[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19809-19810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10433]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Mojave National Preserve Notice of Intent to Prepare
Environmental Impact Statement for AT&T Corp's Removal of Coaxial Cable
Summary
In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (PL91-190), the National Park Service is initiating
an environmental impact analysis process to identify and assess
potential impacts of alternative means proposed for recovering
approximately 220 miles of a coaxial cable communications system. AT&T
Corp. of Atlanta, Georgia (AT&T) owns and maintains a transcontinental
Phillips-140 cable system, a portion of which extends for 709 miles
between Mojave, California and Socorro, New Mexico. This communications
technology is obsolete and AT&T officials have notified the Department
of the Interior of their desire to remove segments of the system
(consisting of underground coaxial communications cable and appurtenant
surface and below-ground servicing facilities).
Background
AT&T was originally issued Right-of-Way Grants for the subject
communications system in 1963 and 1964. In March, 1997 a formal request
to terminate portions of the right-of-way was submitted to the National
Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, pursuant to the terms
of the grants. Upon preliminary review of the formal termination
request and supplemental materials (an environmental report and draft
plan of operation for removing the cable), it has been determined that
the potential for significant impact to the human environment may
exist. Notice is hereby given that it is anticipated that a draft
environmental impact statement and removal plan (DEIS/RP) will be
prepared. As the Department's designated lead bureau, the National
[[Page 19810]]
Park Service will be joined by the Bureau of Land Management and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as cooperating agencies in the DEIS/RP
process. All three agencies will collaborate in identifying and
analyzing alternative means for accomplishing cable removal while
providing for resource protection and restoration, and minimizing
disturbance to visitors, users, and operations. As a conceptual
framework for formulating these alternatives, the purposes of the
Federal lands managed will be identified and contrasted. Other key
elements to be addressed include: project-associated cultural and
natural resources, visitor patterns and experiences, authorized users,
access and management facilities, and available recovery and
remediation techniques.
Comments
All interested persons, organizations, and agencies wishing to
provide initial comments or suggestions about issues and concerns
recommended to be addressed in the DEIS/RP may send such information to
the Superintendent, Mojave National Preserve, 222 East Main Street,
Suite 202, Barstow, California, 92311; or to Ms. Joan DeGraff, Project
Manager, Denver Service Center, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box,
Denver, Colorado, 80225-0281. All such comments should be postmarked
not later than sixty (60) days from the date of publication of this
Notice. All respondents will be included in timely project updates. In
addition, it is anticipated that several public hearings will be held
in late April or early May, 1997, affording an additional early comment
opportunity. Full details on times and locations of these sessions may
be obtained by contacting the Project Manager at the above address or
via telephone at (303) 969-2464.
Supplementary Information
The subsequent availability of a DEIS/RP will be announced by
formal Notice and in local and regional news media. The DEIS/RP is
anticipated to be completed and available for public review during late
summer, 1997. A final environmental impact statement (FEIS) is
anticipated to be completed approximately six months later. A Record of
Decision will be published in the Federal Register not sooner than
thirty (30) days after distribution of the FEIS document. The
responsible official is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region,
National Park Service.
Dated: April 9, 1997.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 97-10433 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
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