Final Environmental Impact Statement; Yosemite Institute Environmental Education Campus; Yosemite National Park; Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, CA; Notice of Availability, 8988-8989 [2010-4033]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2010 / Notices
Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W–
2820, Sacramento, CA 95825, or call Mr.
Rydzik at (916) 978–6051. Individual
paper copies of the DSEIS can be
provided upon payment of the
applicable printing cost for the number
of paper copies requested.
Public Availability of Comments
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA
address shown in the ADDRESSES
section, during business hours, 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail 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.
Authority
This notice is published in
accordance with sections 1502.9, 1503.1
and 1506.6 of the Council of
Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR parts 1500 through 1508)
implementing the procedural
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.),
Department of the Interior Manual (516
DM 1–6), and is in the exercise of
authority delegated to the Assistant
Secretary—Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.l.
Dated February 1, 2010.
Larry Echo Hawk,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010–4113 Filed 2–25–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Environmental Impact Statements;
Availability
National Park Service.
Notice of availability for the
Record of Decision on the Final
Environmental Impact Statement,
disposition of Bureau of Mines property,
Twin Cities Research Center Main
Campus, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
AGENCY:
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)), the
National Park Service (NPS) announces
the availability of the Record of
Decision (ROD) for the final
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16:39 Feb 25, 2010
Jkt 220001
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the disposition of the Bureau of
Mines property, Twin Cities Research
Center Main Campus (Center),
Hennepin County, Minnesota. On
January 15, 2010, the Midwest Regional
Director approved the ROD for the
project. As soon as practicable, the NPS
will begin to implement the preferred
alternative contained in the final EIS.
The Department of the Interior
(Department) selected Alternative D
(Modification of Land, Structures, or
Other Improvements by the Federal
Government Prior to Conveyance or
Retention of the Center), the preferred
alternative, as described in the final EIS
for the disposition of the Center issued
in December 2009.
Under Alternative D, the Federal
Government will manage and bear the
cost of modification for all or part of the
land, structures, or other improvements
prior to conveyance or retention of the
Center. Following completion of the
modifications, the Federal Government
will dispose of the Center property
through a transfer to a university or
nonfederal government entity without
conditions, or a transfer to a university
or nonfederal government entity with
conditions, or will retain the property.
The Department also selected the open
space/park land use scenario that will
convert the Center property to open
space and natural areas where the focus
will be on restoration and use of the
natural environment. This will be
accomplished by removing some or all
buildings, structures, and roadways.
Nonnative plant species will be
identified and removed. Native
vegetation will be planted and the site
naturalized to recreate the historic
characteristics of an open oak savanna,
prairie-type setting typical to this
vicinity.
The Department—after consideration
of the findings of the EIS, the review of
responses received on the request for
proposals for future use of the Center
property, and the fact that the Center
property is located within the
Mississippi National River and
Recreation Area (MNRRA) boundary—
determined that future management
authority will be transferred to the NPS.
The ROD includes a statement of the
decision made, synopses of other
alternatives considered, the basis for the
decision, a description of the
environmentally preferable alternative,
a finding on impairment of park
resources and values, and an overview
of public involvement in the
decisionmaking process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Superintendent Paul Labovitz, MNRRA,
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Suite 105, 111 Kellogg Boulevard, East
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101; telephone
651–290–4160. You may also view the
document via the Internet through the
NPS Planning, Environment, and Public
Comment Web site (https://
parkplanning.nps.gov); simply click on
the link to the MNRRA.
Dated: January 15, 2010.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010–4030 Filed 2–25–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement;
Yosemite Institute Environmental
Education Campus; Yosemite National
Park; Mariposa and Tuolumne
Counties, CA; Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to § 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, as amended), and
the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR part 1500–1508),
the Department of the Interior, National
Park Service, has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final
EIS) identifying and evaluating three
alternatives for redeveloping the
Yosemite Institute Environmental
Education Campus in Yosemite National
Park, California. Yosemite Institute (YI)
is a non-profit park partner which has
provided environmental education in
Yosemite since 1971, and since 1973
has been based at the former Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at
Crane Flat. The Final EIS for the
proposed new campus identifies and
analyzes two ‘‘action’’ alternatives and a
‘‘no-action’’ alternative. The full
spectrums of foreseeable environmental
consequences are assessed and suitable
mitigation strategies are considered; an
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ course of
action is also identified. Concurrently,
completion of the EIS process will fulfill
public review requirements of § 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act.
