Availability of Lumber River 2 (a)(ii) Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report, Environmental Assessment, and Finding of No significant Impact, Lumber River, North Carolina

On April 15, 1996, North Carolina Governor James Hunt petitioned Interior Secretary, Bruce Babbitt to include 115 miles of the Lumber River (from State Route 1412/1203 to the North Carolina and South Carolina border) in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System). Under Section 2(a)(ii) of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Pub. L. 90-542, as amended), the Secretary has the authority to add a river to the national system at the request of a state, provided the following conditions have been met: the river possesses values of regional or national significance and is free- flowing; the river has been designated as a state wild and scenic river; and the state has an adequate program to manage the river and permanently protect the river's outstanding resources. The National Park Service found that two reaches of the river, totaling 81 miles, met all requirements for wild and scenic river designation. The upper reach extends from State Route 1412/1203 to the Scotland and Robeson County lines, at the end of Maxton Airport Swamp (22 miles) and the lower reach begins at Back Swamp and runs through the city of Lumberton and the town of Fair Bluff, to the North Carolina and South Carolina border (59 miles). The National Park Service found that the remaining reach of the river (34 miles, from the Scotland and Robeson County to Back Swamp) does not have adequate state or local mechanism that ensure future protection of the river's outstanding resources in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The National Park Service classified segments of the 115-mile river nomination as wild, scenic, or recreational, in accordance with Section 2(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The river segment from State Route 1412/1203 to the Scotland and Robeson County lines was classified as scenic. The segment (not recommended for designation) from the Scotland and Robeson County lines to Back Swamp was classified as scenic. The segment encompassing the city of Lumberton and the city's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (from Back Swamp to Jacob Swamp Canal) was classified as recreational. The segment from Jacob Swamp Canal to the upstream town limits of the town of Fair Bluff was classified as scenic. The segment from the downstream town limits of Fair Bluff to the North Carolina and South Carolina border was classified as recreational. The National Park Service found that designation of the Lumber river as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System would not significantly impact the quality of the natural and human environment and that an environmental assessment fulfills the requirements of the national Environmental Policy Act.

Dated: October 26, 1998. Suzette Kimball, Associate Regional Director, Natural Resource Stewardship & Science. [FR Doc. 98-30650 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-M