Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California, 66380-66381 [2013-26468]

Download as PDF 66380 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 5, 2013 / Notices the Sixth Standard Parallel North (south boundary), and a portion of the subdivisional lines and the subdivision of sections 28 and 33, and the survey of the west boundary of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, through sections 28 and 33, Township 25 North, Range 19 East, Principal Meridian, Montana, was accepted October 22, 2013. We will place a copy of the plat, in one sheet, and related field notes we described in the open files. They will be available to the public as a matter of information. If the BLM receives a protest against this survey, as shown on this plat, in one sheet, prior to the date of the official filing, we will stay the filing pending our consideration of the protest. We will not officially file this plat, in one sheet, until the day after we have accepted or dismissed all protests and they have become final, including decisions or appeals. Authority: 43 U.S.C., Chap. 3. Joshua F. Alexander, Acting Chief Cadastral Surveyor, Division of Resources. [FR Doc. 2013–26464 Filed 11–4–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–PWR–PWRO–13843; PX.DYOSE1318.00.1] Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and consistent with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service (NPS) has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (Mariposa Grove FEIS). The primary purpose of the proposed restoration is to restore dynamic natural processes that support the giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park and increase the resiliency of the Mariposa Grove to withstand a range of environmental stressors, and to improve the overall visitor experience in the Grove. DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days after the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Nov 04, 2013 Jkt 232001 publishes its notice of filing of the Mariposa Grove FEIS in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimball Koch, Division of Project Management, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 700–W, 5083 Foresta Road, El Portal, CA 95318, (209) 379–1202. Request printed documents or CDs through email (yose_planning@nps.gov) or by telephone (209) 379–1202. The Mariposa Grove FEIS will be available at libraries in local communities. Electronic versions will be available online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ mariposagrove. Background: The Mariposa Grove encompasses about 500 mature giant sequoia trees that are among the oldest and largest living organisms in the world. These immense trees were so inspirational to early visitors that Congress passed legislation to permanently preserve the Mariposa Grove in the midst of the Civil War (Act of Congress, June 30, 1864). Comprehensive actions are needed to ensure that the Mariposa Grove continues to thrive and provide inspiration and enjoyment for future generations. Range of Alternatives: The National Park Service developed the Mariposa Grove FEIS through consultation with traditionally associated American Indian tribes and groups, the State Historic Preservation Officer, and other federal and state agencies. Organizations and interested members of the public provided 334 public correspondences on the Draft EIS. The NPS conducted two public meetings during the public comment period, attended by about 90 people. The Mariposa Grove FEIS identifies and evaluates a No Action Alternative (Alternative 1) and three action alternatives (Alternatives 2–4) to restore natural habitat within the Mariposa Grove and improve the visitor experience. Alternatives 2–4 propose comprehensive ecological restoration actions, including improvement of hydrologic flows, restored natural habitat, and improved visitor orientation and interpretation. Key distinctions among Alternatives 2–4 include the location of a new hub for public parking and visitor services, and the availability of shuttle service and commercial tram service to the Grove. Alternative 1 (No Action) would continue current management and trends. The lower Mariposa Grove area would continue to serve as the primary arrival point and visitor information center. Existing buildings and infrastructure within the Mariposa PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Grove, including a commercial tram operation, would remain. The shuttle service connecting the overflow parking areas at Wawona to the South Entrance and the Grove would continue to operate. Alternative 2 (South Entrance Hub) is the agency-preferred alternative. To allow for restoration of giant sequoia habitat, wetlands, and soundscapes within the Mariposa Grove, this alternative would relocate parking and the visitor information center to a primary transit hub and contact area near the South Entrance of Yosemite. A park shuttle would transport visitors two miles from the South Entrance to the lower Grove area, or visitors could hike to the Grove along a proposed new trail. Commercial tram operations would be removed from the Grove. Limited parking would be available in the lower Grove area during the offseason, weather permitting. Alternative 3 (Grizzly Giant Hub) would provide for restoration of wetlands and giant sequoia habitat in the lower portion of the Mariposa Grove and construct a new parking and visitor information center near the Grizzly Giant tree. This alternative would require construction of a new bypass road to the new visitor hub and would eliminate the need for commercial tram and park shuttle operations. Alternative 4 (South Entrance Hub with Modified Commercial Tram) would allow for restoration of wetlands, soundscapes, and giant sequoia habitat within the Mariposa Grove by relocating public parking and facilities out of the lower portion of the Grove to the South Entrance of Yosemite, as in Alternative 2. Alternative 4 would relocate the commercial tram operation to the South Entrance area and reduce the route and hours of operation within the upper Grove area to enhance sequoia habitat and improve the soundscape and overall visitor experience within the Grove. As in Alternative 2, parking would be relocated to the South Entrance, and visitors would use the park shuttle for the two-mile ride to the Grove. Limited off-season parking would be available in the lower Grove area, weather permitting. Changes Incorporated in Final EIS: In response to the public comments received on the Draft EIS and new information derived from subsequent geo-technical studies, minor changes are incorporated into the Mariposa Grove FEIS in Alternative 2 and Alternative 4. These changes do not substantially alter the determinations of potential effects as disclosed in the Draft EIS. The changes include: E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 5, 2013 / Notices 1. Reconfigure facilities at the South Entrance hub to accommodate additional parking (up to approximately 285 spaces) and flex-spaces to accommodate oversize vehicles. 