Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Deer Management Plan, Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National Battlefield, MD, and Manassas National Battlefield Park, VA, 42726-42727 [2011-18150]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2011 / Notices
Substation west to San Bernardino,
California. A Notice of Intent to prepare
an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
was published in the Federal Register
on December 7, 2005. The BLM,
together with the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the
USFS prepared a joint EIR/EIS for this
project. The Final EIR/EIS was
completed in late October, 2006, with
the EPA’s Notice of Availability (NOA)
published on November 3, 2006. The
preferred alternative rejected the 230-kV
transmission line upgrades west of the
Devers Substation in favor of a 500-kV
transmission line extension originating
at the Devers Substation and
terminating at the Valley Substation
near Romoland, California. On
December 22, 2006, the CPUC issued a
Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity approving the California
portion of the project under their
jurisdiction.
The BLM’s ROD was delayed,
however, pending approval of the
Arizona portion of the project by the
Arizona Corporations Commission
(ACC). Negotiations between the ACC
and SCE continued until May 15, 2009,
when SCE announced it was no longer
pursuing construction of the Arizona
portion of the project. The SCE,
however, continues to pursue
completion of the California portion of
the project. The rationale for this 157mile-long, California-only project
includes anticipated future renewable
energy development and generator
interconnection requests in the vicinity
of Blythe, in Riverside County,
California. This ROD addresses the
California-only project.
Any party adversely affected by the
ROD decision may appeal within 30
days of publication of this NOA
pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E.
The appeal must be filed with the Palm
Springs Field Manager at the above
listed address. Please consult the
appropriate regulations (43 CFR part 4,
subpart E) for further appeal
requirements.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Karla Norris,
Assistant Deputy State Director, Natural
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2011–18186 Filed 7–18–11; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for a Deer
Management Plan, Antietam National
Battlefield and Monocacy National
Battlefield, MD, and Manassas National
Battlefield Park, VA
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park
Service (NPS) is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement for a
Deer Management Plan (EIS and Plan)
covering Antietam National Battlefield
and Monocacy National Battlefield,
Maryland, and Manassas National
Battlefield Park, Virginia. The purpose
of this EIS and Plan is to develop a deer
management strategy that supports
preservation of the cultural and natural
landscapes through the protection and
restoration of native vegetation and
other natural and cultural resources,
and that provides for management of
Chronic Wasting Disease at the parks.
DATES: The NPS will accept comments
from the public through September 2,
2011.
The NPS intends to hold public
scoping meetings at Antietam National
Battlefield, Monocacy National
Battlefield and Manassas National
Battlefield Park during the scoping
period. Details regarding the exact times
and locations of these meetings will be
announced through local media at least
15 days in advance of the meetings.
Information about public meetings will
also be provided on the three parks’
planning Web site: https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/
battlefielddeerplan (click on the link to
the Deer Management Plan).
ADDRESSES: Information will be
available for public review and
comment online at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/
battlefielddeerplan and at all three park
headquarters listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Superintendent, Antietam
National Battlefield, P.O. Box 158,
Sharpsburg, Maryland 21782,
Telephone: (301) 432–2243.
Office of the Superintendent, Monocacy
National Battlefield, 4801 Urbana
Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704,
Telephone: (301) 694–3147.
Office of the Superintendent, Manassas
National Battlefield Park, 12521 Lee
PO 00000
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This plan
is needed for the following reasons:
Attainment of the parks’ cultural
landscape preservation goals and
mandates are compromised by the high
density of white-tailed deer in the parks.
Browsing of and other damage to
native seedlings, saplings and
understory vegetation by deer in the
parks has prevented successful forest
regeneration.
An increasing number of deer in the
parks has resulted in adverse impacts to
native vegetation and wildlife.
Opportunities to coordinate with
other jurisdictional entities currently
implementing deer management actions
to benefit the protection of park
resources and values can be expanded
(Bull Run Regional Park and Conway
Robinson State Park in Manassas,
Virginia, etc.).
Chronic Wasting Diseases is
proximate to the parks and represents
an imminent threat to resources in the
parks. There are opportunities to
evaluate and plan responses to threats
from Chronic Wasting Disease over the
long term. The NPS has invited several
other government agencies to participate
in the development of the EIS and Plan
as cooperating agencies, including the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State
of Maryland and the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
A scoping newsletter will be prepared
that details the issues identified to date
and includes the purpose, need, and
objectives of the EIS and Plan. Copies of
that information may be obtained online
at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
battlefielddeerplan or at one of the three
parks’ headquarters addresses above.
