82 FR 60213 - Final 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 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)
| Page Range | 60213-60214 | |
| FR Document | 2017-27244 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 60213-60214] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-27244] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-NER-FIIS-DTS-23982; P0201786a.00.1] Final 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 final Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (final Breach Plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The final Breach Plan/EIS identifies Alternative 3, No Human Intervention unless Established Criteria are Exceeded, as the NPS preferred alternative. When approved, the management plan will guide the management of the breach that occurred in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness during Hurricane Sandy. DATES: The NPS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of a Notice of Availability of the final Breach Plan/EIS in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: The final Breach Plan/EIS is available electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. A limited number of printed copies will be available upon request by contacting Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772- 3596, 631-687-4770. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY, 11772, 631-687-4770, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island National Seashore (the Seashore), a unit of the NPS, is located along the south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. The Seashore encompasses 19,579 acres of upland, tidal, and submerged lands along a 26-mile stretch of the 32-mile barrier island--part of a much larger system of barrier islands and bluffs stretching from New York City to the very eastern end of Long Island at Montauk Point. 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) within the Seashore. 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. The existing Breach Contingency Plan is the only guidance currently in effect to address breaches along coastal Long Island from Fire Island Inlet east to Montauk Point but it does not adequately address management of breaches in the Fire Island Wilderness. As a result, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Seashore prepared a 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 that would ensure the continued integrity of the wilderness character; protect the natural and cultural features of the Seashore and its surrounding ecosystems; protect human life; and manage the risk of economic and physical damage to the surrounding areas. The draft Breach Plan/EIS was prepared in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The NPS released the draft Breach Plan/EIS for public and agency review and comment beginning on October 27, 2016 and ending on December 12, 2016. The draft Breach Plan/EIS evaluated two action alternatives (1 and 3) and the no-action alternative (2). Each alternative presented a different management strategy to address the breach in the Fire Island Wilderness. Alternative 1 (Closure Using Mechanical Processes) would [[Page 60214]] mechanically close the breach as soon as possible. Alternative 2 (Status Determined Entirely by Natural Processes) is the no-action alternative and allows the management of the breach under natural processes, to include evolution and potential growth and/or natural closure. Alternative 3 (No Human Intervention unless Established Criteria are Exceeded) is identified as the NPS preferred alternative. This alternative allows the evolution, growth, and/or closure of the breach to 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,'' as allowed by the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Act. Monitoring data collected since 2012 and professional judgment of physical scientists studying the breach have been used to determine that the three criteria described below are the most logical indicators to alert Seashore staff to changes in the breach that could elevate the risk of severe storm damage in the form of loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage, which could lead to a decision to close the breach under Alternative 3:Criterion 1: Geologic Controls. Erosion-resistant clay to the east and west of the breach serve as geologic controls for the breach. If the breach migrates beyond these geologic controls, growth of the breach will be less predictable. Criterion 2: Cross-Sectional Area. Originally, the cross- sectional area of the breach increased rapidly; however, the breach has reached a dynamic equilibrium in which the cross-sectional area has fluctuated between 300 and 600 square meters. A cross-sectional area within or below this range represents a condition in which the effects of the breach are understood. An increase in cross-sectional area above this range will indicate breach growth and a condition in which the evolution of the breach is less predictable and impacts to the surrounding areas may change. After reviewing and considering all comments received on the draft Breach Plan/EIS, the NPS has prepared the final Breach Plan/EIS. The final Breach Plan/EIS identifies Alternative 3 as the NPS preferred alternative with one change from the draft Breach Plan/EIS. The description of alternative 3 was edited in the final Breach Plan/EIS to include one additional criterion suggested by commenters: Criterion 3: Water Level as Measured by Tide Gauges. Data from tide gauges in Great South Bay will be reviewed to identify changes in the tidal prism, which could indicate a change in the breach conditions. Other changes made as a result of comments consisted of clarifying text added to the final Breach Plan/EIS that did not substantively change the range of alternatives considered or the environmental consequences of implementing any of the alternatives. Appendix C of the final Breach Plan/EIS discusses the comments received on the draft Breach Plan/EIS and provides NPS responses to substantive comments. Dated: August 7, 2017. Cindy MacLeod, Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service. Editorial note: This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on December 13, 2017. [FR Doc. 2017-27244 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices 60213
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Subtitle D of Title XXIX. The public Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue,
lands withdrawn for the White Sands NY, 11772, 631–687–4770, kaetlyn_
Bureau of Land Management Missile Range are described as: jackson@nps.gov.
