Final General Management Plan Amendment, Environmental Impact Statement: Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

U.S. Department of Interior; National Park Service

The purpose of this Final General Management Plan Amendment I Environmental Impact Statement for Dry Tortugas National Park in Monroe County, Florida, is to set forth the management philosophy and management direction for the park for the next 15 to 20 years. The park has been operating under the General Management Plan I Development Concept Plan I Environmental Assessment that was prepared in 1983. Although much of the 1983 plan is still applicable, this older plan does not address several current issues. The 1983 plan needs amending to provide overall guidance for the future use of resources and facilities; to clarify research and resource management needs, priorities, and strategies; and to address changing levels of park visitation and use. This new General Management Plan Amendment will replace the 1983 plan. Specific issues to be addressed in this amendment include protection of near pristine resources such as coral reefs and sea grass beds, the protection of submerged cultural resources, the management direction for commercial services to provide transportation and assistance in educating visitors, and the determination of appropriate levels and types of visitor use. Establishing appropriate levels of visitor use is especially important. In 1984 the park had 18,000 visitors Last year more than 84,000 people visited the park. The first quarter visitation numbers of 2000 are 25% greater than last year. Managers must take actions to deal with visitor safety and enjoyment as well as protect the resources. This Final General Management Plan Amendment presents and analyzes five alternative future directions for management and use of Dry Tortugas National Park and incorporates appropriate changes from the comments on the draft plan. Alternative A, a "no-action" alternative, presents what would happen under a continuation of existing conditions, without a new management plan, and provides a basis for comparing the other alternatives. Alternatives B, C, D, and E (the "action alternatives")considered in this document provide different ways to meet current and future needs, protect park resources, and enhance visitor experience. Alternative B provides greater protection of natural and cultural resources than alternative A. Alternative C, which has been identified as the National Park Service's proposed action/preferred future direction, affords a high level of protection to significant park resources through selectively applying a research natural area zone, instituting a permit system for private boaters, and using commercial services to direct and structure visitor use. Alternative Dis the same as alternative C except that the research natural area zone is larger and private boaters would not be allowed in this zone. Alternative E is the same as alternative D except that the research natural area zone would be applied to almost the entire park. The potential consequences and environmental impacts associated with implementing each of the alternatives are evaluated in the "Environmental Consequences" section of this document. Concurrent with the completion of the General Management Plan Amendment, the National Park Service will issue a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making." This will initiate the process of establishing new or revised regulations that are directed by the final plan. Public comments received on the Draft General Management Plan Amendment that address topics that will be the subject of rulemaking will also apply to public review of the draft regulations when they are released for public comment.