If you wish to comment on the
purpose, need, objectives, alternatives,
or on any other issues associated with
the EIS and Plan, you may submit your
comments via the Internet at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/
battlefielddeerplan or by mail or handdelivery to one of the three parks’
headquarters addresses above.
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[NPS–NCR–NACA–0411–7317; 2031–A155–
422]
ACTION:
Highway, Manassas, Virginia 20109,
Telephone: (703) 754–1861; and;
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2011 / Notices
Dated: April 19, 2011.
Woody Smeck,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital
Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–18150 Filed 7–18–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JK–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–NCR–MANA–0411–7316; 3840–SZM]
Notice of Availability of a Record of
Decision on the Final Environmental
Impact Statement for the General
Management Plan, Manassas National
Battlefield Park
National Park Service, Interior.
Pursuant to § 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, 83 Stat. 852, 853, codified as
amended at 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the
National Park Service (NPS) announces
the availability of the Record of
Decision for the Final Environmental
Impact Statement for the General
Management Plan (FEIS/GMP),
Manassas National Battlefield Park,
Virginia.
AGENCY:
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed
W. Clark, Superintendent, Manassas
National Battlefield Park, at Manassas
National Battlefield Park, 12521 Lee
Highway, Manassas, Virginia 20109–
2005, by telephone at (703) 754–1861, or
by e-mail at EdWClark @NPS.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 25, 2011, the Regional Director
of the National Capital Region, NPS,
approved the Record of Decision for the
project. As soon as practicable, the NPS
will begin to implement the Preferred
Alternative contained in the FEIS/GMP
issued on September 19, 2008. The
following course of action will occur
under the Alternative B, the selected
alternative.
Alternative B is the NPS-selected
alternative. Under this alternative, the
park would focus on interpreting the
two battles of Manassas as distinct
military events. This alternative has
been modified from the Alternative B
presented in the FEIS/GMP as discussed
below. The initial stop in the park will
be a new visitor center; where visitors
will receive their first orientation to the
battlefield. The interpretive information
will focus on putting the two battles
into context. Visitors will receive a more
thorough orientation to each battle from
two visitor contact areas—Henry Hill for
First Manassas and Brawner Farm for
Second Manassas. From these access
points, visitors may explore the many
historic sites associated with each event
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throughout the park. The experience for
each battle will be distinct, with standalone visitor areas and automobile tour
routes. Separate, chronological
automobile and bicycle tours will be
developed for each battle. In this
alternative, the rehabilitation of the
historic landscape will be critical to
visitor understanding of the events and
military tactics associated with each
battle. Development of a visitor center
near Stone Bridge was discussed as part
of Alternative C in the FEIS/GMP. By
including it in the selected alternative,
the NPS believes the park can provide
a more comprehensive approach to
interpretation of both battles that will
enhance the visitor experience. It
should be noted that while Alternative
C places the visitor center near Stone
Bridge, future planning and compliance
may determine a more appropriate
location for such a facility. The new
visitor center will provide context for
the battles of First and Second Manassas
battles; the visitor contact station at
Henry Hill will continue its sole focus
on the battle of First Manassas, while
the visitor contact station at Brawner
Farm will focus solely on the battle of
Second Manassas. Given its location
within the cultural landscape and space
limitations, expanding the interpretive
focus at Henry Hill is not feasible. By
constructing a new visitor center the
park can more effectively achieve the
management goals of the park. Sitespecific analysis, compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) will
be conducted as appropriate before
development of the new visitor center.
As part of this planning effort, due to
the sensitive nature of the cultural
landscape and resources in the park, the
NPS will explore a range of alternatives
regarding the potential site of the new
facility (both inside and outside of the
park boundaries), and would seek sites
that minimize impacts to park resources
especially those resources related to the
two battles. In addition, the NPS will
consider the operational needs of the
park and how a new visitor center could
meet those needs more efficiently (i.e.,
office space, interpretation, cooperative
agreements, curatorial requirements,
and utilization of the current visitor
facilities within the park); potentially
allowing for a reduction in the size of
the current visitor facilities within the
park in the future.
Full implementation of this
alternative assumes the completion of
the Manassas National Battlefield Park
Bypass (Bypass). The Bypass will permit
the removal of heavy commuter and
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42727
commercial truck traffic from the
portions of U.S. Route 29 and VA Route
234 that run through the park. Through
traffic will be further limited with the
addition of controlled access points.
Visitors will experience a battlefield
landscape that resembles its wartime
appearance. Key interpretive views will
be preserved and re-created to help
visitors understand how the battles
unfolded and the importance of certain
locations. Wartime structures will be
preserved and other historic structures
will be retained to mark the site of
wartime buildings.
