects sediment transport. (2) There is concern that the presence of the wilderness breach increases the potential for flooding on the mainland of Long Island during storm events, increasing the potential risk to life and property. (3) The wilderness breach has altered the physical characteristics of the Fire Island Wilderness and Great South Bay, which has led to changes in the ecological communities. (4) The wilderness breach resulted in the creation of a marine wilderness area that did not previously exist. The mechanical closure of the breach would alter the existing wilderness qualities of the area. (5) Driving access has changed since formation of the wilderness breach. There is concern that changes in driving access for emergency response could increase risks to public health and safety in several Fire Island communities. To examine these issues, the environmental analysis focuses on the following resources: Wilderness character; sediment transport and geomorphology; water quality; ecosystem structure and processes; benthic communities; finfish and decapod crustaceans; socioeconomics; and public health and safety. The NPS encourages commenting electronically through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site. If you wish to comment electronically, you may submit your comments online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. If you wish to submit your comments in hard copy (e.g., in a letter), you may send them by U.S. Postal Service or other mail delivery service or hand-deliver them to: Chris Soller, Superintendent, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY 11772. A public meeting will be held on November 7th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal at 150 West Ave. in Patchogue, New York. The public meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about the plan and to ask questions about the plan. Written comments will be accepted during the public meeting. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any form other than those specified above. All comments received on the Draft Breach Plan/EIS will be reviewed and considered. An analysis of substantive comments with NPS responses will be provided in a comment analysis report that will be included in the Final Breach Plan/EIS. A comment is considered to be substantive if it raises, debates, or questions a point of fact or policy discussed in the Draft Breach Plan/EIS. Comments that merely state support for or opposition to the proposed action, alternatives, or NPS policy, without providing supporting information, will not be considered substantive. Although all comments will be read and considered in shaping the Final Breach Plan/EIS, only those that are determined to be substantive will be explicitly addressed by the NPS response. 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. Dated: August 22, 2016. Jonathan Meade, Deputy Regional Director, National Park Service, Northeast Region. [FR Doc. 2016-26009 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
![74810 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Notices
§ 11.100 until either BIA and the Tribe electronically at http:// • Ensuring the continued integrity of
enter into a contract or compact for the parkplanning.nps.gov/ the wilderness character;
Tribe to provide judicial services, or FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. • protecting the natural and cultural
until the Tribe has put into effect a law- Comments in hard copy (e.g., in a letter) features of the Seashore and its
and-order code that meets certain can be sent by U.S. Postal Service or surrounding ecosystems;
requirements. other mail delivery service or hand- • protecting human life; and
Section 11.201(a) provides that the delivered to: Chris Soller, • managing the risk of economic and
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs Superintendent, Fire Island National physical damage to the surrounding
appoints a magistrate subject to Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, areas.
confirmation by a majority vote of the NY 11772. Written comments will also Scoping and early engagement with
Tribal governing bodies. be accepted at the public meeting. other agencies, tribes, stakeholders, and
The waiver will allow BIA to establish the public began in late 2014 and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
a CFR court when necessary and to continued through 2015. Formal public
Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National scoping was initiated with the
allow the Assistant Secretary—Indian Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue,
Affairs to appoint a magistrate without publication of a Notice of Intent to
NY, 11772, 631–687–4770. Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register
the need for confirmation by the Tribal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
governing body. (80 FR 53886, Sept. 8, 2015). Early in
October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy the scoping period, the US Army Corps
Dated: October 17, 2016. created three breaches in the barrier of Engineers, New York district and the
Lawrence S. Roberts, island system off the south shore of State of New York, Department of
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Long Island, New York, including one Environmental Conservation agreed to
Affairs. within the Otis Pike Fire Island High be cooperating agencies in development
[FR Doc. 2016–26041 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am] Dune Wilderness Area (Fire Island of the Breach Plan/EIS.
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P Wilderness) which is within the The Draft Breach Plan/EIS evaluates
boundaries of Fire Island National two action alternatives and the no-
Seashore (Seashore). action alternative.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The existing Breach Contingency Alternative 1—Mechanical closure of
Plan, developed by the U.S. Army Corps the wilderness breach as soon as
National Park Service of Engineers in 1996, is the only possible.
