Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan, Yosemite National Park; Madera, Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne Counties, California; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, 38899-38900 [06-6073]
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sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 131 / Monday, July 10, 2006 / Notices
that information, available for public
review. NPS will make all submissions
from organizations or businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves
as representatives or officials of
organzations or businesses, available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Individuals may request that the NPS
withhold their name and/or address
from public disclosure. If you wish to
do this, you must state this prominently
at the beginning of your comments.
Respondents using the Web site can
make such a request by checking the
box: ‘‘keep my contact information
private.’’ NPS will honor such requests
to the extent allowable by law, but you
should be aware that NPS may still be
required to disclose your name and
address pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This unit of the National park System
was established in 1925 to protect and
interpret volcanic and natural features
of scientific interest, and evidence of
prehistoric and historic human
settlement, use, and conflict. The 46,560
acre Monument covers 10% of the
Medicine Lake shield volcano which
lies on the margin of the Cascade Range
and Great Basin Geologic Provinces.
This remote landscape contains
outstanding, diverse, abundant and
well-preserved lava flows, cinder cones,
Maar volcanoes, and other volcanic
features associated with the Medicine
Lake shield volcano, including one of
the largest concentrations of lava tube
caves in the continental United States.
The Monument’s geologic resources
provide many opportunities for
exploration and research of unique
habitats.
The dramatic volcanic landscape
served as the setting for the Modoc War
(1872–1873) and contains archeological
evidence of over 11,000 years of human
occupation. The lands are significant to
Modoc people as part of their traditional
homeland. In addition, the Monument
has two designated units of the National
Wilderness Preservation System totaling
28,460 acres. Wilderness areas provide
a primitive recreation experience for
visitors in a volcanic Great Basin
landscape, as well as invaluable
scientific and educational opportunities
as surrounding landscapes and social
conditions continue to change.
The Monument is primarily
surrounded by public lands. The
northern edge is bounded by the Tule
Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The
western, southern and eastern edges are
bounded by the Modoc National Forest.
A small area on the northeast corner is
bounded by privately owned lands, and
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a commercial forest products inholding
is adjacent to the Monument to the
south. Petroglyph Point, a detached unit
of the Monument, is surrounded by, or
very close to, private lands.
The previous GMP, completed in June
1996, identified needed infrastructure
and other improvements. Most of the
recommendations in this prior plan
have since been implemented, including
construction of a research center and a
new visitor center. Resource
management, interpretation, visitor
protection and other GMP components
were not addressed in the last plan.
New inventories and research have been
completed since the last GMP including
the discovery of additional caves within
the Monument, a macro-invertebrate
study, and study of fire effects on exotic
plants. Drafts of a Wilderness Plan and
a Cave Management Plan have also been
completed. Future management
direction is needed for staff to address
changing patterns of visitor use and for
effective and long term management of
natural and cultural resources.
Decision Process
Availability of the forthcoming Draft
EIS for public review and written
comment will be formally announced
through the publication of a Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register, as
well as through local and regional news
media, direct mailing to the project
mailing list, and via the Internet at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/labe.
Following due consideration of all
agency and public comment, a Final EIS
will be prepared. As a delegated EIS, the
official responsible for the final decision
on the proposed plan is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region, National
Park Service. Subsequently, the official
responsible for implementation of the
approved plan is the Superintendent,
Lava Beds National Monument. It is
anticipated that the final plan will be
available in winter 2009.
Dated: May 3, 2006.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 06–6074 Filed 7–7–06; 8:45 am]
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38899
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River
Comprehensive Management Plan and
Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan,
Yosemite National Park; Madera,
Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne
Counties, California; Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement
Summary: Pursuant to section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 and the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (Pub. L. 90–542), the
National Park Service is initiating a
public scoping process as necessary to
obtain information which will aid in the
preparation of the Tuolumne Wild and
Scenic River Comprehensive
Management Plan and Tuolumne
Meadows Concept Plan for Yosemite
National Park, California. The purpose
of this scoping phase is to elicit early
public comments regarding issues and
concerns to be addressed in preparing
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS), including a suitable range of
alternatives, the nature and extent of
potential environmental impacts, and
appropriate mitigation strategies.