Key Actions
Under the selected alternative, the
following actions will occur: Separate
automobile and bike paths will be
developed for each battle. The NPS will
upgrade current trails and interpretive
media along the First Manassas and
Second Manassas hiking trails as
necessary. New portions of the Second
Manassas hiking trail will be created as
necessary. Because of safety concerns
posed by the high traffic volumes on
U.S. Route 29 and VA Route 234,
separate automobile and bicycle tour
routes will not be implemented until the
completion of the Bypass. Once the
Bypass is completed, through traffic will
be limited in the park with the addition
of controlled access facilities at the
park’s four main entry points.
A new visitor center will be
constructed, designed as the initial stop
and primary orientation point for the
park. The visitor contact station at
Henry Hill will focus entirely on First
Manassas.
The battle of Second Manassas visitor
contact station will be located at
Brawner Farm. The site will be open for
year-round visitation once necessary
improvements have been completed.
The cultural landscape will reflect
conditions in 1861–1862 in several key
areas of the park through a combination
of tree removal, clearing, and
reforestation. The cleared areas will be
managed as grassland communities (or
in a few instances as shrub
communities) that will provide
desirable habitat and restore historic
vistas for visitors. Maintaining the
historic appearance of some of these
areas with a lawnmower or other
machinery may be prohibited because of
terrain. In those cases, following
appropriate compliance, other approved
methods will be utilized to maintain the
landscape. Prescribed fire may be
considered as a potential management
tool; however, this will require
extensive compliance to ensure that it
be used safely and have the expected
results. The park staff will continue to
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42726-42727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18150]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-NCR-NACA-0411-7317; 2031-A155-422]
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Deer
Management Plan, Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National
Battlefield, MD, and Manassas National Battlefield Park, VA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement for a Deer Management Plan (EIS and
Plan) covering Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National
Battlefield, Maryland, and Manassas National Battlefield Park,
Virginia. The purpose of this EIS and Plan is to develop a deer
management strategy that supports preservation of the cultural and
natural landscapes through the protection and restoration of native
vegetation and other natural and cultural resources, and that provides
for management of Chronic Wasting Disease at the parks.
DATES: The NPS will accept comments from the public through September
2, 2011.
The NPS intends to hold public scoping meetings at Antietam
National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield and Manassas
National Battlefield Park during the scoping period. Details regarding
the exact times and locations of these meetings will be announced
through local media at least 15 days in advance of the meetings.
Information about public meetings will also be provided on the three
parks' planning Web site: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan (click on the link to the Deer Management Plan).
ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment
online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan and at all
three park headquarters listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Superintendent, Antietam National Battlefield, P.O. Box
158, Sharpsburg, Maryland 21782, Telephone: (301) 432-2243.
Office of the Superintendent, Monocacy National Battlefield, 4801
Urbana Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704, Telephone: (301) 694-3147.
Office of the Superintendent, Manassas National Battlefield Park, 12521
Lee Highway, Manassas, Virginia 20109, Telephone: (703) 754-1861; and;
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This plan is needed for the following
reasons: Attainment of the parks' cultural landscape preservation goals
and mandates are compromised by the high density of white-tailed deer
in the parks.
Browsing of and other damage to native seedlings, saplings and
understory vegetation by deer in the parks has prevented successful
forest regeneration.
An increasing number of deer in the parks has resulted in adverse
impacts to native vegetation and wildlife.
Opportunities to coordinate with other jurisdictional entities
currently implementing deer management actions to benefit the
protection of park resources and values can be expanded (Bull Run
Regional Park and Conway Robinson State Park in Manassas, Virginia,
etc.).
Chronic Wasting Diseases is proximate to the parks and represents
an imminent threat to resources in the parks. There are opportunities
to evaluate and plan responses to threats from Chronic Wasting Disease
over the long term. The NPS has invited several other government
agencies to participate in the development of the EIS and Plan as
cooperating agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
A scoping newsletter will be prepared that details the issues
identified to date and includes the purpose, need, and objectives of
the EIS and Plan. Copies of that information may be obtained online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan or at one of the three
parks' headquarters addresses above.
If you wish to comment on the purpose, need, objectives,
alternatives, or on any other issues associated with the EIS and Plan,
you may submit your comments via the Internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan or by mail or hand-delivery to
one of the three parks' headquarters addresses above.
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.
[[Page 42727]]
Dated: April 19, 2011.
Woody Smeck,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-18150 Filed 7-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JK-P
