[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-U