99--AVAILABILITY OF TRIAL PERIOD COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATION FOR GUIDED TECHNICAL SCUBA DIVING - B-29 BOMBER SITE LOCATED IN THE OVERTON ARM OF LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NV

SUBJECT: AVAILABILITY OF TRIAL PERIOD COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATION FOR GUIDED TECHNICAL SCUBA DIVING - B-29 BOMBER SITE LOCATED IN THE OVERTON ARM OF LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Under the authority of Section 418 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391), the National Park Service announces the availability of two Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) for Guided Technical Scuba Diving at the B-29 Bomber site located in the Overton Arm of Lake Mead National Recreation Area ("Park"). This commercial service will consist of guided technical scuba diving in and around the Overton B-29 Site, where the remains of a downed World War II vintage B-29 bomber are located. This site has been determined eligible to be on the National Register of Historic Places. This commercial service will be authorized for a six-month trial period during which time the Park will assess the effectiveness of the permit holders to preserve and properly manage the B-29 site. The number of dives and divers will be limited. During this trial period, the Park may make appropriate adjustments to the guided dive service. These adjustments could include: the right to halt, temporarily suspend, and/or increase or decrease the carrying capacity of this service to address impacts on the Overton B-29 Site. The number of CUAs available for this commercial service is being limited to two (2) permittees in order to preserve and properly manage Park resources and values (consistent with the National Park Service's legal obligations under 16 U.S.C. §5966(b)(2)(D). A multi-step process will be used to select the permit holders. In the first step of the selection process, applications will be reviewed for completeness and timely submission. In the second step of the process, applications will be evaluated and their relative qualities assessed on the factors specified in the instructions for the application forms. Any CUAs issued will be subject to a number of terms and conditions concerning the qualifications and certifications of the dive guides, diving operations (including safety), insurance and other liability requirements. Consistent with the limitations on CUA authority, all commercial activities authorized by the CUA must begin and end outside of the Park boundary. A CUA of this type may not authorize solicitation of customers, sales, or payment for commercial services to take place within the park area; all of these activities must occur outside of the Park boundary. The National Park Service will accept only one application per individual, company or other legally recognized entity for a CUA for this specific category of commercial services. To be considered, an application must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. (PST) on Friday, May 18, 2007 (see application for details and address). Application forms and additional CUA information and requirements may be obtained on the Lake Mead National Recreation Area website at www.nps.gov/lame (see B-29 Guided Technical Diving CUA Application quicklink on the front page), or by contacting: Heidie Grigg, CUA Program Manager, (702) 293-8923, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Concession Management Division, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, Nevada 89005.