Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a General Management Plan Amendment, Point Reyes National Seashore and North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, California, 54775-54777 [2018-23807]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices
written protest 30 calendar days from
the date of this publication at the
address listed in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice. A statement of reasons for
the protest may be filed with the notice
of protest and must be filed within 30
calendar days after the protest is filed.
If a protest against a survey is received
prior to the date of official filing, the
filing will be stayed pending
consideration of the protest. A plat will
not be officially filed until the day after
all protests have been dismissed or
otherwise resolved.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, please be aware that your
entire protest, 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 copy of the described plats will be
placed in the open files, and available
to the public as a matter of information.
Authority: 43 U.S.C. Chap. 3.
Leon W. Chmura,
Acting Chief Cadastral Surveyor.
[FR Doc. 2018–23825 Filed 10–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–PWR–PWRO–26857; PPWONRADE2,
PMP00EI05.YP0000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for a
General Management Plan
Amendment, Point Reyes National
Seashore and North District of Golden
Gate National Recreation Area, Marin
County, California
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service
(NPS) is preparing a General
Management Plan Amendment (GMP
Amendment) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for all lands currently
under agricultural lease/permits within
Point Reyes National Seashore and the
north district of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area.
DATES: The NPS requests that comments
be submitted by November 30, 2018.
Open houses will be announced in local
media.
ADDRESSES: Information will be
available for public review online at
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SUMMARY:
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https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
POREGMPA and in the Office of the
Superintendent, 1 Bear Valley Road,
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 (415–
464–5120, telephone). You may submit
your comments by any one of several
methods. You may comment online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
POREGMPA. You may mail or hand
deliver comments to the
Superintendent, Point Reyes National
Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point
Reyes Station, CA 94956. Written
comments will also be accepted at the
public open houses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melanie Gunn, Outreach Coordinator,
Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear
Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA
94956 (415–464–5131, telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)
(NEPA), and the terms of a Settlement
Agreement approved by the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of
California on July 14, 2017 (Resource
Renewal Institute et al., v. National Park
Service, Case No. 16–cv–00688–SBA
(KAW) (N.D. Cal.)) (Agreement), the
NPS is preparing an EIS for lands
currently leased for ranching within
Point Reyes National Seashore and the
north district of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (planning area). In
preparing the EIS, the NPS will follow
all applicable laws and policies and will
comply with the terms of the
Agreement. The Agreement requires the
EIS to address the statutory elements for
General Management Plans, unless
inapplicable, and to consider three
specific alternatives. The EIS will
amend the 1980 GMP for the planning
area.
This notice also terminates the GMP
EIS process for Point Reyes National
Seashore initiated by the NPS on
October 14, 1997 (62 FR 53336),
updated on May 24, 1999 (64 FR 28008),
and expanded to include the north
district of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area lands on February 3,
2000 (65 FR 5365–5366).
Background
Legislation authorizing the
establishment of Point Reyes National
Seashore (Point Reyes or Seashore) was
enacted in 1962 (16 U.S.C. 459c) for the
purpose of preserving ‘‘a portion of the
diminishing seashore of the United
States that remains undeveloped.’’ The
Seashore includes more than 71,000
acres of beaches, coastal cliffs and
headlands, marine terraces, coastal
uplands, forests, and includes all tide
and submerged lands to 0.25 miles
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Sfmt 4703
54775
offshore. The Seashore administers an
additional 15,000 acres of the north
district of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (Golden Gate NRA)
under a Regional Directive for
Management. Congress established
Golden Gate NRA in 1972 and expanded
it in 1980 to include lands within the
planning area. The Golden Gate NRA
legislation directs the NPS ‘‘to preserve
for public use and enjoyment certain
areas of Marin and San Francisco
Counties, California, possessing
outstanding natural, historic, scenic,
and recreational values . . . .’’ and to
‘‘preserve the recreation area, as far as
possible, in its natural setting, and
protect it from development and uses
which would destroy the scenic beauty
and natural character of the area.’’ 16
U.S.C. 460bb.
