Draft Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan, City of Rocks National Reserve, Cassia County, Idaho, 38228-38230 [2015-16319]
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38228
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Notices
8. Practice adaptive management, in
which recovery is monitored and
recovery tasks are revised by the Service
in coordination with the Sonoran
Pronghorn Recovery Team as new
information becomes available.
The draft recovery plan contains
recovery criteria based on increasing
and protecting current populations and
establishing at least one new
population, as well as reducing threats
to the species. To achieve recovery
criteria, various management actions are
needed. When the status of Sonoran
pronghorn meets these criteria, the
species will no longer meet the
conditions of being endangered
throughout a significant portion of its
range and will no longer warrant listing.
Request for Public Comments
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to
provide public notice and an
opportunity for public review and
comment during recovery plan
development. It is also our policy to
request peer review of recovery plans
(July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). We will
summarize and respond to the issues
raised by the public and peer reviewers
and post our responses on our Web site.
Substantive comments may or may not
result in changes to the recovery plan;
comments regarding recovery plan
implementation will be forwarded as
appropriate to Federal or other entities
so that they can be taken into account
during the course of implementing
recovery actions. Responses to
individual commenters will not be
provided, but we will provide a
summary of how we addressed
substantive comments in an appendix to
the approved recovery plan.
We invite written comments on the
draft recovery plan. In particular, we are
interested in additional information
regarding the current threats to the
species and the costs associated with
implementing the recommended
recovery actions.
Before we approve our final recovery
plan, we will consider all comments we
receive by the date specified in DATES.
Methods of submitting comments are in
the ADDRESSES section.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:16 Jul 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Comments and materials we receive
will be available, by appointment, for
public inspection during normal
business hours at our office (see
ADDRESSES).
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited
herein is available upon request from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Branch of Recovery (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section).
Authority
We developed our draft recovery plan
under the authority of section 4(f) of the
Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this
notice under section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 20, 2015.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region,
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–16292 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, to leave a message or question
with the above individual. You will
receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plat,
in 2 sheets, and field notes of the
dependent resurvey, survey and
supplemental plat in Townships 45 and
46 North, Range 7 East, New Mexico
Principal Meridian, Colorado, were
accepted on May 12, 2015.
The plat and field notes of the limited
corrective dependent resurvey in
Township 43 North, Range 6 East, New
Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on May 18, 2015.
The plat incorporating the field notes
of the dependent resurvey and
subdivision of section 3 in Township 14
South, Range 77 West, Sixth Principal
Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on
June 10, 2015.
The plat incorporating the field notes
of the dependent resurvey in Township
35 North, Range 15 West, New Mexico
Principal Meridian, Colorado, was
accepted on June 19, 2015.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Randy Bloom,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado.
Bureau of Land Management
[FR Doc. 2015–16290 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am]
[LLCO956000 L14400000.BJ0000]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey;
Colorado
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Filing of Plats of
Survey; Colorado.
National Park Service
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Colorado State
Office is publishing this notice to
inform the public of the intent to
officially file the survey plats listed
below and afford a proper period of time
to protest this action prior to the plat
filing. During this time, the plats will be
available for review in the BLM
Colorado State Office.
DATES: Unless there are protests of this
action, the filing of the plats described
in this notice will happen on August 3,
2015.
ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office,
Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield
Street, Lakewood, CO 80215–7093.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor
for Colorado, (303) 239–3856.
Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact the above individual during
SUMMARY:
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[NPS–PWR–PWRO–17880;
PX.PR099106F.00.1]
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for General Management Plan, City of
Rocks National Reserve, Cassia
County, Idaho
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service
(NPS), in cooperation with the Idaho
Department of Parks and Recreation and
the Bureau of Land Management, has
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) and General
Management Plan (GMP) for City of
Rocks National Reserve (Reserve). The
DEIS evaluates four GMP alternatives
for management of the City of Rocks
National Reserve. When approved, the
GMP will allow for implementation of a
range of management actions to improve
protection of natural and cultural
resources and visitor experience within
the Reserve.
DATES: All comments must be
postmarked or transmitted not later than
60 days from the date of publication in
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Notices
the Federal Register of the
Environmental Protection Agency’s
notice of filing and release of the DEIS.