[NPS–NER–FIIS–DTS–21798; guidance currently in effect to address Alternative 2 (no action)—The
PX.P0201786a.00.1] breaches along coastal Long Island from evolution, growth, and/or closure of the
Fire Island Inlet east to Montauk Point. wilderness breach would be determined
Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Action is needed at this time because by natural barrier island processes and
Management Plan/Environmental the Breach Contingency Plan is outdated no human intervention would occur to
Impact Statement, Fire Island National and does not adequately address close the breach or to reopen the breach
Seashore, New York management of breaches in the Fire if it were to close by natural processes.
Island Wilderness. Alternative 3 (proposed action and
AGENCY: National Park Service, Managing a breach in designated NPS preferred alternative)—The
Department of the Interior. wilderness is different from managing evolution, growth, and/or closure of the
ACTION: Notice of availability. breaches outside wilderness areas, as breach would be determined by natural
the NPS must manage federal barrier island processes, and human
SUMMARY: The National Park Service
wilderness to preserve wilderness intervention to close the breach would
(NPS) announces the availability of the
character. Management of the Fire occur only ‘‘to prevent loss of life,
Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach
Island Wilderness must comply with the flooding, and other severe economic and
Management Plan and Environmental
Wilderness Act of 1964; the 1980 Otis physical damage to the Great South Bay
Impact Statement (Draft Breach Plan/
Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness and surrounding areas.’’ The NPS would
EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore,
Act (Pub. L. 96–585); and the 1983 develop criteria that indicate the breach
New York. The Draft Breach Plan/EIS
Wilderness Management Plan, Fire poses a threat to life and/or property. As
presents and analyzes the potential
Island National Seashore, which long as monitoring data show that the
consequences of three alternatives that
governs NPS actions taken in the Fire established criteria have not been
will guide the management of the
Island Wilderness. However, while the exceeded, the NPS would allow the
breach that occurred in the Otis Pike
wilderness breach must be managed to breach to be shaped entirely by natural
Fire Island High Dune Wilderness
protect wilderness character, the Otis processes with no human intervention.
during Hurricane Sandy in October,
Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness The breach may remain open or it may
2012.
Act does not preclude closure of a close naturally. If monitoring data
DATES: The comment period will end on wilderness breach if closure were indicate that the established criteria
December 12, 2016. A public meeting needed ‘‘to prevent loss of life, flooding, have been exceeded, the breach would
will be held on November 7, 2016. and other severe economic and physical be mechanically closed as soon as
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Breach damage to the Great South Bay and practicable.
Plan/EIS will be available online for surrounding areas.’’ Therefore, pursuant Alternative 3 is identified as the NPS
public review at http:// to the National Environmental Policy preferred alternative because it allows
parkplanning.nps.gov/ Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the the breach to be managed according to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. A NPS prepared this Draft Fire Island NPS resource management policies and
limited number of hard copies will be Wilderness Breach Management Plan wilderness directives while allowing
available upon request. The public and Environmental Impact Statement closure if necessary to prevent ‘‘loss of
meeting will be held at the Patchogue- (Draft Breach Plan/EIS) to develop a life, flooding, and other severe
Watch Hill Ferry Terminal at 150 West management strategy for the breach in economic and physical damage to the
Ave. in Patchogue, New York. the Fire Island Wilderness. The Draft Great South Bay and surrounding
Comments can be submitted Breach Plan/EIS has several goals: areas.’’
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Notices 74811
The Draft Breach Plan/EIS analyzes Patchogue, New York. The public federal parcel within the park. The
the impacts of these three alternatives meeting will provide an opportunity to federal parcel will be conveyed subject
on the human environment by learn more about the plan and to ask to restrictions to ensure continued
examining five key issues: questions about the plan. Written compatible use of the property within
(1) The wilderness breach is comments will be accepted during the the park. Both parcels are located in
geologically bound by erosion-resistant public meeting. Ross County, Ohio.
clay in the geological record to the east Comments will not be accepted by DATES: The effective date of this
and west of the breach; however, there fax, email, or in any form other than boundary adjustment is October 27,
is uncertainty regarding how the breach those specified above. All comments 2016.
will evolve in the future (narrow or received on the Draft Breach Plan/EIS
widen from existing conditions), how will be reviewed and considered. An ADDRESSES: The map depicting this
far it might migrate along the coast, and analysis of substantive comments with boundary adjustment is available for
how it affects sediment transport. NPS responses will be provided in a inspection at the following locations:
(2) There is concern that the presence comment analysis report that will be National Park Service, Land Resources
of the wilderness breach increases the included in the Final Breach Plan/EIS. Program Center, Midwest Region, 601
potential for flooding on the mainland A comment is considered to be Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE 68102 and
of Long Island during storm events, substantive if it raises, debates, or National Park Service, Department of
increasing the potential risk to life and questions a point of fact or policy the Interior, 1849 C Street NW.,
property. discussed in the Draft Breach Plan/EIS. Washington, DC 20240.