Range of Alternatives: Under
Alternative 1 (No Action), there would
be no change in the environmental
education program, location, or
conditions at the Crane Flat campus.
Necessary maintenance and repairs
would continue, but no major
improvements, rehabilitation of
facilities, or construction of new
buildings would occur. There would be
no change in the number of overnight
accommodations at Crane Flat (76
student bunks and 8 staff beds). The
overall number of students in the park
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2010 / Notices
per session would remain the same
(approximately 360), with the majority
of students (approximately 285) in
commercial lodging in Yosemite Valley.
Under both ‘‘action’’ alternatives,
energy-efficient, sustainable facilities
would be constructed to accommodate
more students in a campus conducive to
learning to better meet educational
purposes, and designed to blend into
the historic park setting. These
improvements would provide a safe,
supervised campus environment,
extending more opportunities for young
children from diverse backgrounds to
experience and enjoy their national
park. New facilities would achieve
modem standards for fire, health, safety,
and accessibility.
Under Alternative 2, the Crane Flat
campus would be redeveloped,
doubling its capacity (to 154 students,
14 staff), and reducing reliance upon
commercial lodging in Yosemite Valley
(by approximately 80 beds). The new
campus would be reconstructed largely
in its existing location (shifted away
from the meadow). Most existing
buildings would be removed and
replaced (two historic Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) structures
would be retained). Utilities would be
upgraded to conserve water and meet
additional capacity. New facilities
would achieve modem standards for
fire, health, safety, and accessibility.
A third alternative, to create a new
campus in a different location, was
developed in response to public input
and new data illuminating unique and
highly sensitive environmental
resources at Crane Flat. Under
Alternative 3, (environmentally and
agency-preferred) a new campus would
be created at Henness Ridge, a
previously-disturbed forested upland
site within the park. In turn, the Crane
Flat site would be restored to natural
forest conditions (one of four historic
CCC structures would be repaired and
retained; the others documented and
removed). Newly constructed park
facilities at Henness would be
universally accessible and accommodate
up to 224 students and 14 campus staff
during the school year (reducing
students in Yosemite Valley commercial
lodging by approximately 100). During
summer, the park facility would be
available for other educationally
focused non-commercial programming,
at half occupancy (112, based on
environmental limitations). Energy
produced on-site (derived from solar
sources and ground-source heat pumps)
would allow the campus to operate with
‘‘zero-net’’ annual energy consumption.
An NPS fire house would be
constructed on-site for wildland and
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:39 Feb 25, 2010
Jkt 220001
structural fire equipment and staff to
improve area emergency response
capabilities. Under Alternative 3, in a
related utilities upgrade project, a new
water treatment system would be
developed to provide potable water for
park visitors and the campus, at
Chinquapin (inside a historic garage).
Chinquapin rest area serves thousands
of park visitors annually, yet currently
does not provide potable water, due to
an antiquated system that draws surface
water from Indian Creek, between
Chinquapin and Henness Ridge.
Removing this outdated utility system
and restoring the site would enable
conversion of a 64-acre tract of land at
Indian Creek to wilderness status. The
existing roadbed (historic route of
Glacier Point Road) would be converted
to a wilderness trail, thus providing
further protection of the corridor as
habitat for sensitive plant and wildlife
species.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
scoping began in 2002. Availability of
the Draft EIS was noticed in the Federal
Register on June 3, 2009. During the
public review of the Draft EIS (May 15–
July 15, 2009), the NPS held public
meetings in Mariposa, Yosemite Valley,
and San Francisco; and hosted public
site visits at Crane Flat campus and
Henness Ridge. The park received 47
public comment letters. These
comments have been carefully reviewed
and given full consideration in
preparation of the Final EIS; all
comments received are maintained in
the administrative record.
