Warner Valley Comprehensive Site Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Plumas County, CA; Notice of Availability, 61174-61175 [2010-24790]
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61174
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 191 / Monday, October 4, 2010 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Warner Valley Comprehensive Site
Plan, Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Lassen Volcanic National
Park, Plumas County, CA; Notice of
Availability
Summary: Pursuant to § 102(2)(C) of
the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (Pub. L. 81–190 as amended),
the National Park Service (NPS),
Department of the Interior, has prepared
a Final Environmental Impact Statement
(Final EIS) for the Warner Valley
Comprehensive Site Plan. This
conservation planning effort has four
main objectives: (1) Improving visitor
experience and enhancing public safety
through improvements to infrastructure
and relocating infrastructure so it is less
visible; (2) Ecological restoration of
Warner Valley fen and wetland areas;
(3) Removal or repair of Dream Lake
Dam and restoration of associated
riparian/wetland complex; (4) Protect
and enhance the Drakesbad Historic
District through removal of noncontributing structures and functions.
The Final EIS evaluates alternative
methods for accomplishing ecological
restoration and cultural resource
protection; appropriate mitigation
measures are incorporated, and an
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ course of
action is identified.
Background: Warner Valley is located
in the south central part of the Lassen
Volcanic National Park, and
encompasses the 400-acre project
planning area. This area includes Dream
Lake Dam, built in 1932 by Alex Sifford,
which impounds an approximately
2.7-acre lake. The center of the valley
features a large meadow that contains
one of the largest known fens in the
Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains.
The upper valley area was originally
developed for cattle ranching in the late
1800s by E.R. Drake, who initiated
efforts to ditch and dry out the wet
meadow to improve the grazing for
cattle. In 1900, Mr. Drake sold his
Warner Valley property to the Sifford
family who focused on developing a
summer guest ranch for the next 50
years. The Siffords built the 10
structures which now form the core of
Drakesbad Guest Ranch Historic District
(both Dream Lake and the meadow are
contributing features). They transformed
overnight accommodations from tent
camping near hot springs into a guest
ranch. The Siffords also built or
improved trails, created a hot spring-fed
pool, constructed corrals, further
dewatered the meadow, and constructed
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Oct 01, 2010
Jkt 223001
the impoundment to create the lake for
their guests.
In 1958 the facilities and land were
sold to the NPS. The Guest Ranch
continues today as a concession
operated by California Guest Services.
The current Drakesbad wetland
conditions include a fen which is drying
out and ceasing to function as a fen, and
Dream Lake, which has submerged a
natural wetland. The Historic District
has accumulated many features and
structures which diminish its historic
character. Lack of clearly demarcated
parking affects natural resources by
allowing car traffic to encroach in
sensitive areas. Hikers traveling the
Pacific Crest Trail must walk on the
unimproved Warner Valley Road, which
also passes through the nearby
campground.
Range of Alternatives: The Final EIS
describes and analyzes a ‘‘no action’’
alternative (Alternative 1) which would
continue current management practices,
and two ‘‘action’’ alternatives.
Alternatives 2 and 3 contain a varying
mix of three major components: (1)
Enhancing visitor experience and safety
through improving or relocating nonessential infrastructure so it has less
impact on park visitor experience and
historic district qualities; (2) ecological
restoration of wetlands including
Drakesbad fen, the larger Warner Valley
fen wetland, and Dream Lake
submerged riparian/wetland complex;
(3) protecting and enhancing the
Historic District by removing noncontributing structures and functions.
Both ‘‘action’’ alternatives include the
following common elements:
• Move concession employee
housing, storage, generator, and propane
tanks out of the Historic District and
into a new service area.
• Create a Pacific Crest Trail
connection so hikers may avoid walking
along Warner Valley road.
• Renovate and slightly expand the
non-historic bathhouse adjacent to the
swimming pool.
• Reduce parking sprawl by replacing
inadequate wheel stops.
• Make minor changes to the
campground and fee station location,
including relocation of the day use/
trailhead parking from a meadow to the
campground.