Immediately upon confirmation of this
date, all entities on the project mailing
list will be notified, and public
announcements about the DEIS review
period will be posted on the project
Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
ciro) and distributed via local and
regional press media.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact GMP Planning Team
Leader Amanda Schramm at (206) 220–
4112.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: City of
Rocks National Reserve (Reserve) was
designated as a unit of the national park
system on November 18, 1988, by the
Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 1988
(Pub. L. 100–696) and is managed
cooperatively by the NPS and Idaho
Department of Parks and Recreation
(IDPR). The Reserve is located in the
Albion Mountains in southwest Idaho
and is one of many publicly owned
areas within the region. The Reserve
contains unique and diverse resources.
The geologic features are worldrenowned both for rock climbing and
academic study. Vegetation
communities include sagebrush steppe,
pinyon-juniper woodlands, mountain
mahogany woodlands, and higher
elevation forest communities of aspen,
subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and
limber pine. Idaho’s only known
population of cliff chipmunk is found in
the Reserve and on adjacent lands.
Other wildlife species include mule
deer, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion,
moose, elk, and bighorn sheep.
The Reserve preserves and protects
6.2 miles of the California National
Historic Trail, 1.8 miles of the Salt Lake
Alternate, and the surrounding cultural
landscape, which includes remnant
historic trail ruts, more than 350
emigrant signatures on 22 rocks, and
portions of the Mormon Battalion Trail
and the Kelton-Boise Stage Route. The
Reserve comprises an area of 14,407
acres. Of that total, approximately 9,680
acres are federally-owned, 4,087 acres
are privately-owned, and 640 acres are
owned by the State of Idaho. Private
land within the Reserve is regulated by
Cassia County zoning and subdivision
ordinances. Although considered
nontraditional uses in most national
park units, cattle grazing and hunting
occur within the Reserve. The
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes also continue
traditional uses, such as seasonal
hunting and pine nut gathering.
The GMP is needed because the 1996
City of Rocks National Reserve
Comprehensive Management Plan is
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:16 Jul 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
outdated and no longer provides
adequate guidance to address the policy
and operational issues now facing the
Reserve. Many of the actions in the
comprehensive management plan have
been implemented, but other actions are
either outdated, cost-prohibitive, or
cannot be executed for other reasons,
including current property ownership.
The new GMP seeks to: (1) Describe
purpose, significance, special mandates,
fundamental resources and values, and
primary interpretive themes for the
Reserve through foundation planning;
(2) clearly define resource conditions,
visitor uses, and experiences to be
achieved within the Reserve; (3) provide
a framework for Reserve managers to
guide decisions about protecting
Reserve resources and providing highquality visitor experiences through
management of visitor activities and
facilities; and (4) develop a foundation
for NPS decision-making in consultation
with interested stakeholders and IDPR
leadership, based on analysis of the
benefits, impacts, and costs of the
alternatives.
The new GMP will address several
issues facing the Reserve. In 1996 when
the Comprehensive Management Plan
was produced, approximately 50
percent of the land within the Reserve
was in public ownership. Today, that
percentage is approximately 70 percent,
resulting in additional planning
opportunities for newly acquired
parcels. A land protection plan (LPP)
currently underway will be completed
following the publication of the GMP.
The LPP will define those land interests
that are most important to fulfilling the
purpose of the Reserve, the resource
protection reasons for acquisition, and
the priority for and types of acquisition,
as developed in consultation with the
Reserve superintendent. Any lands
proposed for acquisition would be by
willing seller only, and would be
consistent with Reserve legislation and
NPS policies.
Visitation within the Reserve rose
from approximately 81,000 visitors in
1993 to more than 99,439 in 2011.
Population growth in the nearby
metropolitan areas of Salt Lake City and
the Pocatello/Idaho Falls area is
expected to increase in the next 20
years, potentially affecting visitation
and use within the Reserve. Because of
increased visitation, there is a need to
evaluate existing facilities. The
temporary visitor center serving both
the Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park
is located in a 100-year-old house that
is inadequate to accommodate the use of
the thousands of visitors that pass
through for orientation and information.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
38229
Although many campsites in the
Reserve that existed when the Reserve
was established have been closed or
rehabilitated, there are lingering issues
that need to be addressed including
campsites that conflict with day use
activities, safety and visual issues with
some roadside campsites, and the need
for additional toilets. Most campsites in
the Reserve are located along the
southern and western rim of Circle
Creek Basin—these sites offer prime
views of the ‘‘Inner City’’ pinnacles, as
well as more expansive views of Granite
Ridge that completes the northern
encirclement of the basin. Intensive use
during some seasons has caused parking
conflicts, especially associated with
horse trailer and large recreational
vehicle parking. The GMP includes a
development concept plan to address
these specific issues, including
comprehensive assessment of the trail
system with associated parking,
picnicking, and trailheads.