During the ensuing conservation
planning and environmental impact
analysis process, the National Park
Service (NPS) will develop a range of
management alternatives that is
intended to: (1) Provide broad guidance
for the protection and enhancement of
the river’s Outstandingly Remarkable
Values (ORVs); (2) address river
boundaries and classifications pursuant
to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; (3)
define a user capacity program for the
river which includes the Visitor
Experience and Resource Protection
framework; (4) prescribe management
zones for the river corridor (i.e., desired
conditions); and (5) establish the section
7 determination process. The plan/EIS
will also make technical corrections to
the description and mapping of the
Dana Fork headwaters, and clarify the
language for definition of river segments
below Hetch Hetchy; these corrections
will be in accordance with the
directives of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers. In addition, the Tuolumne
Meadows Concept Plan will address
such factors as day use parking and
transportation, water collection and
wastewater treatment facility needs,
optimal spatial organization of park and
concession facilities, and options for
enhancing visitor information services.
In some cases a site-specific
environmental impacts analysis may be
included to facilitate possible future
E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM
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38900
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 131 / Monday, July 10, 2006 / Notices
relocation, rehabilitation, addition or
removal of facilities and opportunities
for site restoration.
In cooperation with Mariposa,
Madera, Tuolumne, Mono, and Inyo
Counties, attention will also be given to
the potential socio-economic impacts on
these counties. Additionally, in
consultation with culturally-associated
American Indians, attention will also be
given to the Traditional Cultural
Resources to which these groups attach
significance. Alternatives to be
considered will include a No Action
and an undetermined number of action
alternatives; among these an
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ alternative
will be identified.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Background
In 1979, a Tuolumne Wild and Scenic
River Study and Environmental Impact
Statement was prepared which
recommended designation of the river
and specified ‘‘wild’’ and ‘‘scenic’’
classifications. In 1984, 83 miles of the
Tuolumne River were designated Wild
and Scenic under Public Law 94–425; a
total of 54 miles of the Tuolumne Wild
and Scenic River are under NPS
jurisdiction in Yosemite National Park.
In a 1986 Federal Register notice and
related announcements, the NPS
established classifications of the river
segments, which include: The Lyell
Fork, a wild segment originating at the
headwaters from Mt. Lyell; the Dana
Fork, a scenic segment originating from
the headwaters at Mt. Dana; a scenic
segment through Tuolumne Meadows; a
wild segment from the Grand Canyon of
the Tuolumne River to the inlet of the
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir; and a scenic
segment from one mile west of
O’Shaughnessey Dam; and the
remaining 5-mile wild segment through
Poopenaut Valley to the park boundary.
Approximately 13 miles of the Hetch
Hetchy Reservoir were not included in
the 1984 Wild and Scenic River
designation and thus are not included
within the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic
River corridor. Interim boundaries (1⁄4
mile on each side of the river) were
established in the 1979 Tuolumne Wild
and Scenic River Study.
Scoping and Public Meetings
The participation of interested
individuals and affected organizations
will be a key element of the current
Tuolumne River/Meadows conservation
planning and environmental analysis
process. Concurrently, tribal, federal,
state, and local government
representatives will be consulted. All
written comments received during the
scoping period, as well as oral
commentary at all associated public
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meetings, will aid in the preparation of
the EIS for the Tuolumne Wild and
Scenic River Comprehensive
Management Plan and Tuolumne
Meadows Concept Plan (and preserved
in the project’s administrative record).
Suggestions regarding issues to be
addressed and information relevant to
determining the scope of the current
planning and analysis process are being
sought from all interested individuals
and groups. Public scoping meetings
will be held in June, July, and August
in Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne
Meadows, Groveland, Sonora, Modesto,
Sacramento, San Francisco, Mariposa,
Oakhurst, Lee Vining, and Bishop.
Dates, times, specific locations, and
additional information will be released
via regional and local news media,
through the park’s regular Planning
Update newsletters (direct mailed and emailed), and posted on the part Web site
(see below).
The scope of issues identified thus far
to address in the Tuolumne Wild and
Scenic River Comprehensive
Management Plan include the
identification of ORVs, determination of
desired conditions and management
prescriptions within the river corridor,
establishment of detailed boundaries,
development of a user capacity
management program, and deciding
upon a Section 7 determination process.
The Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan
tentative issues include the possible
relocation, rehabilitation, addition and/
or removal of facilities as well as a
comprehensive transportation review
related to day use and parking. The
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and
O’Shaughnessy Dam are under the
jurisdiction of the San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission, and neither the
reservoir nor the dam are part of the
designated Wild and Scenic River
corridor. Thus the dam and reservoir
will not be subject to the management
elements evaluated through this
planning effort.