Alternative 2 (agency preferred)
components include: (a) Ecological
restoration of Warner Valley fen through
permanently filling ditches with
appropriate soil and native material; (b)
creation of a concession housing and
service center outside of the Historic
District composed of tent cabins
surrounding a single-story bathroom
building; (c) removal of Dream Lake
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dam and allowing the area to revert to
a riparian/wetland complex. In
addition, a change to Alternative 2 (as
was presented in the Draft EIS) has been
incorporated, in response to public
comment and further staff analysis,
which is as follows: relocate, rather than
eliminate, the volleyball court to a
location adjacent to the pool. This
change is intended to protect historic
viewsheds yet maintain a range of
recreational activities for Guest Ranch
visitors. This alternative has also been
deemed to be ‘‘environmentally
preferred’’.
Alternative 3 includes: (a) Restoration
of Warner Valley fen through selective
damming of ditches; (b) creation of a
concession housing and service center
outside the Drakesbad Historic District
composed of a two-story dormitory
building with bathrooms; (c)
reconstruction of Dream Lake Dam to
Bureau of Reclamation engineering
standards. There are no changes to this
alternative.
Public Involvement and Agency
Coordination: The original public
scoping effort focused on a proposed
Dream Lake Dam Management Plan.
Preliminary meetings were held during
November 4–7, 2002, in Chico, Red
Bluff, Redding, and Chester. Meeting
announcements were printed in the Red
Bluff Daily News, Chester Progressive,
Redding Record Searchlight, and the
Sacramento Bee (twenty additional
media outlets, including newspaper,
radio stations, and television stations
were also notified). Formal public
scoping for this Management Plan was
announced in the Federal Register on
April 4, 2003. This initial conservation
planning effort was expanded into the
broader Warner Valley Comprehensive
Site Plan as it became apparent that
separate planning projects would be
more time consuming to accomplish.
Preliminary scoping for the Warner
Valley Comprehensive Site Plan was
initiated on June 1, 2004, with
solicitations at the Drakesbad Guest
Ranch Lodge for comments about
potential future management options for
the upper valley area. Public meetings
for the Comprehensive Site Plan were
held during June 13–15, 2005, in Red
Bluff, Chester, and Vacaville. The same
media outlets mentioned above were
notified, and approximately 700 public
scoping announcements were
distributed. Formal scoping was
initiated on June 24, 2005, with
publication in the Federal Register of
the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS.
These outreach activities elicited
information from individuals, agencies,
and organizations, which aided the
alternatives formulation and
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 191 / Monday, October 4, 2010 / Notices
environmental impact analysis
processes; all comments obtained
throughout the extended scoping effort
are available in the administrative
record.
On August 21, 2009, the Warner
Valley Comprehensive Site Plan/Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft
EIS) was released for a 90-day public
review period, closing on November 21,
2009. Three public open houses were
hosted; on September 2 in Chester,
September 3 in Anderson, and
September 8 in Vacaville. Copies of the
Draft EIS were available for review at
local libraries and the open houses, and
an electronic version was posted at both
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Web
site https://www.nps.gov/lavo/
parkmgmt/index.htm and the NPS
Planning, Environment and Public
Comment Web site https://parkplanning.
nps.gov. A total of 33 comment letters
were received, including from
Greenville Rancheria, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the California Regional Water
Quality Control Board, the Northern
Sierra Air Quality District, the Almanor
Basin Fire Safe Council, and assorted
letters from groups and individuals.
Topics mentioned most frequently
included: Restoration of Drakesbad
Meadow; removal of Dream Lake Dam;
alternative energy use; changes to
campgrounds and redesign of trails and
pathways; proposed new concessioner
employee housing; and relocation of the
volleyball court. Personal letters
conveyed opinions both in favor and
against actions proposed—some of these
comments arose out of interest in
preserving Drakesbad Guest Ranch in its
present condition without any
significant changes. Agencies provided
information regarding regulatory
requirements and permitting. Comments
and responses are detailed in Chapter 6
of the Final EIS.
