Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Marin Headlands-Fort Baker, Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, CA; Notice of Availability, 32309-32310 [07-2880]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 112 / Tuesday, June 12, 2007 / Notices
Dated: May 31, 2007.
Robert A. Casias,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 07–2896 Filed 6–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FM–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Marin Headlands-Fort Baker,
Transportation Infrastructure and
Management Plan, Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, Marin
County, CA; Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, 42 U.S.C.
4321–4347, January 1, 1970, as
amended), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR parts 1500 through 1508), the
National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Marin Headlands-Fort Baker
Transportation Infrastructure and
Management Plan. The project would
provide greater access to and within the
Marin Headlands and Fort Baker areas
for a variety of users in a way that
minimizes or avoids impacts to the rich
natural diversity and cultural resources
of these areas within Golden Gate
National Recreation Area (GGNRA).
Roadway infrastructure would be
rehabilitated or reconstructed with noncharacter altering roadway widening,
and parking facilities would be
improved. Additional transit options
would be provided to and within areas
to improve access to visitor sites.
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities would
be improved through closure and
rerouting of existing trails and
construction of new trails. A successful
project would meet the following goals:
(1) Promote public transit, pedestrian,
and bicycle travel to and within GGNRA
to improve visitor experience and
enhance environmental quality; (2)
Rehabilitate the Marin Headlands-Fort
Baker transportation road and trail
infrastructure in a manner that protects
resources and improves safety and
circulation; (3) Reduce traffic congestion
at key GGNRA locations and connecting
roads.
Proposal and Alternatives: As noted,
this Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) describes and analyzes
four alternatives. Alternative 1, the No
Action Alternative, would not deviate
from the existing management direction;
it serves as an environmental baseline
from which potential effects of the three
VerDate Aug<31>2005
11:38 Jun 11, 2007
Jkt 211001
‘‘action’’ alternatives may be compared.
Alternative 2 would provide basic
multi-modal access. Roadway
infrastructure would be rehabilitated
within the existing roadway width;
parking facilities would be improved;
transit service to the Marin Headlands
would be expanded on weekends; and
minor pedestrian and bicycle facility
enhancements would be implemented
to improve access to these GGNRA
areas. Alternative 4 would provide
maximum multi-modal access. Roadway
infrastructure would be reconstructed
throughout the study area, and parking
facilities would be improved. Transit
options would include the addition of
connections to regional transit centers
outside of GGNRA. Extensive pedestrian
and bicycle facility enhancements
would be implemented, including
closure and rerouting of existing trails,
construction of new trails, and road
widening to allow for bicycle lane
construction on nearly all major roads.
Alternative 3 is the Agency Preferred
alternative. Alternative 3 would provide
enhanced multi-modal access. Roadway
infrastructure would be rehabilitated or
reconstructed with non-character
altering roadway widening, and parking
facilities would be improved.
Additional transit options would be
provided to and within the Marin
Headlands and Fort Baker (MH/FB)
areas to improve access. Pedestrian and
bicycle facilities would be improved
through closure and rerouting of
existing trails and construction of new
trails. Key project elements include the
following:
Roadways and Vehicular Circulation:
At selected sites within the area of
potential effect, roads and intersections
will be modified to improve safety and
operations. Modifications include
widening the road widths from two to
four feet to allow for the provision of
Class 2 bicycle lanes or improved safety
on Class 3 bike routes, and
reconstructing intersections from a ‘‘Y’’
to a ‘‘T’’ configuration. In addition
GGNRA would implement a wayfinding
program and ‘‘intelligent transportation
system’’ (ITS) technologies to improve
visitor information and reduce traffic
congestion at key locations.
Parking Management and Fees: In
many MH/FB locations parking areas
would be reconfigured, delineated, and
formalized, in order to improve parking
operations, reduce congestion, better
match parking supply with demand,
and reduce natural resource impacts. A
parking fee program would be
implemented to provide enhanced
transit service operations.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements:
Class 1 bicycle path and Class 2 bicycle
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32309
lanes would be added in several
locations, and extensive improvements
to pedestrian trails would be
implemented. A new bicycle/pedestrian
trail would be constructed to provide a
separate facility connecting Fort Baker
to the bike lanes at Barry-Baker tunnel
and the Marin Headlands. Rodeo Valley
Trail would be widened with a
hardened surface between Capehart
Housing and Bunker Road at Rodeo
Lagoon to provide a Class 1 bicycle path
and hiking trail. The Coastal Trail
would be rerouted from its current
interior Rodeo Valley alignment to a
more coastal alignment with spectacular
views.
Transit Services: Existing transit
services in the MH/FB areas would be
enhanced to improve access to and
within these areas. The goal would be
to provide transit access seven days a
week by expanding MUNI and Golden
Gate Transit service on existing routes,
and by implementing additional park
shuttle service.
Car-Free Days and Special Events: A
program of car-free days would be
established on selected days on a trial
basis; after review of the demonstration
program, GGNRA may adjust the
number of car-free days or the
scheduled times and operations. This
program would allow visitors to
experience these areas with minimal
vehicular traffic and would encourage
visitors to use alternative modes of
transportation to access and travel
within GGNRA.
Natural Resource Enhancements:
Efforts to protect and enhance natural
resources would include restoring the
wetland community at the unpaved
parking lot at Rodeo Beach; repairing
gullies that have eroded due to past
poor drainage along Conzelman
roadway; and removing fill and
restoring wetlands along Rodeo Lagoon/
Lake on selected portions of Smith and
Bunker Roads.
Scoping and Public Involvement: The
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was
published in the Federal Register on
April 10, 2002. Early in the EIS scoping
phase three public meetings were
hosted in San Francisco, Marin City,
and Oakland. The San Francisco
meeting occurred on March 26, 2002
during a meeting of the GGNRA
Advisory Committee (approximately ten
members of the public attended the
meeting). The Marin City meeting
occurred on April 10, 2002 at the
Manzanita Community Center in Marin
City (approximately 20 members of the
public attended). The Oakland meeting
occurred on April 11, 2002 at the
Metropolitan Transportation
Commission Auditorium in Oakland.
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32310
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 112 / Tuesday, June 12, 2007 / Notices
Three members of the public attended,
along with several agency staff
members. In addition GGNRA hosted
two Alternatives Refinement Workshops
for the public in order to solicit early
feedback on the four preliminary
alternatives. The workshops were
conducted on November 19, 2002 at
Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley
(approximately 11 community members
attended) and on November 26, 2002 at
GGNRA Headquarters in San Francisco
(approximately 15 community members
attended). GGNRA staff prepared and
distributed announcements of the
meetings to 2,000 individuals and
organizations (and these were also
distributed at Marin Headlands Visitor
Center and posted widely on bulletin
boards in Marin County). Summaries of
oral comments received at each
workshop and written comments from
the public have been documented
(‘‘Summary of November 2002
Alternatives Refinements Workshops’’,
Nelson/Nygaard 2003). Comments from
these workshops were used to further
refine the alternatives and identify the
main issues to be addressed in finalizing
the Draft EIS. GGNRA also hosted a
public forum March 14, 2003 to review
initial findings of the Fort Baker
Cultural Landscape Report and Marin
Headlands-Fort Baker Historic Roads
Characterization Study (two individuals
attended). The most recent public
outreach efforts included updates on
project alternatives at the last four of
GGNRA’s quarterly public meetings
beginning with a May 16, 2006 meeting
at the Mill Valley Community Center.
Regular posting of information updates
occurs on GGNRA’s Web site (https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/goga).
Comments: Copies of the Draft EIS
will be sent to affected Federal, Tribal,
State and local government agencies, to
all interested parties, and those
requesting copies. Printed and digital
copies (compact disc) of the Draft EIS
will be available at GGNRA
headquarters and at local libraries. The
complete document will be posted on
GGNRA’s Web site (noted above). All
written comments must be postmarked
or transmitted no later than sixty days
from the date of EPA’s notice of filing
published in the Federal Register (as
soon as this occurs, the confirmed
closing date for the comment period
will be posted on GGNRA’s Web site,
and also publcized in all other GGNRA
announcements). Written comments
may be sent by letter addressed to:
General Superintendent, GGNRA, Fort
Mason, Bldg. 201, San Francisco, CA
94123 (Attn: MH–FB Transportation
Plan). Comments will also be accepted
VerDate Aug<31>2005
11:38 Jun 11, 2007
Jkt 211001
via the Internet at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/goga (click on the
project title and follow instructions) or
e-mail at goga_planning@nps.gov.
All submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives of or officials of
organizations or businesses, are
maintained in the project administrative
record and will be available for public
inspection in their entirety. Before
including your address, phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire response—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.
A public meeting will be scheduled to
hear comments on the Draft EIS,
approximately 30 days after publication
of this notice in the Federal Register.
Please visit GGNRA’s Web site (noted
above) to learn more about the project
or the conservation planning/
environmental impact analysis process,
or to obtain information updates
regarding the logistics of the public
meeting. Questions regarding the Draft
EIS may also be directed at any time to
Mr. Steve Ortega at (415) 561–4841 (or
goga_planning@nps.gov.
Decision Process: Following the
careful analysis of all comments
received concerning the Draft EIS, it is
anticipated that the Final EIS for the
proposed Transportation Infrastructure
and Management Plan would be
completed in fall 2007. Availability of
the Final EIS will be announced in the
Federal Register, and also publicized
via local and regional press media,
direct mailings, and Web site postings.
Not sooner than thirty days after release
of the Final EIS, a Record of Decision
may be executed (at this time it is
anticipated that a recommended
decision would be developed during
winter 2007–08). As a delegated EIS the
approving official is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region.
Subsequently, the official responsible
for implementation of the approved
plan will be the General
Superintendent, Golden Gate National
Recreation Area.
Dated: May 31, 2007.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 07–2880 Filed 6–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–FN–M
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
General Management Plan, Final
Environmental Impact Statement,
Great Sand Dunes National Park and
Preserve, Colorado
National Park Service,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the General Management Plan and
Wilderness Study, Great Sand Dunes
National Park and Preserve.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park
Service (NPS) announces the
availability of a Final Environmental
Impact Statement for the General
Management Plan and Wilderness
Study, Great Sand Dunes National Park
and Preserve, Colorado. The NPS
preferred alternative was developed
with substantial public, interagency,
and staff participation between 2002
and 2006. The NPS preferred option
includes options for new trails to allow
for dispersed hiking and horseback
riding and educational opportunities on
the expansion lands. Cooperative or
joint facilities, such as future access
routes and trailheads with the U.S.
Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and private partners are
emphasized. A large portion of the park
expansion lands was studied and will
be recommended for future wilderness
designation. Additional wilderness in
the Sand Dunes National Park was very
popular with the public.
DATES: The National Park Service will
execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no
sooner than 30 days following
publication by the Environmental
Protection Agency of the Notice of
Availability of the Final Environmental
Impact Statement.
ADDRESSES: Information will be
available for public inspection online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov, in the
office of the Superintendent, Art
Hutchinson, Great Sand Dunes National
Monument and Preserve, 11500 Hwy.
150, Mosca, CO, 81146–9798; Tel: (719)
378–6300; and at the following
locations: Southern Peaks Public
Library, 423 4th Street, Alamosa,
Colorado; West Custer County Library,
209 Main Street, Westcliffe, Colorado;
Crestone/Baca Library, Crestone,
Colorado; Great Sand Dunes National
Park and Preserve Visitor Center.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Superintendent Art Hutchinson, Great
Sand Dunes National Monument and
E:\FR\FM\12JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32309-32310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2880]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Marin Headlands-Fort
Baker, Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan, Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, Marin County, CA; Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1,
1970, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations
(40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), the National Park Service, Department
of the Interior, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Marin Headlands-Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and
Management Plan. The project would provide greater access to and within
the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker areas for a variety of users in a
way that minimizes or avoids impacts to the rich natural diversity and
cultural resources of these areas within Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (GGNRA). Roadway infrastructure would be rehabilitated
or reconstructed with non-character altering roadway widening, and
parking facilities would be improved. Additional transit options would
be provided to and within areas to improve access to visitor sites.
