Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas

Résumé

On September 26, 2002, the Director, Intermountain Region, approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practical, the National Park Service will begin to implement the Oil and Gas Management Plan as described as the Preferred Alternative (Alternative B) contained in the FEIS issued on August 9, 2002. In the Preferred Alternative, all areas of the two NPS units would be formally designated as Special Management Areas (SMA's), and specific operating stipulations would be applied. While this alternative was not deemed to be the environmentally preferred alternative, it was determined to best accomplish the legislated purposes of the two NPS units by balancing the statutory mission of the NPS to provide long-term protection to the NPS units' resources and significance, while allowing for the exercise of rights to oil and gas not owned by the United States. It was also determined that implementation of the Preferred Alternative will not constitute an impairment of park resources and values. This course of action and two alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed,