Off-road Vehicle Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah

Sue E. Masica
Department of the Interior
17 January 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4921-4922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00866]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-GLCA-16773; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000 ]


Off-road Vehicle Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Off-road Vehicle Management Plan, Glen Canyon 
National Recreation Area.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement (Plan/FEIS) for the Off-road 
Vehicle Management Plan, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GLCA), 
located in Arizona and Utah. The Plan/FEIS evaluates the impacts of 
four action alternatives that address off-road vehicle (ORV) 
management. It also assesses the impacts that could result from 
continuing the current management framework in the no-action 
alternative.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
the Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Off-road Vehicle Management Plan.

ADDRESSES: The Plan/FEIS will be available in electronic format online 
through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site 
(http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GLCA); click on the link to Off-road 
Vehicle Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. Copies of the 
Plan/FEIS will also be available at Glen Canyon National Recreation 
Area Headquarters, 691 Scenic View Drive, Page, Arizona 86040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teri Tucker, Assistant Superintendent, 
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, Arizona 
86040, by phone at 928-608-6207, or by email at teri_tucker@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this Plan/FEIS is to evaluate 
off-road use and on-road all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use and develop 
management actions that preserve Glen Canyon's scientific, scenic, and 
historic features; provide for the recreational use and enjoyment of 
the area; and promote the resources and values for which the area was 
established as a unit of the national park system. This Plan/FEIS does 
not adjudicate, analyze, or otherwise determine the validity of R.S. 
2477 right-of-way claims.
    The Plan/FEIS evaluates five alternatives: A no-action alternative 
(A) and four action alternatives (B, C, D, and E), all of which are 
summarized below. Alternative E is the NPS preferred alternative. 
Alternative B is the environmentally preferable alternative. Other 
alternatives were explored but dismissed from detailed analysis.
     Alternative A: No-Action. The no-action alternative 
represents the status quo and the continuation of existing management 
policies and actions related to off-road use in Glen Canyon. This 
alternative is consistent with the Glen Canyon 1979 General Management 
Plan (GMP) and other planning documents related to off-road travel in 
Glen Canyon. Under this alternative, conventional motor vehicles would 
continue to be allowed at 12 accessible shoreline areas-Blue Notch, 
Bullfrog North and South, Copper Canyon, Crosby Canyon, Dirty Devil, 
Farley Canyon, Neskahi, Paiute Canyon, Red

[[Page 4922]]