All scoping comments received will
be incorporated into a comment
database and duly considered during
the preparation of the draft plan\EIS.
Written comments should be addressed
to the Superintendent, Attn: Tuolumne
Planning, Yosemite National Park, P.O.
Box 577, Yosemite National Park,
California 95389, or faxed to (209) 379–
1294, and must be postmarked or faxed
no later than 60 days from the
publication date of this notice (or if sent
via e-mail, transmitted by that date to
Yose_Planning@nps.gov)—immediately
upon confirmation of this date an
announcement of the closing date for
the scoping period will be posted on the
park Web site https://www.nps.gov/yose/
PO 00000
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planning, and announced via press
releases distributed to local and regional
media. Please note that names and
addresses of all respondents will
become part of the public record. It is
the practice of the NPS to make all
comments, including names and
addresses of respondents who provide
that information, available for public
review following the conclusion of the
EIS process. Individuals may request
that the NPS withhold their name
and\or address from public disclosure.
If you wish to do so, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your
comments. Those respondents who use
the Web site can make such a request by
checking the box ‘‘keep my information
private’’. NPS will honor all such
requests to the extent allowable by law,
but you should be aware that NPS may
still be required to disclose your name
and address pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act.
Decision Process
Announcements of future public
involvement opportunities, as well as
availability of the draft Tuolumne River
Plan\Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan
EIS for public review, will be
accomplished via regional news media,
direct mailings, and the Federal
Register. At this time, release of the
draft plan\EIS for review and comment
is expected to occur during summer,
2007. After due consideration of all
comments received on the draft EIS, a
final plan\EIS will be prepared and its
availability similarly announced. As
this is a delegated EIS, the official
responsible for the final decision
regarding the forthcoming plan is the
Regional Director, pacific West Region,
National Park Service; subsequently the
official responsible for implementation
of the approved plan is the
Superintendent, Yosemite National
Park.
Dated: July 9, 2006.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 06–6073 Filed 7–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–FY–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Advisory Council Meeting
National Park Service, DOI.
Announcement of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Great Sand Dunes National
Park and Preserve announces a meeting
of the Great Sand Dunes National Park
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 131 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38899-38900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6073]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and
Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan, Yosemite National Park; Madera,
Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne Counties, California; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Summary: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(Pub. L. 90-542), the National Park Service is initiating a public
scoping process as necessary to obtain information which will aid in
the preparation of the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive
Management Plan and Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan for Yosemite National
Park, California. The purpose of this scoping phase is to elicit early
public comments regarding issues and concerns to be addressed in
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including a suitable
range of alternatives, the nature and extent of potential environmental
impacts, and appropriate mitigation strategies.
During the ensuing conservation planning and environmental impact
analysis process, the National Park Service (NPS) will develop a range
of management alternatives that is intended to: (1) Provide broad
guidance for the protection and enhancement of the river's
Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs); (2) address river boundaries
and classifications pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; (3)
define a user capacity program for the river which includes the Visitor
Experience and Resource Protection framework; (4) prescribe management
zones for the river corridor (i.e., desired conditions); and (5)
establish the section 7 determination process. The plan/EIS will also
make technical corrections to the description and mapping of the Dana
Fork headwaters, and clarify the language for definition of river
segments below Hetch Hetchy; these corrections will be in accordance
with the directives of the Wild and Scenic Rivers. In addition, the
Tuolumne Meadows Concept Plan will address such factors as day use
parking and transportation, water collection and wastewater treatment
facility needs, optimal spatial organization of park and concession
facilities, and options for enhancing visitor information services. In
some cases a site-specific environmental impacts analysis may be
included to facilitate possible future
[[Page 38900]]
relocation, rehabilitation, addition or removal of facilities and
opportunities for site restoration.
In cooperation with Mariposa, Madera, Tuolumne, Mono, and Inyo
Counties, attention will also be given to the potential socio-economic
impacts on these counties. Additionally, in consultation with
culturally-associated American Indians, attention will also be given to
the Traditional Cultural Resources to which these groups attach
significance. Alternatives to be considered will include a No Action
and an undetermined number of action alternatives; among these an
``environmentally preferred'' alternative will be identified.