Several plans completed since the
1996 comprehensive management plan
are now due for revision, and additional
plans are needed to better inform
Reserve management. Among these
plans are the grazing management plan,
fire management plan and vegetation
management plan. The GMP is intended
to provide more direction for their
development.
The DEIS also includes a wilderness
eligibility assessment because all lands
administered by the NPS must be
evaluated for their eligibility for
inclusion in the National Wilderness
Preservation System. The assessment
concludes that lands within the Reserve
boundary do not meet the requirements
necessary to qualify on their own for
designation by Congress as Wilderness.
However, while Reserve lands alone do
not meet the criteria, the area could
contribute to a larger area of potential
wilderness, if the Sawtooth National
Forest were to reconsider its
management plan prescription for
inventoried roadless areas immediately
north of the Reserve.
Current management zoning for the
Reserve uses both zones and subzones
and covers both private and public land.
Many of the prescriptions for these are
overlapping or contradictory and at
times confusing for Reserve managers.
In addition, a section of the Reserve at
the eastern boundary was not zoned on
the 1996 management zoning map and
needs to be corrected.
Alternatives: Four GMP alternatives
are identified and analyzed in the DEIS,
and are briefly described below. In
addition, a Development Concept Plan
(DCP) is included for the ‘‘Rim’’ area of
the Reserve (the western rim of Circle
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
38230
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Notices
Creek Basin) to provide a framework to
enhance and improve visitor facilities
and visitor experience in this area. The
DCP addresses a broad spectrum of
issues and use conflicts between
recreational activities—in particular,
day-use activities and overnight
camping.
Alternative A (No Action Alternative)
would continue current management,
programming, facilities, staffing, and
funding at their current levels, and
existing plans would be implemented.
Alternative B: Silent City of Rocks
(preferred alternative) would focus on
the spectacular scenery, geology,
biological richness, and cultural
landscape experienced by past and
present visitors. It would emphasize a
backcountry-type visitor experience that
would allow for self-discovery within a
minimally developed western outdoor
environment.
Alternative C: A Stage for
Stewardship would protect resources
through research activities, educational
opportunities, and partnerships by
emphasizing the national significance of
the Reserve. Visitors would be provided
opportunities to learn about the history
and the natural wonders within the
Reserve.
Alternative D: Treasured Landscapes
Inspiring Stories would tell stories of
the Reserve through the people who
pass through, live, and recreate within
it, focusing on the California Trail and
the ranching heritage. It would
emphasize a frontcountry, day-use
experience with more formal and
structured recreational opportunities
and programs.
Public Engagement: Public scoping
formally began on August 25, 2009, with
the Federal Register publication of a
Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement,
followed by widespread mailing of
Newsletter #1 which generally
described the conservation planning
and environmental impact analysis
process and the purpose and need for
the planning effort. Five public
meetings (in Almo, Burley, Pocatello,
Boise, and Ketchum, Idaho, during
September 21—October 22, 2009)
provided an early opportunity for the
public to identify issues. Newsletter #2
distributed in winter, 2009/2010
summarized public scoping comments.
A third newsletter presenting
preliminary alternatives followed in
April 2011. In addition to a public
meeting at park headquarters in Almo,
Idaho, numerous meetings with
stakeholders, including the Bureau of
Land Management, occurred following
announcement of the preliminary
alternatives. Newsletter #3 and the
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21:16 Jul 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
stakeholders meeting were announced
via news releases to several media
outlets, including local newspapers and
radio and television stations. Lastly, a
fourth newsletter distributed in March
2012, summarized the more than 150
public comments on the preliminary
alternatives.
To facilitate public review of DEIS/
GMP, the Reserve Superintendent and
NPS planning team will host a public
meeting at park headquarters in Almo,
Idaho with another meeting possible in
Twin Falls, Idaho. As soon as confirmed
date(s), specific location(s), and time(s)
are determined, this information will be
announced via local and regional news
media and on the Reserve’s Web site
(www.nps.gov/ciro). Participants are
strongly encouraged to review the
Executive Summary and/or complete
document prior to attending a meeting.