2. Provide an off-season overflow parking area near the picnic area. 3. Increase the size of the buried water tank at South Entrance. 4. Explore additional options for the location of the septic system and leach field. Decision Process: As noted above, not sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency notice is published in the Federal Register, the National Park Service will prepare a Record of Decision. Notice of project approval through the signing of the Record of Decision will be published in the Federal Register by the National Park Service. Because this is a delegated EIS, the official responsible for approval of the project is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently, the official responsible for project implementation is the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park. Dated: September 13, 2013. Cynthia L. Ip, Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region. [FR Doc. 2013–26468 Filed 11–4–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement [S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A000 67F 134S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX066A00 33F 13xs501520] Notice of Proposed Information Collection; Request for Comments Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for General Reclamation Requirements, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost. DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Nov 04, 2013 Jkt 232001 should be submitted to OMB by December 5, 2013, in order to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Department of the Interior Desk Officer, by telefax at (202) 395–5806 or via email to OIRA_ submission@omb.eop.gov. Also, please send a copy of your comments to John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave. NW., Room 203—SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or electronically to jtrelease@osmre.gov. Please refer to OMB control number 1029–0113 in your correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the information collection request contact John Trelease at (202) 208–2783 or via email at jtrelease@osmre.gov. You may also review the information collection request online at https:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13), require that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)]. OSM has submitted a request to OMB to renew its approval for the collection of information found at 30 CFR Part 874. OSM is requesting a 3-year term of approval for these information collection activities. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection of information is 1029–0113, and may be found in OSM’s regulations at 874.10. Responses are required to obtain a benefit. As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on the collection of information for Part 874 was published on August 7, 2013 (78 FR 48188). No comments were received from that notice. This notice provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to comment on the following information collection activity: Title: 30 CFR Part 874—General Reclamation Requirements. OMB Control Number: 1029–0113. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 66381 Summary: Part 874 establishes land and water eligibility requirements, reclamation objectives and priorities and reclamation contractor responsibility. The regulations at 30 CFR 874.17 require consultation between the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) agency and the appropriate Title V regulatory authority on the likelihood of removing the coal under a Title V permit and concurrences between the AML agency and the appropriate Title V regulatory authority on the AML project boundary and the amount of coal that would be extracted under the AML reclamation project. Bureau Form Number: None. Frequency of Collection: Once. Description of Respondents: 17 State regulatory authorities and Indian tribes. Total Annual Responses: 17. Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,411. Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the agency’s burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and ways to minimize the information collection burdens on respondents, such as use of automated means of collections of the information, to the addresses listed under ADDRESSES. Please refer to OMB control number 1029–0113 in all correspondence. Before including your address, phone number, email 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. Dated: October 30, 2013. Andrew F. DeVito, Chief, Division of Regulatory Support. [FR Doc. 2013–26463 Filed 11–4–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–05–P E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66380-66381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26468]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-13843; PX.DYOSE1318.00.1]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Restoration of the 
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa 
County, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and 
consistent with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the 
National Park Service (NPS) has prepared the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias 
(Mariposa Grove FEIS). The primary purpose of the proposed restoration 
is to restore dynamic natural processes that support the giant sequoias 
in Yosemite National Park and increase the resiliency of the Mariposa 
Grove to withstand a range of environmental stressors, and to improve 
the overall visitor experience in the Grove.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision not 
sooner than 30 days after the date the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its notice of filing of the Mariposa Grove FEIS in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimball Koch, Division of Project 
Management, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 700-W, 5083 Foresta Road, 
El Portal, CA 95318, (209) 379-1202. Request printed documents or CDs 
through email (yose_planning@nps.gov) or by telephone (209) 379-1202. 
The Mariposa Grove FEIS will be available at libraries in local 
communities. Electronic versions will be available online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/mariposagrove.
