[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]


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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

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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: [email protected]. 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