[LLNML00000 L14400000.ET0000; NMNM New Mexico Meridian, New Mexico SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island
136149] T. 20 S., R. 3 E., National Seashore (the Seashore), a unit
Sec. 28, S1⁄2; secs. 33 and 34. of the NPS, is located along the south
Public Notice of Legal Land T. 21 S., R. 3 E., shore of Long Island in Suffolk County,
Descriptions and Map Availability; Secs. 3, 4, 9, and 10; New York. The Seashore encompasses
White Sands Missile Range Sec. 14, lots 7, 8, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, and 19,579 acres of upland, tidal, and
Withdrawal, New Mexico 24, and NW1⁄4; submerged lands along a 26-mile stretch
Sec. 15, lots 1 and 3, N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, and N1⁄2
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, SE1⁄4.
of the 32-mile barrier island—part of a
Interior. much larger system of barrier islands
The areas described aggregate 5,089.31
ACTION: Notice. acres Dona Ana County.
and bluffs stretching from New York
City to the very eastern end of Long
(Authority: Public Law 113–66)
SUMMARY: This Notice provides official Island at Montauk Point.
publication of the legal land description Melanie Barnes, On October 29, 2012, Hurricane
for the White Sands Missile Range/Fort Deputy State Director, Lands and Resources. Sandy created three breaches in the
Bliss addition in New Mexico, which is [FR Doc. 2017–27220 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am] barrier island system off the south shore
withdrawn and reserved for military BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P of Long Island, New York, including one
training purposes. The fiscal year 2014 within the Otis Pike Fire Island High
National Defense Authorization Act Dune Wilderness Area (Fire Island
(NDAA) requires official publication of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Wilderness) within the Seashore.
the legal land description and Managing a breach in designated
notification of availability of the White National Park Service wilderness is different from managing
Sands Missile Range map. breaches outside wilderness areas, as
[NPS–NER–FIIS–DTS–23982;
DATES: The legal description became P0201786a.00.1] the NPS must manage federal
effective on December 26, 2013. wilderness to preserve wilderness
ADDRESSES: Copies of the map are Final Fire Island Wilderness Breach character. The existing Breach
available for public review at the Bureau Management Plan/Environmental Contingency Plan is the only guidance
of Land Management, New Mexico State Impact Statement, Fire Island National currently in effect to address breaches
Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, Seashore, New York along coastal Long Island from Fire
NM 87502, and the Bureau of Land AGENCY: National Park Service, Island Inlet east to Montauk Point but it
Management, Las Cruces District Office, Department of the Interior. does not adequately address
1800 Marquess Street Las Cruces, NM management of breaches in the Fire
ACTION: Notice of availability.