Copies of the Final EIS are being
distributed to the general public, sent
directly to those who submitted
comments, as well as to State and local
elected officials, congressional
delegations, Tribes, organizations, local
businesses, public libraries, Federal
agencies, and the media. The Final EIS
will be available electronically on the
Yosemite National Park Web page at
https://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/
eecampus.htm and printed copies may
be requested via e-mail request to
Yose_Planning@nps.gov (type ‘‘YI EEC’’
in the subject line); by phone (209) 379–
1365 (provide name, address with zip
code); or by mail, to the Superintendent,
Yosemite National Park, Attn: YI EEC,
P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, California
95389.
Decision Process: A minimum 30-day
no-action period begins with this
announcement of the publication and
availability of the Final EIS, after which
a Record of Decision may be prepared.
Notice of approval will be similarly
announced in the Federal Register. As
a delegated EIS, the official responsible
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8989
for the final decision is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region;
subsequently the official responsible for
implementation of any approved project
would be the Superintendent, Yosemite
National Park.
Dated: December 16, 2009.
Rory D. Westberg,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010–4033 Filed 2–25–10; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R9–MB–2010–N034; 91100–3740–
GRNT 7C]
Meeting Announcements: North
American Wetlands Conservation
Council; Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Advisory Group
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
SUMMARY: The North American
Wetlands Conservation Council
(Council) will meet to select North
American Wetlands Conservation Act
(NAWCA) grant proposals for
recommendation to the Migratory Bird
Conservation Commission
(Commission). This meeting is open to
the public. The Advisory Group for the
Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants
program (Advisory Group) will also
meet. This meeting is also open to the
public, and interested persons may
present oral or written statements.
DATES: Council: Meeting is March 17,
2010, 1–4 p.m. If you are interested in
presenting information at this public
meeting, contact the Council
Coordinator no later than March 8,
2010.
Advisory Group: Meeting is March 16,
2010, 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. If you are
interested in presenting information at
this public meeting, contact the Council
Coordinator no later than March 8,
2010.
ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be
held at The Marsh Club, 2772 Old Hwy.
90, Vinton, LA 70668.
The Advisory Group meeting will be
held at L’Auberge du Lac Hotel, 777
Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, LA
70601.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael J. Johnson, Council
Coordinator, by phone at (703) 358–
1784; by e-mail at dbhc@fws.gov; or by
U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8988-8989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4033]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement; Yosemite Institute
Environmental Education Campus; Yosemite National Park; Mariposa and
Tuolumne Counties, CA; Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) identifying and evaluating
three alternatives for redeveloping the Yosemite Institute
Environmental Education Campus in Yosemite National Park, California.
Yosemite Institute (YI) is a non-profit park partner which has provided
environmental education in Yosemite since 1971, and since 1973 has been
based at the former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at Crane
Flat. The Final EIS for the proposed new campus identifies and analyzes
two ``action'' alternatives and a ``no-action'' alternative. The full
spectrums of foreseeable environmental consequences are assessed and
suitable mitigation strategies are considered; an ``environmentally
preferred'' course of action is also identified. Concurrently,
completion of the EIS process will fulfill public review requirements
of Sec. 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Range of Alternatives: Under Alternative 1 (No Action), there would
be no change in the environmental education program, location, or
conditions at the Crane Flat campus. Necessary maintenance and repairs
would continue, but no major improvements, rehabilitation of
facilities, or construction of new buildings would occur. There would
be no change in the number of overnight accommodations at Crane Flat
(76 student bunks and 8 staff beds). The overall number of students in
the park
[[Page 8989]]
per session would remain the same (approximately 360), with the
majority of students (approximately 285) in commercial lodging in
Yosemite Valley.
