[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22018]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan
Redwood National and State Parks Humboldt; and Del Norte Counties,
California' Availability
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 81-190 as amended), the National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) assessing the potential impacts of adopting a
General Management Plan for Redwood National and State Parks. These
areas comprise a 105,516-acre cooperative federal-state park area that
preserves some of the last remaining stands of the world's tallest
trees along 35 miles of scenic northwestern California coastline. The
DEIS identifies and evaluates the environmental consequences of a
proposed action and three alternatives; mitigation measures are noted
and evaluated. Once approved, the plan will guide site planning,
resource management, interpretation, and other operations for the next
10-15 years.
Background
This document presents and analyzes four alternatives for joint
management of the combined Redwood National and State Parks. The
concept under Alternative 1, the proposed action alternative, would be
to achieve a balance between resource protection and visitor use,
preserving and protecting the parks' natural and cultural resources but
emphasizing restoration more than currently where sensitive resources
are at risk. Under Alternative 2, no action, existing programs and
management policies would be continued, with some trail development and
new campgrounds as described in approved plans for the area. Under
Alternative 3, natural and cultural resource restoration, protection,
and preservation would be emphasized to a greater degree than under the
other alternatives. Under Alternative 4 the highest priority would be
placed on providing a wide spectrum of appropriate visitor experiences
that relate to the parks' resources.
The degree of impact varies according to each alternative, and
includes: major beneficial impacts from watershed and estuary
restoration; some adverse effects from proposed facility development
and visitor use activities; and substantial economic benefits from park
visitation, operations, and construction in the Humboldt-Del Norte
area. Appropriate mitigation measures are identified and evaluated for
each alternative. Estimated costs to implement the alternatives are
presented in the appendixes.
Public Review
For more information or to obtain a copy of the document, contact
the Superintendents, Redwood National and State Parks, 1111 Second
Street, Crescent City, CA 95531; or telephone 1-800-423-6101 or voice/
TDD 707-464-6101; or e-mail: redw__superintendent@nps.gov. The document
will also be available at area libraries. All written review comments
should be directed to the superintendents as noted above, and must be
postmarked or transmitted by October 9, 1998.
Dated: July 27, 1998.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 98-22018 Filed 8-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