Background
In 1979, a Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Study and Environmental
Impact Statement was prepared which recommended designation of the
river and specified ``wild'' and ``scenic'' classifications. In 1984,
83 miles of the Tuolumne River were designated Wild and Scenic under
Public Law 94-425; a total of 54 miles of the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic
River are under NPS jurisdiction in Yosemite National Park. In a 1986
Federal Register notice and related announcements, the NPS established
classifications of the river segments, which include: The Lyell Fork, a
wild segment originating at the headwaters from Mt. Lyell; the Dana
Fork, a scenic segment originating from the headwaters at Mt. Dana; a
scenic segment through Tuolumne Meadows; a wild segment from the Grand
Canyon of the Tuolumne River to the inlet of the Hetch Hetchy
Reservoir; and a scenic segment from one mile west of O'Shaughnessey
Dam; and the remaining 5-mile wild segment through Poopenaut Valley to
the park boundary. Approximately 13 miles of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
were not included in the 1984 Wild and Scenic River designation and
thus are not included within the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River
corridor. Interim boundaries (\1/4\ mile on each side of the river)
were established in the 1979 Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Study.
Scoping and Public Meetings
The participation of interested individuals and affected
organizations will be a key element of the current Tuolumne River/
Meadows conservation planning and environmental analysis process.
Concurrently, tribal, federal, state, and local government
representatives will be consulted. All written comments received during
the scoping period, as well as oral commentary at all associated public
meetings, will aid in the preparation of the EIS for the Tuolumne Wild
and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and Tuolumne Meadows
Concept Plan (and preserved in the project's administrative record).
Suggestions regarding issues to be addressed and information relevant
to determining the scope of the current planning and analysis process
are being sought from all interested individuals and groups. Public
scoping meetings will be held in June, July, and August in Yosemite
Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Groveland, Sonora, Modesto, Sacramento, San
Francisco, Mariposa, Oakhurst, Lee Vining, and Bishop. Dates, times,
specific locations, and additional information will be released via
regional and local news media, through the park's regular Planning
Update newsletters (direct mailed and e-mailed), and posted on the part
Web site (see below).
The scope of issues identified thus far to address in the Tuolumne
Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan include the
identification of ORVs, determination of desired conditions and
management prescriptions within the river corridor, establishment of
detailed boundaries, development of a user capacity management program,
and deciding upon a Section 7 determination process. The Tuolumne
Meadows Concept Plan tentative issues include the possible relocation,
rehabilitation, addition and/or removal of facilities as well as a
comprehensive transportation review related to day use and parking. The
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O'Shaughnessy Dam are under the jurisdiction
of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and neither the
reservoir nor the dam are part of the designated Wild and Scenic River
corridor. Thus the dam and reservoir will not be subject to the
management elements evaluated through this planning effort.
All scoping comments received will be incorporated into a comment
database and duly considered during the preparation of the draft
plan\EIS. Written comments should be addressed to the Superintendent,
Attn: Tuolumne Planning, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite
National Park, California 95389, or faxed to (209) 379-1294, and must
be postmarked or faxed no later than 60 days from the publication date
of this notice (or if sent via e-mail, transmitted by that date to
Yose--Planning@nps.gov)--immediately upon confirmation of this date an
announcement of the closing date for the scoping period will be posted
on the park Web site https://www.nps.gov/yose/planning, and announced
via press releases distributed to local and regional media. Please note
that names and addresses of all respondents will become part of the
public record. It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments,
including names and addresses of respondents who provide that
information, available for public review following the conclusion of
the EIS process. Individuals may request that the NPS withhold their
name and\or address from public disclosure. If you wish to do so, you
must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Those
respondents who use the Web site can make such a request by checking
the box ``keep my information private''. NPS will honor all such
requests to the extent allowable by law, but you should be aware that
NPS may still be required to disclose your name and address pursuant to
the Freedom of Information Act.
Decision Process
Announcements of future public involvement opportunities, as well
as availability of the draft Tuolumne River Plan\Tuolumne Meadows
Concept Plan EIS for public review, will be accomplished via regional
news media, direct mailings, and the Federal Register. At this time,
release of the draft plan\EIS for review and comment is expected to
occur during summer, 2007. After due consideration of all comments
received on the draft EIS, a final plan\EIS will be prepared and its
availability similarly announced. As this is a delegated EIS, the
official responsible for the final decision regarding the forthcoming
plan is the Regional Director, pacific West Region, National Park
Service; subsequently the official responsible for implementation of
the approved plan is the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.
Dated: July 9, 2006.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 06-6073 Filed 7-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FY-M