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities would be improved through closure and
rerouting of existing trails and construction of new trails. A
successful project would meet the following goals: (1) Promote public
transit, pedestrian, and bicycle travel to and within GGNRA to improve
visitor experience and enhance environmental quality; (2) Rehabilitate
the Marin Headlands-Fort Baker transportation road and trail
infrastructure in a manner that protects resources and improves safety
and circulation; (3) Reduce traffic congestion at key GGNRA locations
and connecting roads.
Proposal and Alternatives: As noted, this Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) describes and analyzes four alternatives.
Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, would not deviate from the
existing management direction; it serves as an environmental baseline
from which potential effects of the three ``action'' alternatives may
be compared. Alternative 2 would provide basic multi-modal access.
Roadway infrastructure would be rehabilitated within the existing
roadway width; parking facilities would be improved; transit service to
the Marin Headlands would be expanded on weekends; and minor pedestrian
and bicycle facility enhancements would be implemented to improve
access to these GGNRA areas. Alternative 4 would provide maximum multi-
modal access. Roadway infrastructure would be reconstructed throughout
the study area, and parking facilities would be improved. Transit
options would include the addition of connections to regional transit
centers outside of GGNRA. Extensive pedestrian and bicycle facility
enhancements would be implemented, including closure and rerouting of
existing trails, construction of new trails, and road widening to allow
for bicycle lane construction on nearly all major roads.
Alternative 3 is the Agency Preferred alternative. Alternative 3
would provide enhanced multi-modal access. Roadway infrastructure would
be rehabilitated or reconstructed with non-character altering roadway
widening, and parking facilities would be improved. Additional transit
options would be provided to and within the Marin Headlands and Fort
Baker (MH/FB) areas to improve access. Pedestrian and bicycle
facilities would be improved through closure and rerouting of existing
trails and construction of new trails. Key project elements include the
following:
Roadways and Vehicular Circulation: At selected sites within the
area of potential effect, roads and intersections will be modified to
improve safety and operations. Modifications include widening the road
widths from two to four feet to allow for the provision of Class 2
bicycle lanes or improved safety on Class 3 bike routes, and
reconstructing intersections from a ``Y'' to a ``T'' configuration. In
addition GGNRA would implement a wayfinding program and ``intelligent
transportation system'' (ITS) technologies to improve visitor
information and reduce traffic congestion at key locations.
Parking Management and Fees: In many MH/FB locations parking areas
would be reconfigured, delineated, and formalized, in order to improve
parking operations, reduce congestion, better match parking supply with
demand, and reduce natural resource impacts. A parking fee program
would be implemented to provide enhanced transit service operations.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Class 1 bicycle path and Class
2 bicycle lanes would be added in several locations, and extensive
improvements to pedestrian trails would be implemented. A new bicycle/
pedestrian trail would be constructed to provide a separate facility
connecting Fort Baker to the bike lanes at Barry-Baker tunnel and the
Marin Headlands. Rodeo Valley Trail would be widened with a hardened
surface between Capehart Housing and Bunker Road at Rodeo Lagoon to
provide a Class 1 bicycle path and hiking trail. The Coastal Trail
would be rerouted from its current interior Rodeo Valley alignment to a
more coastal alignment with spectacular views.
Transit Services: Existing transit services in the MH/FB areas
would be enhanced to improve access to and within these areas. The goal
would be to provide transit access seven days a week by expanding MUNI
and Golden Gate Transit service on existing routes, and by implementing
additional park shuttle service.
Car-Free Days and Special Events: A program of car-free days would
be established on selected days on a trial basis; after review of the
demonstration program, GGNRA may adjust the number of car-free days or
the scheduled times and operations. This program would allow visitors
to experience these areas with minimal vehicular traffic and would
encourage visitors to use alternative modes of transportation to access
and travel within GGNRA.
Natural Resource Enhancements: Efforts to protect and enhance
natural resources would include restoring the wetland community at the
unpaved parking lot at Rodeo Beach; repairing gullies that have eroded
due to past poor drainage along Conzelman roadway; and removing fill
and restoring wetlands along Rodeo Lagoon/Lake on selected portions of
Smith and Bunker Roads.
