[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 177 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49135-49136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24596]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement
General Management Plan; Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino
County, CA; Notice of Availability
Summary
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service (NPS),
Department of the Interior, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) identifying and evaluating potential impacts of a
proposed General Management Plan (GMP) for Mojave National Preserve.
Mojave is a new unit of the National Park System, established by
Congress on October 31, 1994, by the California Desert Protection Act.
The DEIS also includes a draft Land Protection Plan (LPP) that
addresses management options for non-federal lands that exist inside
the preserve boundary. This planning document and DEIS were initiated
as a component of the Northern and Eastern Mojave Planning Effort, a
coordinated interagency project involving the NPS, Bureau of Land
Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The DEIS identifies and
evaluates potential environmental consequences of a proposed action and
two alternatives; appropriate mitigations are addressed. No significant
adverse environmental impacts are anticipated. The GMP will serve as
the initial overall management strategy for the next 10-15 years under
which more detailed activity or implementation plans are prepared.
Proposal
This DEIS presents the proposed management approach and two
alternatives for the management of the 1.6 million-acre Mojave National
Preserve (Preserve) in the northeastern Mojave Desert in California.
The proposed action (Alternative 1) envisions the Preserve as a natural
environment and a cultural landscape, where the protection of native
desert ecosystems and processes is assured for future generations. The
protection and perpetuation of native species in a self-sustaining
environment is a primary long-term goal. The proposal seeks to manage
the Preserve to perpetuate the sense of discovery and adventure that
currently exists. This includes minimizing development inside the
Preserve (including proliferation of signs, new campgrounds, and
interpretive exhibits) and fulfilling wilderness stewardship
obligations. The NPS would look to adjacent communities to provide most
support services (food, gas, and lodging) for visitors. The proposal
seeks to provide the public, consistent with the NPS mission, with
maximum opportunities for roadside camping, backcountry camping and
appropriate access via existing roads. The proposal would seek funding
for the complete historic restoration of the Kelso Depot and its use as
a museum and interpretive facility. A balance is struck between the NPS
mission of resource preservation and other mandates from Congress, such
as maintaining grazing, hunting, and mining under NPS regulations and
continuing the existence of major utility corridors. The proposal would
maintain the ability of private landowners inside the boundary of the
Preserve to maintain their current way of life, while seeking funding
to purchase property from willing sellers where proposed uses conflict
with the primary mission of preserving resources. Nearly 230,000 acres
within the Preserve are in nonfederal ownership.
Alternatives
In addition to the proposal, the two alternatives described and
analyzed are existing management (no action) and an optional management
approach. The existing management alternative (Alternative 2) describes
the continuation of current management strategies. It is commonly
referred to as the no-action or status quo alternative. Under this
alternative, existing visitor and administrative support services and
facilities would be maintained in their current locations. There would
be few improvements in existing structures and there would be no change
in road maintenance, although some roads might be improved if funding
became available. No significant change in current accommodations to
recreation use would occur. Protection of Kelso Depot from fire,
earthquakes and vandalism would be provided if funding could be
obtained, but it would not be restored. Land acquisition would focus on
obtaining minimum funds to acquire property from willing sellers and
properties where uses conflict with the Preserve mission. The optional
approach (Alternative 3) provides for an increase in the facilities and
services provided for public enjoyment. A small visitor contact
building might be built at Kelso to provide information. Land would be
acquired in sensitive areas and wilderness.
Comments
Printed or CD-ROM copies of the DEIS are available for public
review at park headquarters, as well as at many public libraries in
southern California and southern Nevada. In addition, the document is
posted on the internet at www.nps.gov/moja. Inquiries and comments on
the DEIS should be directed to: Superintendent, Mojave National
Preserve, 222 E. Main St., Suite 202, Barstow, California 92311. The
telephone number for the preserve is (760) 255-8800. All written
comments must be postmarked not later than 90 days after publication of
a notice of filing of the DEIS in the Federal Register by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Public Meetings
The NPS will host a series of open houses to provide interested
individuals and organization representatives an opportunity to express
concerns, ask questions, view large scale maps and engage in dialogue
about the range or content of alternatives. Specific details will be
available at the internet site identified above or by calling the
Preserve. This dialogue is intended to provide additional guidance to
the NPS in preparing the Final EIS and GMP/LPP. Written comments will
also be accepted at these workshops. All
[[Page 49136]]
workshops are scheduled for 6:00-9:00 p.m., as follows:
Monday, Oct. 19, Doubletree Inn, 191 Los Robles, Pasadena, CA
Tuesday, Oct. 20, Harvey House (Santa Fe Depot), 685 First St.,
Barstow, CA
Wednesday, Oct. 21, Hilltop Hotel, 2000 Ostrems Way, San Bernardino, CA
Thursday, Oct. 22, Needles Community Senior Center, 1699 Bailey Ave.,
Needles, CA
Friday, Oct. 23, Enterprise Public Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave., Las
Vegas, NV
Saturday, Oct. 24, Baker Senior Center, 73730C Baker Blvd., Baker, CA
Tuesday, Oct. 27, Death Valley Natl Park, Visitor Center Auditorium,
Furnace Creek, CA
Wednesday, Oct. 28, Eastern Sierra Fairgrounds, Sierra St. & Fair Dr.,
Bishop, CA
Thursday, Oct. 29, Boulder Creek RV Park, Hwy 395 (5mi s. of Lone
Pine), Lone Pine, CA
Friday, Oct. 30, Ridgecrest Public Library, 131 E. Las Flores,
Ridgecrest, CA
Decision
Following the formal DEIS review period all written comments
received will be considered in preparing a final plan. Currently the
Final EIS and GMP/LPP are anticipated to be completed during spring
1999. Their availability will be similarly announced in the Federal
Register. Subsequently a Record of Decision would be approved by the
Regional Director, Pacific West Region, no sooner than 30 (thirty) days
after release of the Final EIS. The responsible officials are the
Regional Director, Pacific West Region and the Superintendent, Mojave
National Preserve.
Dated: August 31, 1998.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 98-24596 Filed 9-11-98; 8:45 am]
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