[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44137-44138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21904]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare; Environmental Impact Statement & 
General Management Plan; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation 
Area; Los Angeles & Ventura Counties, CA

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the 
California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) and Santa Monica 
Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) is initiating a conservation planning and 
impact analysis process to identify strategies for future management of 
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. As part of this 
process and in accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (Pub. L. 91-90, as amended), the NPS will be 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and General 
Management Plan (GMP) to present information on the natural, cultural, 
and socioeconomic resources in the park, to outline alternative 
management strategies, to analyze potential impacts that may result 
from implementing these strategies, and to identify appropriate 
mitigation measures.
    The GMP will establish a framework for how natural and cultural 
resources,

[[Page 44138]]

public use, and park operations will be managed over the next 10-15 
years and document agreements developed in partnership with CDPR, SMMC, 
and other land management entities. Following publication of this 
Notice, CDPR as a cooperating agency will issue a Notice of Preparation 
to initiate a complementary environmental process; the official 
responsible is Donald W. Murphy, Director, CDPR.
    Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is composed of a 
complex pattern of public and private land ownership. Multiple 
political jurisdictions cross important natural features and wildlife 
and recreation corridors throughout the park's boundary. Effective 
planning and management require coordination and cooperation among all 
of the entities with responsibility for the lands and waters both 
inside and immediately outside of the park. Past NPS planning efforts 
have given general guidance on land protection, resource management and 
visitor facilities. However, pressures on the park from the number of 
visitors, types of uses, and urban encroachment combined with new 
fiscal and political environments dictate that past planning efforts be 
revisited.
    In the proposed planning process, the purpose of the park will be 
reaffirmed. The desired future conditions of natural and cultural 
resources will be envisioned and appropriate types, locations, and 
levels of activities in the park will be determined. Of special concern 
to park managers is the balance between resource preservation and use 
by the visiting and resident publics. This balance will be considered 
and established in a regional context in concert with the other public 
agencies' missions and mandates.
    Specific outcomes of the planning process and the subsequent GMP 
will include:
    (1) Articulation of a clear vision among all partners for the 
future conditions of natural and cultural resources and activities on 
the lands and waters in the legislated park boundary;
    (2) Enhanced connections to the community through joint planning, 
cooperative management, leadership in stewardship, and the expression 
of the cultural history of the region;
    (3) Criteria for determining appropriateness of current or future 
activities including types, locations, and levels of use. 
Appropriateness will be based on park purpose, resource concerns, and 
potential conflicts with other uses;
    (4) Strategies to serve a diverse park visitor population, 
especially with urban residents and nontraditional visitors;
    (5) A coordinated, seamless approach to the provision of 
information and recreation opportunities for visitors among the various 
providers.

Comments

    As the first phase of the planning and EIS process, the NPS is 
beginning project scoping activities. Interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to provide comments or 
suggestions on the planning process or on specific issues that should 
be addressed within the draft EIS (DEIS). Written comments may be 
mailed to the Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area, 30401 Agoura Road, Suite 100, Agoura Hills, CA 91301-
2085. All comments should be postmarked not later than 90 days from the 
date of the publication of this notice. Public input will also be 
solicited at major milestones throughout the planning process, thus 
additional opportunities to comment will be provided in the future.
    In addition, several public meetings will be held, affording an 
additional opportunity to voice issues and concerns. These meetings are 
scheduled during September 22-26, 1997 in locations throughout the 
greater Los Angeles area. The NPS will share the purpose and 
significance of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and 
solicit input on managing park resources. The dates and locations of 
meetings are listed below. Additional information may be obtained by 
contacting the park at (818) 597-1036, extension 201.
    (1) Los Angeles--Sept. 22, UCLA Ackerman Hall, 7-10 pm;
    (2) Malibu--Sept. 23, Webster Elementary, 6-9 pm;
    (3) Santa Monica--Sept. 24, Santa Monica Library, 2-5 pm;
    (4) Ventura--Sept. 25, Ventura County Building, 2-5 pm;
    (5) Agoura--Sept. 26, Radisson Hotel, 3-6 pm.
    General information about Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area is currently available on the Internet at http://
www.nps.gov/samo. In the near future, information about the planning 
process and EIS/GMP will be available via the NPS planning page at 
http://www.nps.gov/planning.

Decision Process

    The subsequent availability of the DEIS/GMP will be announced by 
formal notice and in local and regional news media. The DEIS/GMP is 
anticipated to be completed and available for public review during the 
summer of 1999. A final EIS/GMP is anticipated to be completed 
approximately one year later. A Record of Decision will be published in 
the Federal Register not sooner than thirty (30) days after 
distribution of the FEIS/GMP. The responsible official is John J. 
Reynolds, Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park 
Service.

    Dated: August 1, 1997.
Sondra S. Humphries,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 97-21904 Filed 8-18-97; 8:45 am]
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