[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68295-68296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32756]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Alcatraz Island Historic Structure Preservation-Construction
Program; Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco County;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
SUMMARY: In accord with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act, Golden Gate National Recreation Area is undertaking a
conservation planning and impact analysis process to identify
alternatives for (and assess potential impacts of) construction
activities necessary to rehabilitate and preserve structures and sites
which contribute to the island's National Historic Landmark status.
Enhancing visitor and employee safety is also an objective. Notice is
hereby given that the National Park Service will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to aid planning for and
implementation of this program.
Background
Alcatraz Island is within the boundary of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park System comprised of
coastal lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties,
California. Alcatraz Island, prominently located in San Francisco Bay,
is a National Historic Landmark and an important breeding site for
several waterbird species and western gulls in San Francisco Bay.
Facilities and recreational opportunities on Alcatraz Island attract
more than 1.4 million visitors annually.
Recent management and use of Alcatraz Island has been guided by a
Development Concept Plan (DCP) which was completed in 1993. An
Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to evaluate forseeable
effects of carrying out the DCP (among other considerations, potential
impacts to historic resources, biological resources, human health and
safety, and park visitation were addressed). A Finding of No
Significant Impact was approved on August 3, 1993 by the Acting
Regional Director, Western Region. Prescribed mitigations to safeguard
breeding bird populations included timing and location restrictions for
proposed construction activities foreseen at that time.
Although originally many elements of construction addressed in the
DCP fit within the seasonal restrictions that were identified, several
historic rehabilitation and related projects have recently been deemed
necessary. These may require construction schedules which would extend
beyond the seasonal restrictions. Also, the breeding and nesting
seasons for Alcatraz avifauna have been found to fluctuate, sometimes
extending as much as 2 months beyond previously known periods.
Moreover, visitation has increased, and has the potential for further
growth. The constrained construction periods, recently identified
rehabilitation needs, possibility of undocumented archeological
resources and artifacts, new information about avifaunal activity, and
other factors necessitate undertaking a new conservation planning and
impact analysis effort.
Alternatives Identified to Date
Proposed construction that would be outside the scope of the
existing DCP will be detailed and evaluated. At this time its
anticipated that the impact analysis would focus primarily on the
effects of proposed construction activities on the island's breeding
bird populations. The construction required to rehabilitate National
Landmark contributing structures and features is envisioned to be
phased over a 3-5 year period. To date, 12 projects are foreseen that
could necessitate some degree of activity outside the currently
prescribed seasonal restrictions--these include rehabilitation of the
cellhouse, water tower and guard tower from the federal prison era, two
civil war era structures, and the dock. Installation of photovoltaic
electrical panels on the roof of a prison era building, stabilization
of a failing slope, and reconstruction of a former greenhouse are also
proposed.
In addition to the above construction needs, other alternatives
currently envisioned include: no action; and adherence to existing
mitigations and seasonal restrictions.
Scoping/Decision Process
The existing DCP/EA provides a useful baseline which must be
corroborated or updated. The NPS encourages local and regional
agencies, park partners, visitors, and other interested parties to
assist in this effort. Anyone wishing to be incorporated on a mailing
list may respond to: Alcatraz Preservation Construction Program EIS;
Attn: Olivia Shinomoto; Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Building
201 Fort Mason; San Francisco, CA 94123.
As already highlighted in local and regional news media, a public
scoping meeting will be held at park headquarters (Building 201 Fort
Mason) on December 11 at 8:00 am; also on that date an information open
house meeting will be held at the same location from 3-6 pm. For
details about these meetings, contact Olivia Shinomoto at (415) 561-
4821. Written comments conveying information or sharing issues and
concerns are welcomed; these should be addressed to the Superintendent
(address as above) and must be postmarked no later than January 9,
1999.
Availability of the Draft EIS (DEIS) for review and written comment
will be announced by Federal Register notice, as well as via local and
regional news media and direct mailing. At this time the DEIS is
anticipated to be available for public review during winter 1999. In
addition to written responses, a formal comment opportunity will be
provided via public hearing held under the auspices of the GGNRA
Advisory Commission (full details will be available after January 9,
1999 and may be obtained from the project contact noted above). If the
focus of the EIS is substantiated through the public involvement and
agency consultation process, then it is anticipated that a Final EIS
(FEIS) could be released during summer 1999. Subsequently, Notice of
any Record of Decision would be published in the Federal Register no
sooner than thirty (30) days after the FEIS is distributed. The
official responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director,
Pacific West Region, National Park Service.
[[Page 68296]]
Dated: December 3, 1998.
James R. Shevock,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 98-32756 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
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