Canyon, Stanton Creek, Warm Creek and White Canyon--subject to water 
level closures. Lone Rock Beach and Lone Rock Play Area would remain 
open to conventional motor vehicles, street-legal ATVs, and off-highway 
vehicles (OHV) as defined by state law. Conventional motor vehicles and 
street legal ATVs would be allowed on GMP roads, with the exception of 
roads in the Orange Cliffs Management Unit, where ATVs would continue 
to be prohibited. Off-road use would continue on routes in the Ferry 
Swale area by all vehicle types. Alternative A does not include safety 
or noise restrictions and does not include a permit system.
     Alternative B: No Off-road Vehicle Use. Under alternative 
B, off-road use would be managed in a manner consistent with the 
remote, undeveloped, and lightly traveled nature which characterizes 
much of Glen Canyon. The isolated and primitive characteristics of the 
Glen Canyon backcountry would be maintained by limiting the operation 
of all types of motor vehicles to designated roads. There would be no 
designated ORV routes or areas. All existing off-road use areas, 
including the accessible shorelines currently open, Lone Rock Beach, 
and Lone Rock Beach Play Area, would be closed and restored to natural 
conditions. Conventional motor vehicles and street-legal ATVs would be 
allowed on GMP roads, with the exception of roads in the Orange Cliffs 
Management Unit, where ATVs would continue to be prohibited. All motor 
vehicles must not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.
     Alternative C: Increased Motorized Access. Under this 
alternative, off-road use would be managed in a manner that would 
expand the recreational opportunities in Glen Canyon by increasing the 
number of ORV routes and areas. Under this alternative, conventional 
motor vehicles, street-legal ATVs and OHVs, as defined by state law, 
would be allowed at 15 accessible shorelines-Blue Notch, Bullfrog North 
and South, Copper Canyon, Crosby Canyon, Dirty Devil, Farley Canyon, 
Hite Boat Ramp, Neskahi, Nokai Canyon, Piute Canyon, Paiute Farms, Red 
Canyon, Stanton Creek, Warm Creek and White Canyon--subject to water 
level closures. Lone Rock Beach and Lone Rock Play Area would be open 
to conventional motor vehicles, street-legal ATVs and OHVs. The speed 
limit at the accessible shorelines and Lone Rock Beach would be 15 mph 
and quiet hours after 10 p.m. would be established. A permit would be 
required for all off-road travel. A red or orange whip flag would be 
required at the Lone Rock Beach Play Area in accordance with Utah OHV 
regulations. ORV routes would be designated on approximately 22 miles 
of pre-existing routes in the Ferry Swale area and at other access 
points across Glen Canyon. Under this alternative conventional motor 
vehicles, street legal ATVs and OHVs would be allowed on all GMP roads, 
including on roads in the Orange Cliffs Management Unit. The speed 
limit on unpaved GMP roads would be 25 mph or as posted. All motor 
vehicles must not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.
     Alternative D: Decreased Motorized Access. This 
alternative protects natural and cultural resources by limiting off-
road use. Under this alternative, Lone Rock Beach Play Area, Blue 
Notch, Bullfrog North and South, Copper Canyon, Crosby Canyon, Neskahi, 
Nokai Canyon, Piute Canyon, Paiute Farms, Red Canyon, Warm Creek and 
White Canyon would be closed and restored to natural conditions. 
Conventional motor vehicles would be permitted at four designated 
accessible shoreline areas, Farley Canyon, Dirty Devil, Hite Boat Ramp 
and Stanton Creek. Lone Rock Beach would be open only to conventional 
vehicles. The speed limit at the accessible shorelines and Lone Rock 
Beach would be 15 mph and quiet hours after 10 p.m. would be 
established. A permit would be required for all off-road use. No ATVs 
or OHVs would be allowed in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. ORV 
routes would not be designated in the Ferry Swale area or at other 
access points across Glen Canyon. All motor vehicles must not exceed a 
sound level of 96 decibels when operated.
     Alternative E: Mixed Use (NPS Preferred Alternative). 
Alternative E is designed to protect resources and enhance the visitor 
experience by identifying and designating specific areas capable of 
supporting on-road ATV use and off-road use while prohibiting such uses 
in areas where resources and values may be at risk. Under this 
alternative one vehicle-accessible shoreline area--Warm Creek--would be 
closed permanently. Fourteen areas--Blue Notch, Bullfrog North and 
South, Copper Canyon, Crosby Canyon, Dirty Devil, Farley Canyon, Hite 
Boat Ramp, Neskahi, Nokai Canyon, Piute Canyon, Paiute Farms, Red 
Canyon, Stanton Creek and White Canyon--would remain open to 
conventional motor vehicles and street-legal ATVs, subject to water-
level closures. Lone Rock Beach and Lone Rock Beach Play area would be 
open to conventional vehicles, street-legal ATVs and OHVs, as defined 
by state law. The speed limit at the accessible shorelines and Lone 
Rock Beach would be 15 mph and quiet hours after 10 p.m. would be 
established. Lone Rock Beach, Stanton Creek, and other high use areas 
would include vehicle-free areas. A red or orange whip flag would be 
required at the Lone Rock Beach Play Area in accordance with Utah OHV 
regulations. In addition, ORV routes would be designated on 
approximately 21 miles of pre-existing routes in the Ferry Swale area 
and at other access points across Glen Canyon. A permit would be 
required for all off-road use. Under this alternative, conventional 
motor vehicles, street-legal ATVs and OHVs, as defined by state law, 
would be allowed on unpaved GMP roads including the Poison Spring Loop 
in the Orange Cliffs Management Unit. ATVs and OHVs would not be 
allowed on any other roads in the Orange Cliffs Management Unit. The 
speed limit on unpaved GMP roads would be 25 mph or as posted. 
Conventional motor vehicles and street-legal ATVs would be allowed on 
paved GMP roads, except the Lees Ferry Access Road. All motor vehicles 
must not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.

    Dated: July 22, 2016.
Sue E. Masica,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.

    Editorial note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on January 11, 2017.
[FR Doc. 2017-00866 Filed 1-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P