(3) The wilderness breach has altered Comments that merely state support for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
the physical characteristics of the Fire or opposition to the proposed action, Superintendent Dean Alexander,
Island Wilderness and Great South Bay, alternatives, or NPS policy, without Hopewell Culture National Historical
which has led to changes in the providing supporting information, will Park, 16062 State Route 104,
ecological communities. not be considered substantive. Although Chillicothe, OH 45601–8694, telephone
(4) The wilderness breach resulted in all comments will be read and (740) 774–1126.
the creation of a marine wilderness area considered in shaping the Final Breach SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
that did not previously exist. The Plan/EIS, only those that are determined hereby given that, pursuant to 16 U.S.C.
mechanical closure of the breach would to be substantive will be explicitly 410uu–1(c), the boundary of Hopewell
alter the existing wilderness qualities of addressed by the NPS response. Culture National Historical Park is
the area. Before including your address, phone adjusted to include an additional 4.03
(5) Driving access has changed since number, email address, or other acres. This boundary adjustment is
formation of the wilderness breach. personal identifying information in your depicted on Map No. 353/132767 dated
There is concern that changes in driving comment, you should be aware that May 2016.
access for emergency response could your entire comment—including your 16 U.S.C. 410uu–1(c) states that the
increase risks to public health and personal identifying information—may Secretary of the Interior may, by
safety in several Fire Island be made publicly available at any time. publication of notice in the Federal
communities. While you can ask us in your comment Register after receipt of public
To examine these issues, the to withhold your personal identifying comment, make minor adjustments to
environmental analysis focuses on the information from public review, we the boundary of Hopewell Culture
following resources: cannot guarantee that we will be able to National Historical Park, provided that
• Wilderness character; do so. such adjustments cumulatively do not
• sediment transport and Dated: August 22, 2016. exceed a limit presently calculated to be
geomorphology; 165.16 acres. To date, 114.58 acres have
Jonathan Meade,
• water quality; been added to the park under such
• ecosystem structure and processes; Deputy Regional Director, National Park
Service, Northeast Region. authority; an additional 50.58 acres
• benthic communities;
• finfish and decapod crustaceans; [FR Doc. 2016–26009 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am] remain authorized for inclusion in the
• socioeconomics; and BILLING CODE 4312–52–P park. This boundary adjustment will
• public health and safety. include an additional 4.03 acres needed
The NPS encourages commenting for trail development.
electronically through the NPS DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Dated: September 2, 2016.
Planning, Environment, and Public Cameron H. Sholly,
National Park Service
Comment Web site. If you wish to Regional Director, Midwest Region.
comment electronically, you may [NPS–MWR–HOCU–21607; [FR Doc. 2016–26013 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
submit your comments online at http:// PS.SHOCU0001.01.1]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
parkplanning.nps.gov/
FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. Boundary Adjustment at Hopewell
If you wish to submit your comments Culture National Historical Park
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
in hard copy (e.g., in a letter), you may AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
send them by U.S. Postal Service or ACTION: Notification of boundary National Park Service
other mail delivery service or hand- adjustment.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
deliver them to: Chris Soller, [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–22121;
Superintendent, Fire Island National SUMMARY: The boundary of Hopewell PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, Culture National Historical Park is
NY 11772. adjusted to include an adjacent Notice of Inventory Completion: San
A public meeting will be held on nonfederal parcel of land containing Diego Museum of Man, San Diego, CA
November 7th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at 4.03 acres. Upon completion of this AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry adjustment, fee simple interest in the
ACTION: Notice.
Terminal at 150 West Ave. in land will be acquired by exchange for a
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Document Created: 2016-10-27 01:53:02
Document Modified: 2016-10-27 01:53:02
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability. | |
| Dates | The comment period will end on December 12, 2016. A public meeting will be held on November 7, 2016. | |
| Contact | Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY, 11772, 631-687-4770. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 74810 |
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