Specific provisions of both the Point
Reyes and Golden Gate NRA enabling
legislation (16 U.S.C. 459c–5 and
460bb–2(j)) authorize the issuance of
lease/special use permits (lease/permits)
for agricultural, ranching, or dairying
purposes. Approximately 28,000 acres
of National Park Service lands,
including 18,000 acres of Point Reyes
National Seashore and 10,000 acres
within the north district of Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, are currently
utilized for beef and dairy ranching
under agricultural lease/permits.
In the spring of 2014, the NPS
initiated development of a Ranch
Comprehensive Management Plan to
address high priority management needs
associated with the approximately
28,000 acres of active beef and dairy
ranching on NPS lands within Point
Reyes and the north district of Golden
Gate NRA. The planning effort also
addressed concerns related to the
expansion of free-range tule elk into the
park ranch lands, as well as other issues
including lease duration, succession,
and ranch operational flexibility and
diversification.
In February 2016, litigation was
brought against the NPS related to the
ranch planning process and the ongoing
use of lands within the planning area for
ranching and dairying. The plaintiffs
and the NPS, together with the ranchers
and the County of Marin, entered into
settlement negotiations in an effort to
resolve the litigation. As referenced in
the Supplementary Information section
above, a multi-party Agreement was
approved by the U.S. District Court on
July 14, 2017. Per the Agreement, the
NPS agreed that in lieu of the Ranch
Comprehensive Management Plan, the
NPS would prepare a GMP Amendment
and EIS addressing the management of
the lands currently leased for ranching
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54776
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices
within the Seashore and the north
district of Golden Gate NRA.
Purpose and Need
Purpose
The purpose of the EIS for the General
Management Plan Amendment is to
establish guidance for the preservation
of natural and cultural resources and the
management of infrastructure and
visitor use within the planning area.
The alternatives evaluated in the EIS
will also address the future management
of tule elk and leased ranch lands.
Need
Action is needed at this time to
address the park’s highest priority
planning issues which include the
management of approximately 28,000
acres of land currently leased for
ranching. Action is also needed to
comply with the terms of the Agreement
which requires that the GMP
Amendment and EIS be completed on or
before July 14, 2021.
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Alternatives
The Agreement requires the NPS to
give full consideration to and disclose
the impacts of three alternatives: (1) No
ranching; (2) no dairy ranching; and (3)
reduced ranching. These alternatives
must not be conditioned on the
discretionary termination of agricultural
lease/permits by ranchers. The
Agreement expressly preserves the
NPS’s right to give full consideration to
other potential action alternatives. It
also allows the NPS to consider
agricultural diversification, increased
operational flexibility, the promotion of
sustainable operational practices,
succession planning, and similar ranch
management practices as part of any
action alternative, except the no
ranching alternative. Each of the action
alternatives considered in the EIS must
also address the four statutorily required
elements for GMPs, to the extent
applicable. These elements are:
Measures to preserve park resources,
guidance regarding the types and levels
of public use and development,
discussion of visitor carrying capacities,
and potential external boundary
modifications.
Elements Common to All Action
Alternatives
The NPS would identify opportunities
to improve the visitor experience in the
planning area such as enhanced trail
connections, improved signage, and
new interpretive waysides. The NPS
would identify broad management
strategies that would be undertaken to
preserve park resources, as well as
indicators and standards to guide visitor
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18:06 Oct 30, 2018
Jkt 247001
carrying capacities. The NPS has done
some initial boundary analysis and does
not expect to propose any external
boundary modifications under any of
the alternatives.
Proposed Action—Based on the
purpose and need for action, the NPS
proposed action includes the Elements
Common to All Action Alternatives and
the following additional elements:
• Issue agricultural lease/permits
with 20 year terms to existing ranch
families to continue beef and dairy
operations on approximately 27,000
acres within the planning area.
• The proposed action would include
opportunities for operational flexibility
and diversification, establish
approximately 900 acres of resource
protection buffers, and provide
programmatic review of best
management practices.