The format will include a brief
presentation on the essential elements
of the DEIS/GMP, followed by the
opportunity to ask questions and
provide comments. All meeting
locations will be accessible for disabled
persons. A sign language interpreter
may be available (request in advance by
contacting the Reserve at (208) 824–
5911).
How to Comment: Information about
the 60 day public review and comment
period will be announced via local and
regional news media. An Executive
Summary newsletter for the DEIS/GMP
will be mailed to interested parties.
Printed copies of the complete
document will be available for review at
park headquarters in Almo, Idaho, as
well as in local public libraries in
Burley and Twin Falls, Idaho. Electronic
versions of the document will also be
available on the Reserve’s Web site
(www.nps.gov/ciro), and limited
numbers of printed or CD format
documents may be requested by
contacting the Reserve at (208) 824–
5911.
Written comments should be
addressed to: Superintendent, ATTN:
City of Rocks General Management Plan,
City of Rocks National Reserve, P.O. Box
169, Almo, ID 83312. Reviewers may
also submit comments electronically at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ciro. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Decision Process: Following due
consideration of all agency and public
comments which are received, a Final
Plan/EIS will be prepared; at this time
it is anticipated the final document will
be available for public inspection during
winter, 2015/2016. Because this is a
delegated EIS process, the official
responsible for the final decision on the
GMP is the Regional Director, Pacific
West Region, National Park Service. The
official responsible for implementation
of the approved GMP is the
Superintendent, City of Rocks National
Reserve.
Dated: March 13, 2015.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
Editor’s note: This document was received
by the Office of the Federal Register on June
29, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015–16319 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[RR04073000, XXXR4081X3,
RX.05940913.7000000]
Notice of Public Meeting for the Glen
Canyon Dam Adaptive Management
Work Group
Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Glen Canyon Dam
Adaptive Management Work Group
(AMWG) makes recommendations to the
Secretary of the Interior concerning
Glen Canyon Dam operations and other
management actions to protect resources
downstream of Glen Canyon Dam,
consistent with the Grand Canyon
Protection Act. The AMWG meets two
to three times a year.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, August 26, 2015, from
approximately 9:30 a.m. to
approximately 5:30 p.m.; and Thursday,
August 27, 2015, from approximately 8
a.m. to approximately 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the DoubleTree by Hilton PhoenixTempe, 2100 South Priest Drive, Tempe,
Arizona 85282.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glen
Knowles, Bureau of Reclamation,
telephone (801) 524–3781; facsimile
(801) 524–3807; email at gknowles@
usbr.gov.
SUMMARY:
The Glen
Canyon Dam Adaptive Management
Program (GCDAMP) was implemented
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38228-38230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16319]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-17880; PX.PR099106F.00.1]
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan,
City of Rocks National Reserve, Cassia County, Idaho
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Idaho
Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bureau of Land Management,
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and General
Management Plan (GMP) for City of Rocks National Reserve (Reserve). The
DEIS evaluates four GMP alternatives for management of the City of
Rocks National Reserve. When approved, the GMP will allow for
implementation of a range of management actions to improve protection
of natural and cultural resources and visitor experience within the
Reserve.
DATES: All comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 60
days from the date of publication in
[[Page 38229]]
the Federal Register of the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of
filing and release of the DEIS. Immediately upon confirmation of this
date, all entities on the project mailing list will be notified, and
public announcements about the DEIS review period will be posted on the
project Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ciro) and distributed via
local and regional press media.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact GMP Planning Team
Leader Amanda Schramm at (206) 220-4112.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: City of Rocks National Reserve (Reserve) was
designated as a unit of the national park system on November 18, 1988,
by the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-696) and is
managed cooperatively by the NPS and Idaho Department of Parks and
Recreation (IDPR). The Reserve is located in the Albion Mountains in
southwest Idaho and is one of many publicly owned areas within the
region. The Reserve contains unique and diverse resources. The geologic
features are world-renowned both for rock climbing and academic study.
Vegetation communities include sagebrush steppe, pinyon-juniper
woodlands, mountain mahogany woodlands, and higher elevation forest
communities of aspen, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and limber pine.
Idaho's only known population of cliff chipmunk is found in the Reserve
and on adjacent lands. Other wildlife species include mule deer,
coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, moose, elk, and bighorn sheep.