Supplementary Information: The
Final EIS will be distributed in the same
manner as the Draft EIS. In addition to
this announcement, availability of the
document will be publicized through
local and regional press media. The
document will be available at park
headquarters and at local public
libraries, and an electronic version will
also be posted on the Lassen Volcanic
National Park and NPS Web sites (see
above). New requests for the document
can be made at (530) 595–4444
extension 5101 or
lavo_planning@nps.gov. Not sooner
than thirty days after the Federal
Register notice by the Environmental
Protection Agency of availability of the
Final EIS, a Record of Decision may be
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Oct 01, 2010
Jkt 223001
prepared. As a delegated EIS, the official
responsible for approval of the
Comprehensive Site Plan is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region. The
official subsequently responsible for
implementation will be the
Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic
National Park.
Dated: March 19, 2010.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010–24790 Filed 10–1–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–GD–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
61175
Topics that the ANS Task Force plans
to cover during the meeting include:
Regional Panel issues and
recommendations, updates on ANSTFapproved species management and
control plans, vector management, and
consideration for approval of State ANS
management plans. The agenda and
other related meeting information are on
the ANS Task Force Web site at:
https://anstaskforce.gov/meetings.php.
Dated: September 24, 2010.
Bryan Arroyo,
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task
Force, Assistant Director—Fisheries & Habitat
Conservation.
[FR Doc. 2010–24807 Filed 10–1–10; 8:45 am]
Fish and Wildlife Service
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
[FWS–R9–FHC–2010–N211; 94140–1341–
0000–N5]
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Meeting
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
This notice announces a
meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance
Species (ANS) Task Force. The meeting
is open to the public. The meeting
topics are identified in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
DATES: The ANS Task Force will meet
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday,
November 3 through Thursday,
November 4, 2010.
The ANS Task Force
meeting will take place at the Holiday
Inn—Arlington at Ballston, 4610 N.
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203
(703–243–9800). You may inspect
minutes of the meeting at the office of
the Chief, Division of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resource Conservation, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203,
during regular business hours, Monday
through Friday. You may also view the
minutes on the ANS Task Force Web
site at: https://anstaskforce.gov/
meetings.php.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Mangin, Executive Secretary,
ANS Task Force, by phone at (703) 358–
2466, or by e-mail at
Susan_Mangin@fws.gov.
Under
section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), this
notice announces meetings of the ANS
Task Force. The ANS Task Force was
established by the Nonindigenous
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and
Control Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 106–580, as
amended).
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
[Investigation No. 731–TA–1088 (Final)]
Polyvinyl Alcohol From Taiwan
United States International
Trade Commission.
ACTION: Scheduling of the final phase of
an antidumping investigation.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
The Commission hereby gives
notice of the scheduling of the final
phase of antidumping investigation No.
731–TA–1088 (Final) under section
735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1673d(b)) (the Act) to determine
whether an industry in the United
States is materially injured or
threatened with material injury, or the
establishment of an industry in the
United States is materially retarded, by
reason of less-than-fair-value imports
from Taiwan of polyvinyl alcohol,
provided for in subheading 3905.30.00
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States.1
For further information concerning
the conduct of this phase of the
investigation, hearing procedures, and
rules of general application, consult the
SUMMARY:
1 For purposes of this investigation, the
Department of Commerce has defined the subject
merchandise as all PVA hydrolyzed in excess of 80
percent, whether or not mixed or diluted with
commercial levels of defoamer or boric acid. PVA
in fiber form and PVB-grade low-ash PVA are not
included in the scope of this investigation. PVBgrade low-ash PVA is defined to be PVA that meets
the following specifications: Hydrolysis, Mole % of
98.40 ± 0.40, 4% Solution Viscosity 30.00 ± 2.50
centipois, and ash—ISE, wt% less than 0.60, 4%
solution color 20mm cell, 10.0 maximum APHA
units, haze index, 20mm cell, 5.0, maximum. The
merchandise under investigation is currently
classifiable under subheading 3905.30.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is
provided for convenience and customs purposes,
the written description of the merchandise under
investigation is dispositive.
