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GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL
RULE FOR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT USE
PAGE,
AZ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Kitty Roberts today announced the Final Rule for continued personal watercraft use within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will be published
in the Federal Register and become effective on publication Friday, September 26, 2003. The Final Rule authorizes the immediate implementation of the Record of Decision on the Final
Environmental Impact Statement Personal Watercraft Rulemaking approved June 27, 2003. Copies of the Final Rule, Record of Decision, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement can be found on
the recreation area's website planning page at www.nps.gov/glca/plan.htm.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement described and analyzed three alternatives to manage personal
watercraft on Lake Powell and its tributaries to provide for the long-term protection of park resources while allowing a range of recreational opportunities.
After thorough analysis and
extensive public involvement, the National Park Service determined Alternative B (the modified preferred alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement) as the best to meet the general
management objectives of the National Park Service for protecting recreation area resources and values while offering recreation opportunities as provided for in Glen Canyon's enabling legislation,
purpose, mission, and goals. The need to protect the natural environment and support the recreational interests of visitors is recognized under this alternative.
With the publication of the
Final Rule, the restrictions to personal watercraft that were implemented under a settlement agreement between the Blue Water Network and the National Park Service are now lifted and personal
watercraft are now allowed on the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell and above mile marker 108 to Hite. However, the Final Rule does implement some geographic restrictions on personal watercraft use
on the Dirty Devil, Colorado, Escalante, and San Juan Rivers and defines an additional flat-wake zone on the Escalante River. All personal watercraft used in the recreation area after December
31, 2012 will be required to meet the 2006 emission standards set by the EPA for the manufacturing of gasoline marine engines (61 FR 52087-52169).
The Final Rule also includes strategies
to better protect recreation area resources and improve visitor safety with the implementation of a 3-year pilot study to identify techniques and area restrictions to reduce visitor conflict between
watercraft users and other visitors. This study will be used in the development of a comprehensive lake management plan to address all uses of Lake Powell and educational programs and materials
will be enhanced to provide more information to visitors on watercraft use and safety as well as recreation area resources.
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