Final Environmental Impact Statement for Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties, California, 14531-14533 [2014-05658]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14531-14533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05658]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-14562; PX.P0131800B.00.1]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Tuolumne Wild and Scenic 
River Comprehensive Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera, 
Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the National

[[Page 14532]]

Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), the 
National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Tuolumne Wild and Scenic 
River Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact 
Statement (Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS). The Final Tuolumne River 
Plan/EIS fulfills the requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(Pub. L. 90-542, as amended) (WSRA) and will provide a long-term 
management program for the 54 miles of the Tuolumne River that flow 
through Yosemite National Park.
    The purpose of the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS is to protect the 
river's free-flowing character and the values that make it worthy of 
designation by (1) reviewing and updating river corridor boundaries and 
segment classifications, (2) prescribing a process for the protection 
of the river's free-flowing condition, (3) identifying and documenting 
the condition of the river's outstandingly remarkable values, (4) 
identifying management actions needed to protect and enhance river 
values, (5) establishing management objectives for river values and a 
monitoring program for ensuring the objectives are met, and (6) 
defining visitor use and user capacity for the river corridor. The 
Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS would update portions of the 1980 
Yosemite General Management Plan (GMP) that address management within 
the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor. It also identifies the 
agency-preferred and environmentally preferred alternative.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 
days from the date of publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency's notice of filing for the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Morse, Chief of Planning, 
Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 700-W, 5083 Foresta Road, El Portal, 
CA 95318, (209) 379-1110. Electronic versions of the complete document 
are available online at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm. Request 
printed documents or CDs through email (yose_planning@nps.gov) (type 
``Final TRP EIS'' in the subject line) or telephone (209) 379-1110.
    Range of Alternatives: The Final EIS identifies and analyzes a No-
Action alternative and four action alternatives for managing the 
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor. All alternatives would 
preserve and sustain wilderness character, including natural ecosystem 
function and opportunities for primitive, unconfined recreation, in the 
more than 90% of the river corridor that is congressionally designated 
Wilderness. The No-Action alternative would retain current conditions 
in the Tuolumne River corridor with no change in management, use, or 
development. A number of proposed actions are common to the action 
alternatives (Alternatives 1-4). For example, Alternatives 1-4 include 
WSRA elements such as boundaries, classifications, a WSRA Sec.  7 
determination process, and a user capacity management program. Per WSRA 
direction, Alternatives 1-4 would protect and enhance the values for 
which the Tuolumne River was designated, including its free-flowing 
condition, excellent water quality, and outstandingly remarkable 
values. Alternatives 1-4 vary primarily in how they balance the 
protection of river values with different kinds of visitor use and 
associated user capacities. Alternatives 1-4 would provide for 
traditional cultural practices by American Indian tribes. The EIS 
analyzes potential impacts of each alternative and describes mitigation 
measures.
    The No-Action alternative serves as the baseline from which to 
compare the action alternatives. This alternative assumes that current 
trends in the conditions of natural and cultural resources and visitor 
experiences would continue, consistent with the management activities 
that are ongoing under current, approved plans. In the Tuolumne Meadows 
area, opportunities for day and overnight use would continue to include 
a range of recreational activities supported by modest commercial 
services and overnight camping and lodging.
    Alternative 4 (agency-preferred) seeks to retain the traditional 
Tuolumne experience while reducing the impacts of development. 
Alternative 4 would provide a meaningful introduction for the growing 
number of short-term visitors in the Tuolumne Meadows area. 
Opportunities for day visitors to connect with the river would be 
improved by providing a visitor contact station, picnic area, and trail 
connection to the river and Parsons Memorial Lodge. Existing 
opportunities for traditional overnight use would remain. To 
accommodate slightly increased use levels while protecting and 
enhancing recovering meadow and riparian habitats, most day use would 
be confined to maintained trails and specific destinations. As 
discussed in detail in the EIS, Alternative 4 is identified as the 
environmentally preferred course of action.
    Alternative 1 would achieve a visitor experience characterized by 
self-reliance in a more natural setting, with more wilderness-like 
management throughout the river corridor. In Tuolumne Meadows, all 
commercial services (including the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, store, 
grill, fuel station, and mountaineering shop/school), would be 
discontinued. Use levels at the campground would remain at a reduced 
capacity, and the NPS would provide minimal camper supplies at the 
campground office. Natural river values would be enhanced by greatly 
reducing the development footprint, greatly reducing demands for water 
supply and wastewater treatment, and eliminating most potential risks 
to water quality.
    Alternative 2 would facilitate resource enjoyment and stewardship 
for a broad spectrum of visitors, including visitors with only a short 
time to spend in the area. In the Tuolumne Meadows area, Alternative 2 
would retain or expand all current activities and service. For example, 
there would be a new day parking and picnic area near the trailhead for 
Parsons Memorial Lodge and the Tuolumne Meadows Campground would be 
expanded. Overall visitor use levels in the river corridor would be the 
highest among the range of alternatives. River values would be 
protected by directing visitors to those areas most able to withstand 
use.
    Alternative 3 would preserve the opportunity for a classic national 
park experience in a historic setting, in the Tuolumne Meadows and Glen 
Aulin areas. Visitors would have recreational opportunities in a 
setting that would appear little changed over time. A full range of 
orientation, interpretation, and education programs would be available. 
The store, grill, and concessioner day rides would remain. The Tuolumne 
Meadows Campground would remain at its current capacity, and the 
Tuolumne Lodge would be retained at half its current capacity. The 
levels of visitor use would be in the middle of the range of 
alternatives.
    Changes Incorporated in Final EIS: In response to public comments 
on the Draft Tuolumne River Plan/EIS, agency feedback, and new 
technical information, the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS was revised as 
follows:
     A recreational outstanding remarkable value was reworded 
to clarify that it is the rare and easy access provided by the Tioga 
Road, not the Tioga Road itself, that is the outstanding remarkable 
value.
     The Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would be retained at up to 
28 beds. No tents would be removed, but the capacity of two tents would 
be reduced from four beds to two beds. Water consumption and wastewater

