Special Flight Rules Area in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon 
National Park

Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Special Flight Rules Area in the Vicinity of Grand 
Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Special Flight 
Rules Area in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park for Grand 
Canyon National Park, Arizona.
    The four alternatives in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) that are being considered include:
    Alternative A Current Condition: Key elements are corridors open 
year round, annual allocation cap of 93,971, and no quiet technology 
incentive. Current tours for helicopters and fixed wing remain the 
same.
    Alternative E Alternating Seasonal Use: Key elements are corridors 
alternating on a seasonal basis, daily allocation cap of 364 for air 
tour and air tour related, and conversion to quiet technology aircraft.
    Alternative F Modified Current Condition: Key elements are similar 
to current condition except for one way east bound tour for quiet 
technology, elimination of Nankoweap loop, incentives for quiet 
technology aircraft, and seasonal shift for Dragon corridor.
    NPS Preferred Alternative: Key elements are short-loop corridors 
alternate on a seasonal basis, four-year phase in of long-loop for 
quiet technology aircraft, annual allocation cap of 65,000 air tour and 
related operations and a daily cap of 364 for commercial air tours, 
increased altitudes for some areas and flight free zones, and 
conversion of quiet technology within ten years.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement from the public for 120 days after the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this Notice of 
Availability. Public meetings will be held within the 120-day public 
comment period in Phoenix, AZ; Flagstaff, AZ; Grand Canyon National 
Park, AZ; Las Vegas, NV; and Salt Lake City, UT; with specific dates, 
times, and venue locations to be determined. Updates will be announced 
separately in a press release, and on the NPS's Planning, Environment 
and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site.