• Implement a land management
framework on ranch lands allowing for
different intensities of land use
depending on the zone (ranch core,
pasture, and range). Diversification
activities (e.g. poultry) would be
allowed in the ranch core zone. Pasture
areas would allow for some increased
pasture management activities. Range
areas would be dedicated to livestock
grazing.
• Take actions to minimize elkrelated impacts including: Hazing, fence
repair and modification, water
development, habitat improvement, and
other measures as appropriate. The
Drakes Beach free-range tule elk herd
would be managed at a level compatible
with authorized ranching operations.
The NPS would manage within that
range using translocation outside of the
park if practicable, or agency-managed
lethal removal methods. Additionally,
the NPS will evaluate management of
tule elk from the Limantour free-range
herd if they affect ranchlands.
The proposed action represents one
alternative that will be considered
during the EIS process, and it will be
further developed and refined
throughout the process. In addition to
the proposed action, the NPS is
considering the following additional
alternative concepts.
No Action—This alternative is
required by NEPA and would continue
the issuance of short-term agricultural
lease/permits for ongoing activities,
with limited management of free-range
tule elk affecting park ranch lands,
consistent with current management.
This alternative would continue to
maintain existing operations,
management of park resources and
visitor use generally at current levels.
The NPS would maintain the existing
Seashore boundary. Under this
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alternative, beef and dairy ranching
operations would continue to be
authorized on approximately 27,000
acres within the planning area under 5
and 10 year agricultural lease/permits.
Action Alternatives
Continued Ranching and Removal of
the Drakes Beach Tule Elk Herd—
Existing ranch families would be
authorized to continue beef and dairy
operations under agricultural lease/
permits as described in the proposed
action. Under this alternative, the
Drakes Beach tule elk herd would be
removed using translocation outside of
the park if practicable, or agencymanaged lethal methods. The NPS
would continue to manage the
Limantour herd as in the proposed
action. Under this alternative,
approximately 27,000 acres of beef and
dairy ranching operations would be
authorized under agricultural lease/
permits within the planning area.
Reduced Ranching and Management
of the Drakes Beach Tule Elk Herd—A
reduced ranching alternative is required
by the Agreement. Under this
alternative, cessation of grazing
operations would occur on
approximately 7,500 acres within the
planning area. The areas identified for
closure to grazing would minimize the
overall impact to the Point Reyes
Peninsula Dairy Ranches Historic
District and Olema Valley Dairy
Ranches Historic District. Most of the
areas identified for closure do not have
developed complexes or permitted
residential uses. For areas remaining in
agricultural use, agricultural lease/
permits would be offered as described
under the proposed action. Tule elk
would be managed consistent with the
actions described in the proposed action
but under population targets
commensurate with the level of
ranching operations in this alternative.
Under this alternative, approximately
19,500 acres of beef and dairy ranching
operations would be authorized under
agricultural lease/permits within the
planning area.
No Dairy Ranching and Limited
Management of the Drakes Beach Tule
Elk Herd—A no dairy ranching
alternative is required by the
Agreement. Under this alternative, all
beef cattle grazing operations would
continue. The six active dairies within
Point Reyes would cease operations.
Dairy operators would be eligible to
convert operations to beef cattle grazing
over a period of 5 years. For areas
remaining in agricultural use,
agricultural lease/permits would be
offered as described above for the
proposed action. The NPS would take
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices
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limited action to manage the geographic
extent of all free-range tule elk, but only
where management is needed to support
other resource protection and park
goals. Under this alternative,
approximately 27,000 acres of beef
grazing operations would be authorized
under agricultural lease/permits within
the planning area.
No Ranching and Expansion of Tule
Elk in the Planning Area—A no
ranching alternative is required by the
Agreement. Under this alternative,
ranching in all areas of the Seashore and
the north district of Golden Gate NRA
would cease. With the exception of the
two locations with life-estates, most
operations would be phased out over a
period of 5 years. The NPS anticipates
many of the areas and their associated
facilities would be converted and
offered for public not-for-profit
education, research and outdoor
experiential activities and other public
recreation and visitor opportunities. The
EIS will evaluate these actions at the
programmatic level. The NPS would
take limited action to manage the
geographic extent of the free-range tule
elk herd, but only where management is
needed to support other resource
protection and park goals.