The Reserve preserves and protects 6.2 miles of the California
National Historic Trail, 1.8 miles of the Salt Lake Alternate, and the
surrounding cultural landscape, which includes remnant historic trail
ruts, more than 350 emigrant signatures on 22 rocks, and portions of
the Mormon Battalion Trail and the Kelton-Boise Stage Route. The
Reserve comprises an area of 14,407 acres. Of that total, approximately
9,680 acres are federally-owned, 4,087 acres are privately-owned, and
640 acres are owned by the State of Idaho. Private land within the
Reserve is regulated by Cassia County zoning and subdivision
ordinances. Although considered nontraditional uses in most national
park units, cattle grazing and hunting occur within the Reserve. The
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes also continue traditional uses, such as
seasonal hunting and pine nut gathering.
The GMP is needed because the 1996 City of Rocks National Reserve
Comprehensive Management Plan is outdated and no longer provides
adequate guidance to address the policy and operational issues now
facing the Reserve. Many of the actions in the comprehensive management
plan have been implemented, but other actions are either outdated,
cost-prohibitive, or cannot be executed for other reasons, including
current property ownership. The new GMP seeks to: (1) Describe purpose,
significance, special mandates, fundamental resources and values, and
primary interpretive themes for the Reserve through foundation
planning; (2) clearly define resource conditions, visitor uses, and
experiences to be achieved within the Reserve; (3) provide a framework
for Reserve managers to guide decisions about protecting Reserve
resources and providing high-quality visitor experiences through
management of visitor activities and facilities; and (4) develop a
foundation for NPS decision-making in consultation with interested
stakeholders and IDPR leadership, based on analysis of the benefits,
impacts, and costs of the alternatives.
The new GMP will address several issues facing the Reserve. In 1996
when the Comprehensive Management Plan was produced, approximately 50
percent of the land within the Reserve was in public ownership. Today,
that percentage is approximately 70 percent, resulting in additional
planning opportunities for newly acquired parcels. A land protection
plan (LPP) currently underway will be completed following the
publication of the GMP. The LPP will define those land interests that
are most important to fulfilling the purpose of the Reserve, the
resource protection reasons for acquisition, and the priority for and
types of acquisition, as developed in consultation with the Reserve
superintendent. Any lands proposed for acquisition would be by willing
seller only, and would be consistent with Reserve legislation and NPS
policies.
Visitation within the Reserve rose from approximately 81,000
visitors in 1993 to more than 99,439 in 2011. Population growth in the
nearby metropolitan areas of Salt Lake City and the Pocatello/Idaho
Falls area is expected to increase in the next 20 years, potentially
affecting visitation and use within the Reserve. Because of increased
visitation, there is a need to evaluate existing facilities. The
temporary visitor center serving both the Reserve and Castle Rocks
State Park is located in a 100-year-old house that is inadequate to
accommodate the use of the thousands of visitors that pass through for
orientation and information.
Although many campsites in the Reserve that existed when the
Reserve was established have been closed or rehabilitated, there are
lingering issues that need to be addressed including campsites that
conflict with day use activities, safety and visual issues with some
roadside campsites, and the need for additional toilets. Most campsites
in the Reserve are located along the southern and western rim of Circle
Creek Basin--these sites offer prime views of the ``Inner City''
pinnacles, as well as more expansive views of Granite Ridge that
completes the northern encirclement of the basin. Intensive use during
some seasons has caused parking conflicts, especially associated with
horse trailer and large recreational vehicle parking. The GMP includes
a development concept plan to address these specific issues, including
comprehensive assessment of the trail system with associated parking,
picnicking, and trailheads.
Several plans completed since the 1996 comprehensive management
plan are now due for revision, and additional plans are needed to
better inform Reserve management. Among these plans are the grazing
management plan, fire management plan and vegetation management plan.
The GMP is intended to provide more direction for their development.
The DEIS also includes a wilderness eligibility assessment because
all lands administered by the NPS must be evaluated for their
eligibility for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation
System. The assessment concludes that lands within the Reserve boundary
do not meet the requirements necessary to qualify on their own for
designation by Congress as Wilderness. However, while Reserve lands
alone do not meet the criteria, the area could contribute to a larger
area of potential wilderness, if the Sawtooth National Forest were to
reconsider its management plan prescription for inventoried roadless
areas immediately north of the Reserve.
Current management zoning for the Reserve uses both zones and
subzones and covers both private and public land. Many of the
prescriptions for these are overlapping or contradictory and at times
confusing for Reserve managers. In addition, a section of the Reserve
at the eastern boundary was not zoned on the 1996 management zoning map
and needs to be corrected.