Scoping and Public Involvement: The Notice of Intent to prepare an
EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2002. Early in
the EIS scoping phase three public meetings were hosted in San
Francisco, Marin City, and Oakland. The San Francisco meeting occurred
on March 26, 2002 during a meeting of the GGNRA Advisory Committee
(approximately ten members of the public attended the meeting). The
Marin City meeting occurred on April 10, 2002 at the Manzanita
Community Center in Marin City (approximately 20 members of the public
attended). The Oakland meeting occurred on April 11, 2002 at the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission Auditorium in Oakland.
[[Page 32310]]
Three members of the public attended, along with several agency staff
members. In addition GGNRA hosted two Alternatives Refinement Workshops
for the public in order to solicit early feedback on the four
preliminary alternatives. The workshops were conducted on November 19,
2002 at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley (approximately 11
community members attended) and on November 26, 2002 at GGNRA
Headquarters in San Francisco (approximately 15 community members
attended). GGNRA staff prepared and distributed announcements of the
meetings to 2,000 individuals and organizations (and these were also
distributed at Marin Headlands Visitor Center and posted widely on
bulletin boards in Marin County). Summaries of oral comments received
at each workshop and written comments from the public have been
documented (``Summary of November 2002 Alternatives Refinements
Workshops'', Nelson/Nygaard 2003). Comments from these workshops were
used to further refine the alternatives and identify the main issues to
be addressed in finalizing the Draft EIS. GGNRA also hosted a public
forum March 14, 2003 to review initial findings of the Fort Baker
Cultural Landscape Report and Marin Headlands-Fort Baker Historic Roads
Characterization Study (two individuals attended). The most recent
public outreach efforts included updates on project alternatives at the
last four of GGNRA's quarterly public meetings beginning with a May 16,
2006 meeting at the Mill Valley Community Center. Regular posting of
information updates occurs on GGNRA's Web site (https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/goga).
Comments: Copies of the Draft EIS will be sent to affected Federal,
Tribal, State and local government agencies, to all interested parties,
and those requesting copies. Printed and digital copies (compact disc)
of the Draft EIS will be available at GGNRA headquarters and at local
libraries. The complete document will be posted on GGNRA's Web site
(noted above). All written comments must be postmarked or transmitted
no later than sixty days from the date of EPA's notice of filing
published in the Federal Register (as soon as this occurs, the
confirmed closing date for the comment period will be posted on GGNRA's
Web site, and also publcized in all other GGNRA announcements). Written
comments may be sent by letter addressed to: General Superintendent,
GGNRA, Fort Mason, Bldg. 201, San Francisco, CA 94123 (Attn: MH-FB
Transportation Plan). Comments will also be accepted via the Internet
at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga (click on the project title and
follow instructions) or e-mail at goga_planning@nps.gov.
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials
of organizations or businesses, are maintained in the project
administrative record and will be available for public inspection in
their entirety. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire response--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.
A public meeting will be scheduled to hear comments on the Draft
EIS, approximately 30 days after publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. Please visit GGNRA's Web site (noted above) to learn
more about the project or the conservation planning/environmental
impact analysis process, or to obtain information updates regarding the
logistics of the public meeting. Questions regarding the Draft EIS may
also be directed at any time to Mr. Steve Ortega at (415) 561-4841 (or
goga_planning@nps.gov.
Decision Process: Following the careful analysis of all comments
received concerning the Draft EIS, it is anticipated that the Final EIS
for the proposed Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan
would be completed in fall 2007. Availability of the Final EIS will be
announced in the Federal Register, and also publicized via local and
regional press media, direct mailings, and Web site postings. Not
sooner than thirty days after release of the Final EIS, a Record of
Decision may be executed (at this time it is anticipated that a
recommended decision would be developed during winter 2007-08). As a
delegated EIS the approving official is the Regional Director, Pacific
West Region. Subsequently, the official responsible for implementation
of the approved plan will be the General Superintendent, Golden Gate
National Recreation Area.
Dated: May 31, 2007.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 07-2880 Filed 6-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FN-M