Each of the action alternatives will
also include the Elements Common to
All Action Alternatives. The alternative
concepts and management tools under
consideration may change based upon
input received during public scoping
and throughout the development of the
EIS. The NPS will also consider other
alternatives that are suggested during
the scoping period, as appropriate. The
NPS will not select an alternative for
implementation until after a final EIS is
completed.
Public Comment
How to Provide Comments—During
the scoping period, maps and other
project information will be available on
the project’s website (https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA).
Public open houses will be conducted to
provide an opportunity for the public to
share their comments and learn more
about activities within the planning
area. Details regarding the exact times
and locations of these meetings will be
announced on the project website and
through local and regional media. The
meetings will also be announced
through email notification to
individuals and organizations on the
initial distribution list.
If you wish to comment on the
purpose, need, preliminary alternatives,
or on any other issues associated with
development of the draft GMP
Amendment EIS, you may submit your
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18:06 Oct 30, 2018
Jkt 247001
comments by any one of several
methods. The preferred method for
commenting is online at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA. You
may also mail or hand deliver
comments to the Superintendent, Point
Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley
Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956.
Written comments will also be accepted
at the public open houses. Comments
will not be accepted by fax, email, or by
any method other than those specified
above. Bulk comments in any format
(hard copy or electronic) submitted on
behalf of others will not be accepted.
Public Availability of Comments—
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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Dated: October 19, 2018.
Colin Smith,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–23807 Filed 10–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337–TA–1074]
Certain Industrial Automation Systems
and Components Thereof Including
Control Systems, Controllers,
Visualization Hardware, Motion and
Motor Control Systems, Networking
Equipment, Safety Devices, and Power
Supplies; Notice of Request for
Statements on the Public Interest
U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the presiding administrative law judge
has issued a final Initial Determination
on section 337 violation and a
Recommended Determination on
remedy and bonding in the abovecaptioned investigation. The
Commission is soliciting comments on
public interest issues raised by the
recommended relief, should the
Commission find a section 337
violation. This notice is soliciting public
interest comments from the public only.
Parties are to file public interest
SUMMARY:
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54777
submissions pursuant to Commission
rules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Houda Morad, Office of the General
Counsel, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
708–4716. Copies of non-confidential
documents filed in connection with this
investigation are or will be available for
inspection during official business
hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the
Office of the Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW, Washington, DC 20436,
telephone (202) 205–2000. General
information concerning the Commission
may be obtained by accessing its
internet server (https://www.usitc.gov).
The public record for this investigation
may also be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov. Hearingimpaired persons are advised that
information on this matter can be
obtained by contacting the
Commission’s TDD terminal on (202)
205–1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (‘‘section
337’’), provides that if the Commission
finds a violation, it shall exclude the
articles concerned from the United
States unless, after considering the
effect of such exclusion upon the public
health and welfare, competitive
conditions in the United States
economy, the production of like or
directly competitive articles in the
United States, and United States
consumers, it finds that such articles
should not be excluded from entry. 19
U.S.C. 1337(d)(1). A similar provision
applies to cease and desist orders. 19
U.S.C. 1337(f)(1).
The Commission is soliciting
comments on public interest issues
raised by the recommended relief,
should the Commission find a violation,
i.e.: (1) A general exclusion order
(‘‘GEO’’) against certain industrial
automation systems and components
thereof including control systems,
controllers, visualization hardware,
motion and motor control systems,
networking equipment, safety devices,
and power supplies; and (2) a cease and
desist order (‘‘CDO’’) against one of the
defaulted respondents, namely,
Fractioni (Hongkong) Ltd.
The Commission is interested in
further development of the record on
the public interest in this investigation.