Alternatives: Four GMP alternatives are identified and analyzed in
the DEIS, and are briefly described below. In addition, a Development
Concept Plan (DCP) is included for the ``Rim'' area of the Reserve (the
western rim of Circle
[[Page 38230]]
Creek Basin) to provide a framework to enhance and improve visitor
facilities and visitor experience in this area. The DCP addresses a
broad spectrum of issues and use conflicts between recreational
activities--in particular, day-use activities and overnight camping.
Alternative A (No Action Alternative) would continue current
management, programming, facilities, staffing, and funding at their
current levels, and existing plans would be implemented.
Alternative B: Silent City of Rocks (preferred alternative) would
focus on the spectacular scenery, geology, biological richness, and
cultural landscape experienced by past and present visitors. It would
emphasize a backcountry-type visitor experience that would allow for
self-discovery within a minimally developed western outdoor
environment.
Alternative C: A Stage for Stewardship would protect resources
through research activities, educational opportunities, and
partnerships by emphasizing the national significance of the Reserve.
Visitors would be provided opportunities to learn about the history and
the natural wonders within the Reserve.
Alternative D: Treasured Landscapes Inspiring Stories would tell
stories of the Reserve through the people who pass through, live, and
recreate within it, focusing on the California Trail and the ranching
heritage. It would emphasize a frontcountry, day-use experience with
more formal and structured recreational opportunities and programs.
Public Engagement: Public scoping formally began on August 25,
2009, with the Federal Register publication of a Notice of Intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, followed by widespread
mailing of Newsletter #1 which generally described the conservation
planning and environmental impact analysis process and the purpose and
need for the planning effort. Five public meetings (in Almo, Burley,
Pocatello, Boise, and Ketchum, Idaho, during September 21--October 22,
2009) provided an early opportunity for the public to identify issues.
Newsletter #2 distributed in winter, 2009/2010 summarized public
scoping comments. A third newsletter presenting preliminary
alternatives followed in April 2011. In addition to a public meeting at
park headquarters in Almo, Idaho, numerous meetings with stakeholders,
including the Bureau of Land Management, occurred following
announcement of the preliminary alternatives. Newsletter #3 and the
stakeholders meeting were announced via news releases to several media
outlets, including local newspapers and radio and television stations.
Lastly, a fourth newsletter distributed in March 2012, summarized the
more than 150 public comments on the preliminary alternatives.
To facilitate public review of DEIS/GMP, the Reserve Superintendent
and NPS planning team will host a public meeting at park headquarters
in Almo, Idaho with another meeting possible in Twin Falls, Idaho. As
soon as confirmed date(s), specific location(s), and time(s) are
determined, this information will be announced via local and regional
news media and on the Reserve's Web site (www.nps.gov/ciro).
Participants are strongly encouraged to review the Executive Summary
and/or complete document prior to attending a meeting. The format will
include a brief presentation on the essential elements of the DEIS/GMP,
followed by the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. All
meeting locations will be accessible for disabled persons. A sign
language interpreter may be available (request in advance by contacting
the Reserve at (208) 824-5911).
How to Comment: Information about the 60 day public review and
comment period will be announced via local and regional news media. An
Executive Summary newsletter for the DEIS/GMP will be mailed to
interested parties. Printed copies of the complete document will be
available for review at park headquarters in Almo, Idaho, as well as in
local public libraries in Burley and Twin Falls, Idaho. Electronic
versions of the document will also be available on the Reserve's Web
site (www.nps.gov/ciro), and limited numbers of printed or CD format
documents may be requested by contacting the Reserve at (208) 824-5911.
Written comments should be addressed to: Superintendent, ATTN: City
of Rocks General Management Plan, City of Rocks National Reserve, P.O.
Box 169, Almo, ID 83312. Reviewers may also submit comments
electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ciro. Before including
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Decision Process: Following due consideration of all agency and
public comments which are received, a Final Plan/EIS will be prepared;
at this time it is anticipated the final document will be available for
public inspection during winter, 2015/2016. Because this is a delegated
EIS process, the official responsible for the final decision on the GMP
is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service.
The official responsible for implementation of the approved GMP is the
Superintendent, City of Rocks National Reserve.
Dated: March 13, 2015.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
Editor's note: This document was received by the Office of the
Federal Register on June 29, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015-16319 Filed 7-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FF-P