[[Page 14533]]

production at the camp would not exceed 500 gallons per day.
     Limited boating would be allowed through the Grand Canyon 
of the Tuolumne, from Pothole Dome to Pate Valley. Overnight boating 
would be permitted under the Wilderness overnight trailhead quota 
system used to manage the user capacity in Wilderness zones; only 
noncommercial boating would be permitted. The NPS would provide for 
such use on a trial basis, monitoring and adjusting the management of 
this recreational opportunity as needed.
     Twenty-one campsites in Loop A of the Tuolumne Meadows 
Campground that are within 100 feet of the river would be relocated 
within the campground to protect riparian vegetation along the Lyell 
Fork.
     The mountaineering school function would be retained and 
accommodated at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
     The NPS would seek to move the dining hall and kitchen at 
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge upslope within the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 
complex, more than 150 feet from the banks of the Dana Fork. This move 
would be dependent on identification of a suitable site and 
consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Officer.
     The grazing capacity for meadows along the Lyell Fork 
would be adjusted from a capacity of 192 grazing-nights per season to a 
flexible capacity of 167-249 grazing-nights per season, depending on 
snowfall and rainfall patterns.
     The percentage of total use allocated to commercial use in 
Wilderness portions of the Tuolumne River Corridor would be adjusted to 
a slightly higher percentage. Such uses would consist of no more than 
15% of total use in the Lyell Canyon portion of the river corridor.
     The Draft EIS mistakenly showed that the ranger station in 
Tuolumne Meadows would be relocated to the existing visitor center. The 
Final EIS confirms that the ranger station would remain in its existing 
location. The maintenance offices would occupy the old visitor center 
once the new visitor contact station is constructed.
     An employee fuel station would be provided at the 
maintenance yard. Visitors who ran out of gas could also obtain fuel.
    Decision Process: The Record of Decision will be prepared not 
sooner than 30 days after release of the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS. 
As a delegated EIS process, the official responsible for final approval 
of the Tuolumne River Plan is the Regional Director, Pacific West 
Region, NPS; subsequently the official responsible for implementation 
of the approved Tuolumne River Plan is the Superintendent, Yosemite 
National Park.

    Dated: November 22, 2013.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

    Editorial Note: This document was received by the Office of the 
Federal Register on March 11, 2014.

[FR Doc. 2014-05658 Filed 3-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FF-P