Accordingly, parties are to file public
interest submissions pursuant to
pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4). In
addition, members of the public are
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54775-54777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23807]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-26857; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
a General Management Plan Amendment, Point Reyes National Seashore and
North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County,
California
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a General
Management Plan Amendment (GMP Amendment) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for all lands currently under agricultural lease/
permits within Point Reyes National Seashore and the north district of
Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
DATES: The NPS requests that comments be submitted by November 30,
2018. Open houses will be announced in local media.
ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA and in the Office of the
Superintendent, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 (415-
464-5120, telephone). You may submit your comments by any one of
several methods. You may comment online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA. You may mail or hand deliver comments to the Superintendent,
Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station,
CA 94956. Written comments will also be accepted at the public open
houses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Gunn, Outreach Coordinator,
Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station,
CA 94956 (415-464-5131, telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) (NEPA), and the terms of a
Settlement Agreement approved by the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of California on July 14, 2017 (Resource Renewal
Institute et al., v. National Park Service, Case No. 16-cv-00688-SBA
(KAW) (N.D. Cal.)) (Agreement), the NPS is preparing an EIS for lands
currently leased for ranching within Point Reyes National Seashore and
the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (planning
area). In preparing the EIS, the NPS will follow all applicable laws
and policies and will comply with the terms of the Agreement. The
Agreement requires the EIS to address the statutory elements for
General Management Plans, unless inapplicable, and to consider three
specific alternatives. The EIS will amend the 1980 GMP for the planning
area.
This notice also terminates the GMP EIS process for Point Reyes
National Seashore initiated by the NPS on October 14, 1997 (62 FR
53336), updated on May 24, 1999 (64 FR 28008), and expanded to include
the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area lands on
February 3, 2000 (65 FR 5365-5366).
Background
Legislation authorizing the establishment of Point Reyes National
Seashore (Point Reyes or Seashore) was enacted in 1962 (16 U.S.C. 459c)
for the purpose of preserving ``a portion of the diminishing seashore
of the United States that remains undeveloped.'' The Seashore includes
more than 71,000 acres of beaches, coastal cliffs and headlands, marine
terraces, coastal uplands, forests, and includes all tide and submerged
lands to 0.25 miles offshore. The Seashore administers an additional
15,000 acres of the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation
Area (Golden Gate NRA) under a Regional Directive for Management.
Congress established Golden Gate NRA in 1972 and expanded it in 1980 to
include lands within the planning area. The Golden Gate NRA legislation
directs the NPS ``to preserve for public use and enjoyment certain
areas of Marin and San Francisco Counties, California, possessing
outstanding natural, historic, scenic, and recreational values . . .
.'' and to ``preserve the recreation area, as far as possible, in its
natural setting, and protect it from development and uses which would
destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of the area.'' 16
U.S.C. 460bb.
Specific provisions of both the Point Reyes and Golden Gate NRA
enabling legislation (16 U.S.C. 459c-5 and 460bb-2(j)) authorize the
issuance of lease/special use permits (lease/permits) for agricultural,
ranching, or dairying purposes. Approximately 28,000 acres of National
Park Service lands, including 18,000 acres of Point Reyes National
Seashore and 10,000 acres within the north district of Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, are currently utilized for beef and dairy
ranching under agricultural lease/permits.
In the spring of 2014, the NPS initiated development of a Ranch
Comprehensive Management Plan to address high priority management needs
associated with the approximately 28,000 acres of active beef and dairy
ranching on NPS lands within Point Reyes and the north district of
Golden Gate NRA. The planning effort also addressed concerns related to
the expansion of free-range tule elk into the park ranch lands, as well
as other issues including lease duration, succession, and ranch
operational flexibility and diversification.
