Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Wilderness Study, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

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Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, P.L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852, 853, as codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the record of decision for the wilderness study, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin. On May 5 the Director, Midwest Region, approved the record of decision for the wilderness study. Specifically, the NPS has selected the preferred alternative (alternative C) as described in the Final Wilderness Study/ Environmental Impact Statement. Under the selected action (alternative C), the NPS proposes that 33,500 acres of the park's 42,160-acre land base (80%) be permanently protected as wilderness. Basswood, Sand, and Long Islands would not be proposed for wilderness designation. The selected action and three other alternatives were analyzed in the draft and final environmental impact statements. The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. Among the alternatives the NPS considered, the selected action best protects the park's natural and cultural resources, and most of its wilderness resource, while providing a reasonable level of ad