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 191 (Monday, October 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61174-61175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24790]
[[Page 61174]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Warner Valley Comprehensive Site Plan, Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Plumas County, CA; Notice of
Availability
Summary: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 81-190 as amended), the National Park
Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Warner Valley
Comprehensive Site Plan. This conservation planning effort has four
main objectives: (1) Improving visitor experience and enhancing public
safety through improvements to infrastructure and relocating
infrastructure so it is less visible; (2) Ecological restoration of
Warner Valley fen and wetland areas; (3) Removal or repair of Dream
Lake Dam and restoration of associated riparian/wetland complex; (4)
Protect and enhance the Drakesbad Historic District through removal of
non-contributing structures and functions. The Final EIS evaluates
alternative methods for accomplishing ecological restoration and
cultural resource protection; appropriate mitigation measures are
incorporated, and an ``environmentally preferred'' course of action is
identified.
Background: Warner Valley is located in the south central part of
the Lassen Volcanic National Park, and encompasses the 400-acre project
planning area. This area includes Dream Lake Dam, built in 1932 by Alex
Sifford, which impounds an approximately 2.7-acre lake. The center of
the valley features a large meadow that contains one of the largest
known fens in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains. The upper valley
area was originally developed for cattle ranching in the late 1800s by
E.R. Drake, who initiated efforts to ditch and dry out the wet meadow
to improve the grazing for cattle. In 1900, Mr. Drake sold his Warner
Valley property to the Sifford family who focused on developing a
summer guest ranch for the next 50 years. The Siffords built the 10
structures which now form the core of Drakesbad Guest Ranch Historic
District (both Dream Lake and the meadow are contributing features).
They transformed overnight accommodations from tent camping near hot
springs into a guest ranch. The Siffords also built or improved trails,
created a hot spring-fed pool, constructed corrals, further dewatered
the meadow, and constructed the impoundment to create the lake for
their guests.
In 1958 the facilities and land were sold to the NPS. The Guest
Ranch continues today as a concession operated by California Guest
Services. The current Drakesbad wetland conditions include a fen which
is drying out and ceasing to function as a fen, and Dream Lake, which
has submerged a natural wetland. The Historic District has accumulated
many features and structures which diminish its historic character.
Lack of clearly demarcated parking affects natural resources by
allowing car traffic to encroach in sensitive areas. Hikers traveling
the Pacific Crest Trail must walk on the unimproved Warner Valley Road,
which also passes through the nearby campground.
Range of Alternatives: The Final EIS describes and analyzes a ``no
action'' alternative (Alternative 1) which would continue current
management practices, and two ``action'' alternatives. Alternatives 2
and 3 contain a varying mix of three major components: (1) Enhancing
visitor experience and safety through improving or relocating non-
essential infrastructure so it has less impact on park visitor
experience and historic district qualities; (2) ecological restoration
of wetlands including Drakesbad fen, the larger Warner Valley fen
wetland, and Dream Lake submerged riparian/wetland complex; (3)
protecting and enhancing the Historic District by removing non-
contributing structures and functions.
Both ``action'' alternatives include the following common elements:
Move concession employee housing, storage, generator, and
propane tanks out of the Historic District and into a new service area.
Create a Pacific Crest Trail connection so hikers may
avoid walking along Warner Valley road.
Renovate and slightly expand the non-historic bathhouse
adjacent to the swimming pool.
Reduce parking sprawl by replacing inadequate wheel stops.
Make minor changes to the campground and fee station
location, including relocation of the day use/trailhead parking from a
meadow to the campground.
Alternative 2 (agency preferred) components include: (a) Ecological
restoration of Warner Valley fen through permanently filling ditches
with appropriate soil and native material; (b) creation of a concession
housing and service center outside of the Historic District composed of
tent cabins surrounding a single-story bathroom building; (c) removal
of Dream Lake Dam and allowing the area to revert to a riparian/wetland
complex. In addition, a change to Alternative 2 (as was presented in
the Draft EIS) has been incorporated, in response to public comment and
further staff analysis, which is as follows: relocate, rather than
eliminate, the volleyball court to a location adjacent to the pool.