In February 2016, litigation was brought against the NPS related to
the ranch planning process and the ongoing use of lands within the
planning area for ranching and dairying. The plaintiffs and the NPS,
together with the ranchers and the County of Marin, entered into
settlement negotiations in an effort to resolve the litigation. As
referenced in the Supplementary Information section above, a multi-
party Agreement was approved by the U.S. District Court on July 14,
2017. Per the Agreement, the NPS agreed that in lieu of the Ranch
Comprehensive Management Plan, the NPS would prepare a GMP Amendment
and EIS addressing the management of the lands currently leased for
ranching
[[Page 54776]]
within the Seashore and the north district of Golden Gate NRA.
Purpose and Need
Purpose
The purpose of the EIS for the General Management Plan Amendment is
to establish guidance for the preservation of natural and cultural
resources and the management of infrastructure and visitor use within
the planning area. The alternatives evaluated in the EIS will also
address the future management of tule elk and leased ranch lands.
Need
Action is needed at this time to address the park's highest
priority planning issues which include the management of approximately
28,000 acres of land currently leased for ranching. Action is also
needed to comply with the terms of the Agreement which requires that
the GMP Amendment and EIS be completed on or before July 14, 2021.
Alternatives
The Agreement requires the NPS to give full consideration to and
disclose the impacts of three alternatives: (1) No ranching; (2) no
dairy ranching; and (3) reduced ranching. These alternatives must not
be conditioned on the discretionary termination of agricultural lease/
permits by ranchers. The Agreement expressly preserves the NPS's right
to give full consideration to other potential action alternatives. It
also allows the NPS to consider agricultural diversification, increased
operational flexibility, the promotion of sustainable operational
practices, succession planning, and similar ranch management practices
as part of any action alternative, except the no ranching alternative.
Each of the action alternatives considered in the EIS must also address
the four statutorily required elements for GMPs, to the extent
applicable. These elements are: Measures to preserve park resources,
guidance regarding the types and levels of public use and development,
discussion of visitor carrying capacities, and potential external
boundary modifications.
Elements Common to All Action Alternatives
The NPS would identify opportunities to improve the visitor
experience in the planning area such as enhanced trail connections,
improved signage, and new interpretive waysides. The NPS would identify
broad management strategies that would be undertaken to preserve park
resources, as well as indicators and standards to guide visitor
carrying capacities. The NPS has done some initial boundary analysis
and does not expect to propose any external boundary modifications
under any of the alternatives.
Proposed Action--Based on the purpose and need for action, the NPS
proposed action includes the Elements Common to All Action Alternatives
and the following additional elements:
Issue agricultural lease/permits with 20 year terms to
existing ranch families to continue beef and dairy operations on
approximately 27,000 acres within the planning area.
The proposed action would include opportunities for
operational flexibility and diversification, establish approximately
900 acres of resource protection buffers, and provide programmatic
review of best management practices.
Implement a land management framework on ranch lands
allowing for different intensities of land use depending on the zone
(ranch core, pasture, and range). Diversification activities (e.g.
poultry) would be allowed in the ranch core zone. Pasture areas would
allow for some increased pasture management activities. Range areas
would be dedicated to livestock grazing.
Take actions to minimize elk-related impacts including:
Hazing, fence repair and modification, water development, habitat
improvement, and other measures as appropriate. The Drakes Beach free-
range tule elk herd would be managed at a level compatible with
authorized ranching operations. The NPS would manage within that range
using translocation outside of the park if practicable, or agency-
managed lethal removal methods. Additionally, the NPS will evaluate
management of tule elk from the Limantour free-range herd if they
affect ranchlands.
The proposed action represents one alternative that will be
considered during the EIS process, and it will be further developed and
refined throughout the process. In addition to the proposed action, the
NPS is considering the following additional alternative concepts.
No Action--This alternative is required by NEPA and would continue
the issuance of short-term agricultural lease/permits for ongoing
activities, with limited management of free-range tule elk affecting
park ranch lands, consistent with current management. This alternative
would continue to maintain existing operations, management of park
resources and visitor use generally at current levels. The NPS would
maintain the existing Seashore boundary. Under this alternative, beef
and dairy ranching operations would continue to be authorized on
approximately 27,000 acres within the planning area under 5 and 10 year
agricultural lease/permits.