Under both ``action'' alternatives, energy-efficient, sustainable
facilities would be constructed to accommodate more students in a
campus conducive to learning to better meet educational purposes, and
designed to blend into the historic park setting. These improvements
would provide a safe, supervised campus environment, extending more
opportunities for young children from diverse backgrounds to experience
and enjoy their national park. New facilities would achieve modem
standards for fire, health, safety, and accessibility.
Under Alternative 2, the Crane Flat campus would be redeveloped,
doubling its capacity (to 154 students, 14 staff), and reducing
reliance upon commercial lodging in Yosemite Valley (by approximately
80 beds). The new campus would be reconstructed largely in its existing
location (shifted away from the meadow). Most existing buildings would
be removed and replaced (two historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
structures would be retained). Utilities would be upgraded to conserve
water and meet additional capacity. New facilities would achieve modem
standards for fire, health, safety, and accessibility.
A third alternative, to create a new campus in a different
location, was developed in response to public input and new data
illuminating unique and highly sensitive environmental resources at
Crane Flat. Under Alternative 3, (environmentally and agency-preferred)
a new campus would be created at Henness Ridge, a previously-disturbed
forested upland site within the park. In turn, the Crane Flat site
would be restored to natural forest conditions (one of four historic
CCC structures would be repaired and retained; the others documented
and removed). Newly constructed park facilities at Henness would be
universally accessible and accommodate up to 224 students and 14 campus
staff during the school year (reducing students in Yosemite Valley
commercial lodging by approximately 100). During summer, the park
facility would be available for other educationally focused non-
commercial programming, at half occupancy (112, based on environmental
limitations). Energy produced on-site (derived from solar sources and
ground-source heat pumps) would allow the campus to operate with
``zero-net'' annual energy consumption. An NPS fire house would be
constructed on-site for wildland and structural fire equipment and
staff to improve area emergency response capabilities. Under
Alternative 3, in a related utilities upgrade project, a new water
treatment system would be developed to provide potable water for park
visitors and the campus, at Chinquapin (inside a historic garage).
Chinquapin rest area serves thousands of park visitors annually, yet
currently does not provide potable water, due to an antiquated system
that draws surface water from Indian Creek, between Chinquapin and
Henness Ridge. Removing this outdated utility system and restoring the
site would enable conversion of a 64-acre tract of land at Indian Creek
to wilderness status. The existing roadbed (historic route of Glacier
Point Road) would be converted to a wilderness trail, thus providing
further protection of the corridor as habitat for sensitive plant and
wildlife species.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping began in 2002. Availability
of the Draft EIS was noticed in the Federal Register on June 3, 2009.
During the public review of the Draft EIS (May 15-July 15, 2009), the
NPS held public meetings in Mariposa, Yosemite Valley, and San
Francisco; and hosted public site visits at Crane Flat campus and
Henness Ridge. The park received 47 public comment letters. These
comments have been carefully reviewed and given full consideration in
preparation of the Final EIS; all comments received are maintained in
the administrative record.
Copies of the Final EIS are being distributed to the general
public, sent directly to those who submitted comments, as well as to
State and local elected officials, congressional delegations, Tribes,
organizations, local businesses, public libraries, Federal agencies,
and the media. The Final EIS will be available electronically on the
Yosemite National Park Web page at https://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/eecampus.htm and printed copies may be requested via e-mail request to
Yose_Planning@nps.gov (type ``YI EEC'' in the subject line); by phone
(209) 379-1365 (provide name, address with zip code); or by mail, to
the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: YI EEC, P.O. Box 577,
Yosemite, California 95389.
Decision Process: A minimum 30-day no-action period begins with
this announcement of the publication and availability of the Final EIS,
after which a Record of Decision may be prepared. Notice of approval
will be similarly announced in the Federal Register. As a delegated
EIS, the official responsible for the final decision is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible
for implementation of any approved project would be the Superintendent,
Yosemite National Park.
Dated: December 16, 2009.
Rory D. Westberg,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-4033 Filed 2-25-10; 8:45 am]
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