This change is intended to protect historic viewsheds yet maintain a
range of recreational activities for Guest Ranch visitors. This
alternative has also been deemed to be ``environmentally preferred''.
Alternative 3 includes: (a) Restoration of Warner Valley fen
through selective damming of ditches; (b) creation of a concession
housing and service center outside the Drakesbad Historic District
composed of a two-story dormitory building with bathrooms; (c)
reconstruction of Dream Lake Dam to Bureau of Reclamation engineering
standards. There are no changes to this alternative.
Public Involvement and Agency Coordination: The original public
scoping effort focused on a proposed Dream Lake Dam Management Plan.
Preliminary meetings were held during November 4-7, 2002, in Chico, Red
Bluff, Redding, and Chester. Meeting announcements were printed in the
Red Bluff Daily News, Chester Progressive, Redding Record Searchlight,
and the Sacramento Bee (twenty additional media outlets, including
newspaper, radio stations, and television stations were also notified).
Formal public scoping for this Management Plan was announced in the
Federal Register on April 4, 2003. This initial conservation planning
effort was expanded into the broader Warner Valley Comprehensive Site
Plan as it became apparent that separate planning projects would be
more time consuming to accomplish. Preliminary scoping for the Warner
Valley Comprehensive Site Plan was initiated on June 1, 2004, with
solicitations at the Drakesbad Guest Ranch Lodge for comments about
potential future management options for the upper valley area. Public
meetings for the Comprehensive Site Plan were held during June 13-15,
2005, in Red Bluff, Chester, and Vacaville. The same media outlets
mentioned above were notified, and approximately 700 public scoping
announcements were distributed. Formal scoping was initiated on June
24, 2005, with publication in the Federal Register of the Notice of
Intent to prepare an EIS. These outreach activities elicited
information from individuals, agencies, and organizations, which aided
the alternatives formulation and
[[Page 61175]]
environmental impact analysis processes; all comments obtained
throughout the extended scoping effort are available in the
administrative record.
On August 21, 2009, the Warner Valley Comprehensive Site Plan/Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) was released for a 90-day
public review period, closing on November 21, 2009. Three public open
houses were hosted; on September 2 in Chester, September 3 in Anderson,
and September 8 in Vacaville. Copies of the Draft EIS were available
for review at local libraries and the open houses, and an electronic
version was posted at both Lassen Volcanic National Park's Web site
https://www.nps.gov/lavo/parkmgmt/index.htm and the NPS Planning,
Environment and Public Comment Web site https://parkplanning.nps.gov. A
total of 33 comment letters were received, including from Greenville
Rancheria, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board,
the Northern Sierra Air Quality District, the Almanor Basin Fire Safe
Council, and assorted letters from groups and individuals. Topics
mentioned most frequently included: Restoration of Drakesbad Meadow;
removal of Dream Lake Dam; alternative energy use; changes to
campgrounds and redesign of trails and pathways; proposed new
concessioner employee housing; and relocation of the volleyball court.
Personal letters conveyed opinions both in favor and against actions
proposed--some of these comments arose out of interest in preserving
Drakesbad Guest Ranch in its present condition without any significant
changes. Agencies provided information regarding regulatory
requirements and permitting. Comments and responses are detailed in
Chapter 6 of the Final EIS.
Supplementary Information: The Final EIS will be distributed in the
same manner as the Draft EIS. In addition to this announcement,
availability of the document will be publicized through local and
regional press media. The document will be available at park
headquarters and at local public libraries, and an electronic version
will also be posted on the Lassen Volcanic National Park and NPS Web
sites (see above). New requests for the document can be made at (530)
595-4444 extension 5101 or lavo_planning@nps.gov. Not sooner than
thirty days after the Federal Register notice by the Environmental
Protection Agency of availability of the Final EIS, a Record of
Decision may be prepared. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible
for approval of the Comprehensive Site Plan is the Regional Director,
Pacific West Region. The official subsequently responsible for
implementation will be the Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic National
Park.
Dated: March 19, 2010.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-24790 Filed 10-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-GD-P