Action Alternatives
Continued Ranching and Removal of the Drakes Beach Tule Elk Herd--
Existing ranch families would be authorized to continue beef and dairy
operations under agricultural lease/permits as described in the
proposed action. Under this alternative, the Drakes Beach tule elk herd
would be removed using translocation outside of the park if
practicable, or agency-managed lethal methods. The NPS would continue
to manage the Limantour herd as in the proposed action. Under this
alternative, approximately 27,000 acres of beef and dairy ranching
operations would be authorized under agricultural lease/permits within
the planning area.
Reduced Ranching and Management of the Drakes Beach Tule Elk Herd--
A reduced ranching alternative is required by the Agreement. Under this
alternative, cessation of grazing operations would occur on
approximately 7,500 acres within the planning area. The areas
identified for closure to grazing would minimize the overall impact to
the Point Reyes Peninsula Dairy Ranches Historic District and Olema
Valley Dairy Ranches Historic District. Most of the areas identified
for closure do not have developed complexes or permitted residential
uses. For areas remaining in agricultural use, agricultural lease/
permits would be offered as described under the proposed action. Tule
elk would be managed consistent with the actions described in the
proposed action but under population targets commensurate with the
level of ranching operations in this alternative. Under this
alternative, approximately 19,500 acres of beef and dairy ranching
operations would be authorized under agricultural lease/permits within
the planning area.
No Dairy Ranching and Limited Management of the Drakes Beach Tule
Elk Herd--A no dairy ranching alternative is required by the Agreement.
Under this alternative, all beef cattle grazing operations would
continue. The six active dairies within Point Reyes would cease
operations. Dairy operators would be eligible to convert operations to
beef cattle grazing over a period of 5 years. For areas remaining in
agricultural use, agricultural lease/permits would be offered as
described above for the proposed action. The NPS would take
[[Page 54777]]
limited action to manage the geographic extent of all free-range tule
elk, but only where management is needed to support other resource
protection and park goals. Under this alternative, approximately 27,000
acres of beef grazing operations would be authorized under agricultural
lease/permits within the planning area.
No Ranching and Expansion of Tule Elk in the Planning Area--A no
ranching alternative is required by the Agreement. Under this
alternative, ranching in all areas of the Seashore and the north
district of Golden Gate NRA would cease. With the exception of the two
locations with life-estates, most operations would be phased out over a
period of 5 years. The NPS anticipates many of the areas and their
associated facilities would be converted and offered for public not-
for-profit education, research and outdoor experiential activities and
other public recreation and visitor opportunities. The EIS will
evaluate these actions at the programmatic level. The NPS would take
limited action to manage the geographic extent of the free-range tule
elk herd, but only where management is needed to support other resource
protection and park goals.
Each of the action alternatives will also include the Elements
Common to All Action Alternatives. The alternative concepts and
management tools under consideration may change based upon input
received during public scoping and throughout the development of the
EIS. The NPS will also consider other alternatives that are suggested
during the scoping period, as appropriate. The NPS will not select an
alternative for implementation until after a final EIS is completed.
Public Comment
How to Provide Comments--During the scoping period, maps and other
project information will be available on the project's website (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA). Public open houses will be conducted to
provide an opportunity for the public to share their comments and learn
more about activities within the planning area. Details regarding the
exact times and locations of these meetings will be announced on the
project website and through local and regional media. The meetings will
also be announced through email notification to individuals and
organizations on the initial distribution list.
If you wish to comment on the purpose, need, preliminary
alternatives, or on any other issues associated with development of the
draft GMP Amendment EIS, you may submit your comments by any one of
several methods. The preferred method for commenting is online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/POREGMPA. You may also mail or hand deliver
comments to the Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear
Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. Written comments will also
be accepted at the public open houses. Comments will not be accepted by
fax, email, or by any method other than those specified above. Bulk
comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of
others will not be accepted.
Public Availability of Comments--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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Dated: October 19, 2018.
Colin Smith,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-23807 Filed 10-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
