[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 5362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-908]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Assessment of Suitability and Non-Suitability for
Further Study of Lands Within Redwood National Park for Consideration
as Wilderness Areas
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Civil Action No. 03-04 (RMC), The Wilderness
Society v. Gale Norton, January 10, 2005, and in accordance with
National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies 2001 section 6.2.1, the
NPS has completed a Wilderness Suitability Assessment to determine if
lands within Redwood National Park meet criteria indicating suitability
for preservation as wilderness.
The Redwood National Park staff reviewed management related
documents that discussed potential wilderness, reviewed existing
resource conditions, and weighed this information against Primary
Suitability Criteria, section 6.2.1.1, of Management Policies 2001.
Since the expansion of Redwood National Park in 1978, the park has
undertaken an intense watershed rehabilitation program with a focus on
removing roads. Since park expansion in 1978, about 219 miles of road
have been removed and another 123 miles are proposed for removal within
the Redwood Creek portion of the park. The 1999 Final General
Management/General Plan and FEIS for Redwood National and State Parks
states that until watershed restoration activities are completed that
no wilderness area will be proposed. The 1979 General Management Plan
concluded that a wilderness recommendation would be premature until
rehabilitation efforts are completed because of the continuing need for
large construction vehicles and the maintenance and heavy use of roads,
activities inconsistent with wilderness designation.
Based on these findings, the NPS has concluded that the lands
within Redwood National Park do not warrant further study for
wilderness evaluation at this time. However, following successful
completion of watershed restoration activities in 12-15 years, or
during the next General Management Plan effort, reconsideration of
wilderness suitability for certain tracts of land within Redwood Creek
could be warranted.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Wilderness Suitability Assessment can be
obtained by writing to: Superintendent, Redwood National Park, 1111
Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information on
this Determination should be directed to: Superintendent, Redwood
National Park, 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The assessment standards outlined in NPS
Management Policies (2001) to determine if a roadless, undeveloped area
is suitable for preservation as wilderness are that it is over 5000
acres in size or of sufficient size to make practicable its
preservation and use in an unimpaired condition, and meets five
wilderness character criteria: (1) The earth and its community of life
are untrammeled by humans, where humans are visitors and do not remain;
(2) the area is undeveloped and retains its primeval character and
influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation; (3) the
area generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces fo
nature, with the imprint of humans' work substantially unnoticeable;
(4) the area is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural
conditions; and (5) the area offers outstanding opportunities for
solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation.
Public notices announcing the park's intention to conduct this
suitability assessment were placed in the Times Standard Newspaper in
Humboldt County on December 7, 8 and 9, 2005, and in the Del Norte
Triplicate, in Del Norte County on December 13, 14, and 15, 2005.
Dated: January 6, 2006.
Steve P. Martin,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 06-908 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
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