88001. Island Wilderness. As a result, pursuant
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUMMARY: The National Park Service to the National Environmental Policy
Jeanette Martinez, Bureau of Land (NPS) announces the availability of the Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the
Management, New Mexico State Office final Fire Island Wilderness Breach Seashore prepared a draft Fire Island
at 505–954–2196 or via email at Management Plan/Environmental Wilderness Breach Management Plan
jeanette@blm.gov. Persons who use a Impact Statement (final Breach Plan/ and Environmental Impact Statement
telecommunications device for the deaf EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, (draft Breach Plan/EIS) to develop a
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay New York. The final Breach Plan/EIS management strategy for the breach in
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to identifies Alternative 3, No Human the Fire Island Wilderness that would
contact the above individual during Intervention unless Established Criteria ensure the continued integrity of the
normal business hours. The FRS is are Exceeded, as the NPS preferred wilderness character; protect the natural
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, alternative. When approved, the and cultural features of the Seashore
to leave a message or question for the management plan will guide the and its surrounding ecosystems; protect
above individual. Replies are provided management of the breach that occurred human life; and manage the risk of
during normal business hours. in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune economic and physical damage to the
Wilderness during Hurricane Sandy. surrounding areas. The draft Breach
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
DATES: The NPS will prepare a Record Plan/EIS was prepared in cooperation
December 26, 2013, the NDAA for 2014
of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 with the US Army Corps of Engineers,
was passed under Public Law 113–66.
days following publication by the New York District, and the New York
Pursuant to Section 2912, Subtitle A, of
Environmental Protection Agency of a Department of Environmental
Title XXIX, Withdrawal, Reservation,
Notice of Availability of the final Breach Conservation.
and Transfer of Public Lands to Support
Military Readiness and Security, this Plan/EIS in the Federal Register. The NPS released the draft Breach
Notice informs the public of the official ADDRESSES: The final Breach Plan/EIS is Plan/EIS for public and agency review
legal land description for the public available electronically at http:// and comment beginning on October 27,
lands reserved for use by the Secretary parkplanning.nps.gov/ 2016 and ending on December 12, 2016.
of the Army for military purposes in FireIslandBreachManagementPlan. A The draft Breach Plan/EIS evaluated two
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
accordance with Public Land Order No. limited number of printed copies will be action alternatives (1 and 3) and the no-
833 and added to the exterior available upon request by contacting action alternative (2). Each alternative
boundaries of the White Sands Missile Fire Island National Seashore, 120 presented a different management
Range by Public Law 113–66. The Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772– strategy to address the breach in the Fire
withdrawn and reserved lands are 3596, 631–687–4770. Island Wilderness.
managed according to the provisions FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alternative 1 (Closure Using
stated under Section 2951 and 2952, Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National Mechanical Processes) would
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![60214 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices
mechanically close the breach as soon tide gauges in Great South Bay will be The hearing was held in Washington,
as possible. reviewed to identify changes in the tidal DC, on October 12, 2017, and all
Alternative 2 (Status Determined prism, which could indicate a change in persons who requested the opportunity
Entirely by Natural Processes) is the no- the breach conditions. were permitted to appear in person or
action alternative and allows the Other changes made as a result of by counsel.
management of the breach under natural comments consisted of clarifying text The Commission made these
processes, to include evolution and added to the final Breach Plan/EIS that determinations pursuant to section
potential growth and/or natural closure. did not substantively change the range 751(c) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)). It
Alternative 3 (No Human Intervention of alternatives considered or the completed and filed its determinations
unless Established Criteria are environmental consequences of in these reviews on December 13, 2017.
Exceeded) is identified as the NPS implementing any of the alternatives. The views of the Commission are
preferred alternative. This alternative Appendix C of the final Breach Plan/EIS contained in USITC Publication 4746
allows the evolution, growth, and/or discusses the comments received on the (December 2017), entitled Multilayered
closure of the breach to be determined draft Breach Plan/EIS and provides NPS Wood Flooring from China:
by natural barrier island processes, and responses to substantive comments. Investigation Nos. 701–TA–476 and
human intervention to close the breach 731–TA–1179 (Review).
Dated: August 7, 2017.
would occur only ‘‘to prevent loss of
Cindy MacLeod, By order of the Commission.
life, flooding, and other severe
economic and physical damage to the Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, Issued: December 13, 2017.
Great South Bay and surrounding National Park Service. Lisa R. Barton,
areas,’’ as allowed by the Otis Pike Fire Editorial note: This document was Secretary to the Commission.
