[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58440-58441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28405]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement, Backcountry and Wilderness 
Management Plan For Joshua Tree National Park, California; Notice of 
Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190 as amended), the National Park 
Service (NPS), Department of Interior, has prepared a final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) assessing the potential impacts 
of amending the current General Management Plan (GMP), which was 
approved in 1995. The FEIS includes the Backcountry and Wilderness 
Management Plan for Joshua Tree National Park and identifies and 
evaluates the environmental consequences of the new proposed action and 
four alternatives.
    Proposal: As described under Alternative E (the new proposed 
action), the NPS proposes to amend the GMP for Joshua Tree National 
Park. These amendments would include, but not be limited to, the 
following changes. The NPS would designate a trail system with 
prescriptions for certain uses: foot, bicycle, equestrian, and would 
identify

[[Page 58441]]

some of the unpaved in roads in lands added to the park in 1994 as part 
of the developed zone and thus, open to motor vehicle use. Alternative 
E would also designate management prescriptions for recreational 
climbing throughout the park and would indicate locations in the park 
where roadside auto camping would or would not be permitted. 
Alternative E would prescribe the analysis of major artificial water 
sources installed for wildlife in designated wilderness and if such 
sources should be removed or maintained. It would adopt areas limited 
to day use only or closed to public access seasonally or permanently. 
It would establish group size limits for overnight stays in the 
backcountry and wilderness, implement the Department of Interior's 
Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan, and analyze proposed additions to 
wilderness. Implementing Alternative E would result in the protection 
of park lands and the reclamation of previously disturbed lands. User 
conflicts would be minimized by providing for a variety of visitor 
experiences, group sizes, trail designations, and a recreational 
climbing management program.
    Alternatives: Alternatives to the new proposed action include 
Alternative A (the old proposed action), Alternative B (no action), 
Alternative C (maximum protection), and Alternative D (minimum 
protection). Alternative A would establish wilderness experience 
classes, and would designate slightly fewer miles of equestrian trails 
and roads. It does not provide reclamation prescriptions for the closed 
trails and roads. Alternative A would prohibit the replacement of 
existing bolts or the placement of new bolts in wilderness and would 
analyze only three of the four artificial water sources placed in the 
park's wilderness.
    Under Alternative B, the park would maintain existing programs and 
operations. Alternative C would impose greater restrictions upon all 
uses in the park and afford the most rigorous and strict protection to 
the resources, in particular the wilderness resource. Also, those lands 
in the natural zone that are not wilderness would be treated and 
managed as if they were so designated. Alternative D would impose no 
restrictions on use of the old monument lands other than those that 
already exist. The public could use the new lands much as they were 
used prior to their inclusion within the park. Only those public 
recreational activities that are illegal in NPS or other regulations, 
such as hunting or operating vehicles in wilderness, would be 
prohibited.
    The potential environmental consequences of Alternative E (the new 
proposed action) and other alternatives were previously addressed in 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Supplement to the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. No significant adverse 
environmental impacts are anticipated.
    Background: The NPS initiated scoping for the Wilderness and 
Backcountry Management Plan on January 30, 1995. A Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement was issued November 21, 1997 for a public review 
period which was extended from January 31, 1998 through February 28, 
1998. Approximately 1,100 written comments were received. In addition, 
approximately 260 persons attended three public workshops held December 
2 and December 11, 1997 and on January 16, 1998. A Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement was issued November 3, 1998 for a public 
review period which ended January 20, 1999. Approximately 200 written 
comments were received. Both documents were made widely available 
through direct mailings, distribution to area libraries, and via the 
internet.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments or questions regarding the 
final Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement should be directed to the Superintendent, Joshua Tree 
National Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 
92277. Copies may be requested by contacting the park at (760) 367-
5502. Copies are also available at libraries located in the park's 
vicinity, as well as on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/jotr. 
The no-action period for the FEIS/MP will extend for thirty (30) days 
after the Environmental Protection Agency's notification of the filing 
of the document is published in the Federal Register. Subsequently, the 
National Park Service will publish a notice of the Record of Decision 
in the Federal Register. The official responsible for the decision is 
the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; the official responsible 
for implementation is the Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park.

    Dated: October 22, 1999.
Cynthia Ip,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 99-28405 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M