    Background: The Mariposa Grove encompasses about 500 mature giant 
sequoia trees that are among the oldest and largest living organisms in 
the world. These immense trees were so inspirational to early visitors 
that Congress passed legislation to permanently preserve the Mariposa 
Grove in the midst of the Civil War (Act of Congress, June 30, 1864). 
Comprehensive actions are needed to ensure that the Mariposa Grove 
continues to thrive and provide inspiration and enjoyment for future 
generations.
    Range of Alternatives: The National Park Service developed the 
Mariposa Grove FEIS through consultation with traditionally associated 
American Indian tribes and groups, the State Historic Preservation 
Officer, and other federal and state agencies. Organizations and 
interested members of the public provided 334 public correspondences on 
the Draft EIS. The NPS conducted two public meetings during the public 
comment period, attended by about 90 people.
    The Mariposa Grove FEIS identifies and evaluates a No Action 
Alternative (Alternative 1) and three action alternatives (Alternatives 
2-4) to restore natural habitat within the Mariposa Grove and improve 
the visitor experience. Alternatives 2-4 propose comprehensive 
ecological restoration actions, including improvement of hydrologic 
flows, restored natural habitat, and improved visitor orientation and 
interpretation. Key distinctions among Alternatives 2-4 include the 
location of a new hub for public parking and visitor services, and the 
availability of shuttle service and commercial tram service to the 
Grove.
    Alternative 1 (No Action) would continue current management and 
trends. The lower Mariposa Grove area would continue to serve as the 
primary arrival point and visitor information center. Existing 
buildings and infrastructure within the Mariposa Grove, including a 
commercial tram operation, would remain. The shuttle service connecting 
the overflow parking areas at Wawona to the South Entrance and the 
Grove would continue to operate.
    Alternative 2 (South Entrance Hub) is the agency-preferred 
alternative. To allow for restoration of giant sequoia habitat, 
wetlands, and soundscapes within the Mariposa Grove, this alternative 
would relocate parking and the visitor information center to a primary 
transit hub and contact area near the South Entrance of Yosemite. A 
park shuttle would transport visitors two miles from the South Entrance 
to the lower Grove area, or visitors could hike to the Grove along a 
proposed new trail. Commercial tram operations would be removed from 
the Grove. Limited parking would be available in the lower Grove area 
during the off-season, weather permitting.
    Alternative 3 (Grizzly Giant Hub) would provide for restoration of 
wetlands and giant sequoia habitat in the lower portion of the Mariposa 
Grove and construct a new parking and visitor information center near 
the Grizzly Giant tree. This alternative would require construction of 
a new bypass road to the new visitor hub and would eliminate the need 
for commercial tram and park shuttle operations.
    Alternative 4 (South Entrance Hub with Modified Commercial Tram) 
would allow for restoration of wetlands, soundscapes, and giant sequoia 
habitat within the Mariposa Grove by relocating public parking and 
facilities out of the lower portion of the Grove to the South Entrance 
of Yosemite, as in Alternative 2. Alternative 4 would relocate the 
commercial tram operation to the South Entrance area and reduce the 
route and hours of operation within the upper Grove area to enhance 
sequoia habitat and improve the soundscape and overall visitor 
experience within the Grove. As in Alternative 2, parking would be 
relocated to the South Entrance, and visitors would use the park 
shuttle for the two-mile ride to the Grove. Limited off-season parking 
would be available in the lower Grove area, weather permitting.
    Changes Incorporated in Final EIS: In response to the public 
comments received on the Draft EIS and new information derived from 
subsequent geo-technical studies, minor changes are incorporated into 
the Mariposa Grove FEIS in Alternative 2 and Alternative 4. These 
changes do not substantially alter the determinations of potential 
effects as disclosed in the Draft EIS. The changes include:

[[Page 66381]]

    1. Reconfigure facilities at the South Entrance hub to accommodate 
additional parking (up to approximately 285 spaces) and flex-spaces to 
accommodate oversize vehicles.
    2. Provide an off-season overflow parking area near the picnic 
area.
    3. Increase the size of the buried water tank at South Entrance.
    4. Explore additional options for the location of the septic system 
and leach field.
    Decision Process: As noted above, not sooner than 30 days after the 
Environmental Protection Agency notice is published in the Federal 
Register, the National Park Service will prepare a Record of Decision. 
Notice of project approval through the signing of the Record of 
Decision will be published in the Federal Register by the National Park 
Service. Because this is a delegated EIS, the official responsible for 
approval of the project is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, 
National Park Service. Subsequently, the official responsible for 
project implementation is the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.

     Dated: September 13, 2013.
Cynthia L. Ip,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-26468 Filed 11-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FF-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.