Island High Dune Wilderness Act. received for publication by the Office of the [FR Doc. 2017–27242 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am]
Monitoring data collected since 2012 Federal Register on December 13, 2017. BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
and professional judgment of physical [FR Doc. 2017–27244 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am]
scientists studying the breach have been BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
used to determine that the three criteria INTERNATIONAL TRADE
described below are the most logical COMMISSION
indicators to alert Seashore staff to
INTERNATIONAL TRADE [Investigation No. 337–TA–1045]
changes in the breach that could elevate
COMMISSION
the risk of severe storm damage in the Certain Document Cameras and
form of loss of life, flooding, and other [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–476 and 731– Software for Use Therewith;
severe economic and physical damage, TA–1179 (Review)] Commission’s Determination Not To
which could lead to a decision to close Review an Initial Determination
the breach under Alternative 3: Multilayered Wood Flooring From
Terminating the Investigation Based
• Criterion 1: Geologic Controls. China; Determinations
on Withdrawal of the Complaint
Erosion-resistant clay to the east and On the basis of the record 1 developed
west of the breach serve as geologic AGENCY: U.S. International Trade
in the subject five-year reviews, the
controls for the breach. If the breach Commission.
United States International Trade
migrates beyond these geologic controls, Commission (‘‘Commission’’) ACTION: Notice.
growth of the breach will be less determines, pursuant to the Tariff Act of
predictable. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
1930 (‘‘the Act’’), that revocation of the the U.S. International Trade
• Criterion 2: Cross-Sectional Area. antidumping and countervailing duty
Originally, the cross-sectional area of Commission has determined not to
orders on multilayered wood flooring review the presiding administrative law
the breach increased rapidly; however, from China would be likely to lead to
the breach has reached a dynamic judge’s (‘‘ALJ’’) initial determination
continuation or recurrence of material (‘‘ID’’) (Order No. 20) terminating the
equilibrium in which the cross-sectional injury to an industry in the United
area has fluctuated between 300 and 600 investigation based on withdrawal of
States within a reasonably foreseeable the complaint.
square meters. A cross-sectional area time.
within or below this range represents a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
condition in which the effects of the Background Amanda Fisherow, Esq., Office of the
breach are understood. An increase in The Commission, pursuant to section General Counsel, U.S. International
cross-sectional area above this range 751(c) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)), Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW,
will indicate breach growth and a instituted these reviews on November 1, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
condition in which the evolution of the 2016 (81 FR 75854) and determined on 205–2737. Copies of non-confidential
breach is less predictable and impacts to February 6, 2017 that it would conduct documents filed in connection with this
the surrounding areas may change. full reviews (82 FR 10588, February 14, investigation are or will be available for
After reviewing and considering all 2017). Notice of the scheduling of the inspection during official business
comments received on the draft Breach Commission’s reviews and of a public hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the
Plan/EIS, the NPS has prepared the final hearing to be held in connection Office of the Secretary, U.S.
Breach Plan/EIS. The final Breach Plan/ therewith was given by posting copies International Trade Commission, 500 E
EIS identifies Alternative 3 as the NPS of the notice in the Office of the Street SW, Washington, DC 20436,
telephone (202) 205–2000. General
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
preferred alternative with one change Secretary, U.S. International Trade
from the draft Breach Plan/EIS. The Commission, Washington, DC, and by information concerning the Commission
description of alternative 3 was edited publishing the notice in the Federal may also be obtained by accessing its
in the final Breach Plan/EIS to include Register on June 16, 2017 (82 FR 27722). internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
one additional criterion suggested by The public record for this investigation
commenters: 1 The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the may be viewed on the Commission’s
• Criterion 3: Water Level as Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 electronic docket (EDIS) at https://
Measured by Tide Gauges. Data from CFR 207.2(f)). edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired
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Document Created: 2017-12-19 01:31:29
Document Modified: 2017-12-19 01:31:29
| 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 NPS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of a Notice of Availability of the final Breach Plan/EIS in the Federal Register. | |
| Contact | Kaetlyn Jackson, Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY, 11772, 631-687-4770, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 60213 |
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