[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 72 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19923-19924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8998]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Yosemite 
Valley Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera, Mono, Tuolumne, and 
Mariposa Counties, California; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508), the National 
Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement identifying and evaluating 
five alternatives for a Yosemite Valley Plan within Yosemite National 
Park, California. Potential impacts, and appropriate mitigations, are 
assessed for each alternative. When approved, the plan will guide 
management actions during the next 15-20 years.

Proposal

    The proposed Yosemite Valley Plan (Alternative 2--Preferred) would 
restore approximately 180 acres to natural conditions. It would 
consolidate parking for day visitors at Yosemite Village, where a new 
Valley Visitor Center would be located, and in parking areas outside 
Yosemite Valley. There would be fewer campsites and lodging units than 
there are now. This alternative would result in a major reduction in 
vehicle travel in the eastern portion of Yosemite Valley during summer 
months. The area of the former Upper and Lower River Campgrounds would 
be restored to a mosaic of meadow, riparian, and oak woodland 
communities, roads would be removed from Ahwahnee and Stoneman Meadows, 
and parking would be removed from Curry Orchard. Southside Drive would 
be converted to two-way traffic from El Capitan crossover to Curry 
Village, and Northside Drive would be converted to a multi-use (bicycle 
and pedestrian) paved trail from El Capitan crossover to Yosemite 
Lodge.

Alternatives

    Alternative 1 maintains the status quo in Yosemite Valley, as 
described in Chapter 3, Affected Environment. It provides a baseline 
from which to compare other alternatives, to evaluate the magnitude of 
proposed changes, and to measure the environmental effects of those 
changes. This no-action concept follows the guidance of the Council on 
Environmental Quality, which describes the no-action alternative as no 
change from the current management direction or level of management 
intensity.
    Alternative 3 would restore approximately 200 acres to natural 
conditions. It would consolidate parking for day visitors in the Taft 
Toe area in mid Yosemite Valley. A new Valley Visitor Center would also 
be constructed there. There would be fewer campsites and lodging units 
than there are now. The area of the former Upper and Lower River 
Campgrounds and the Camp 6 parking area near Yosemite Village would be 
restored to riparian habitat, roads would be removed from Ahwahnee and 
Stoneman Meadows, and parking and the historic fruit trees would be 
removed from Curry Orchard. Northside Drive would be converted to a 
trail for pedestrians and bicyclists, without the immediate presence of 
motor vehicles, from Yosemite Lodge to El Capitan Bridge. Southside 
Drive would be converted to two-way traffic from Taft Toe to Curry 
Village.
    Alternative 4 would restore approximately 190 acres to natural 
conditions. It would consolidate parking for day visitors in the Taft 
Toe area in mid Yosemite Valley and in three parking areas outside the 
Valley. A new Valley Visitor Center would also be constructed at Taft 
Toe. There would be fewer campsites and lodging units than there are 
now. The area of former Upper and Lower River Campgrounds and the Camp 
6 parking area near Yosemite Village would be restored to riparian 
communities; roads would be removed from Ahwahnee and Stoneman Meadows; 
and parking would be removed from Curry Orchard. Northside Drive would 
be converted to a multi-use paved trail for hikers and bicyclists, 
without the immediate presence of motor vehicles, from Yosemite Lodge 
to El Capitan crossover. Southside Drive would be converted to two-way 
traffic from Taft Toe to Curry Village.
    Alternative 5 would restore approximately 120 acres to natural 
conditions. It would designate parking for day visitors at Yosemite 
Village and Curry Village, and in parking areas outside of Yosemite 
Valley. There would be more campsites and fewer lodging units than 
there are now. Traffic circulation would remain the same as at present; 
however, one lane of Northside and Southside Drives would be converted 
to multi-use paved trails. There would be minimal new development in 
mid and west Yosemite Valley, other than a traffic check station.

Planning Background

    The draft Yosemite Valley Plan/SEIS was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act. A Scoping Notice was published in 
the Federal Register on December 16, 1998. Lists of general issues 
already raised during the previous planning processes were provided to 
the public. Scoping comments were to be received by January 15, 1999, 
however based on requests from the public; the scoping comment period 
was extended through February 1, 1999.
    During this comment period, the NPS facilitated over 100 
discussions and briefings to park staff, congressional delegations, 
elected officials, public service organizations, educational 
institutions, and other interested members of the public. Nearly 600 
letters concerning the Draft YVP SEIS planning process were received. 
The major issues raised during this period are summarized in Chapter 1, 
Purpose of and Need for the Action.

Public Meetings

    In order to facilitate public review and comment on the draft 
Yosemite Valley Plan/SEIS, the Superintendent has scheduled public 
meetings in the following California cities: San Francisco--May 22; 
Sacramento--May 23; Merced--May 24; Oakland--May 25; Yosemite--May 30; 
Oakhurst--May 31; Mariposa--June 1; Sonora--June 2; Costa Mesa--June 5; 
Los Angeles--June 6; San Diego--June 7; Mammoth--June 9; Fresno--June 
15; San Jose--June 17. The following times are for all venues except 
San Jose. An open house will be conducted from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m and a 
public hearing will be held simultaneously from 6:30 p.m to 9 p.m. A 
brief presentation from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. will precede the public 
hearing. The San Jose open house will be from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
the presentation will be from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the public 
hearing will be from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
    Participants are encouraged to review the document prior to 
attending a meeting. Detailed information on location and times for 
each of the public meetings will be published in local and regional 
newspapers several weeks in advance, broadcast via radio and television 
stations, and listed on the

[[Page 19924]]

park's Webpage. Yosemite National Park management and planning 
officials will attend all sessions to present the draft Yosemite Valley 
Plan/SEIS, to receive oral and written comments, and to answer 
questions.

Comments

    The draft Yosemite Valley Plan/SEIS will be sent directly to the 
park's general mailing list. Copies will be available at park 
headquarters in Yosemite Valley, the Warehouse Building in El Portal, 
and at local and regional libraries (i.e., San Francisco and Los 
Angeles). Also, the complete document will be posted on the Yosemite 
National Park Webpage (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning). Written 
comments must be received (or transmitted by e-mail) on or before July 
7, 2000. All comments should be addressed to the Superintendent, Attn: 
Yosemite Valley Plan, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite National Park, California 
95389 (or e-mailed to: [email protected]).
    All comments received will be available for public review in the 
park's research library. If individuals submitting comments request 
that their name and/or address be withheld from public disclosure, it 
will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be 
stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be 
circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as 
allowable by law. As always: NPS will make available to public 
inspection all submissions from organizations or businesses and from 
persons identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations and businesses, and, anonymous comments may not be 
considered.

Decision Process

    Depending upon the degree of public interest and response from 
other agencies and organizations, at this time it is anticipated that 
the Final Yosemite Valley Plan/SEIS will be completed during October 
2000; availability of the document will be duly noticed in the Federal 
Register. Subsequently, notice of an approved Record of Decision would 
be published in the Federal Register not sooner than thirty (30) days 
after the final document is distributed. This is expected to occur by 
the end of December 2000. The official responsible for the decision is 
the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service; the 
official responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Yosemite 
National Park.

    Dated: April 5, 2000.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 00-8998 Filed 4-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P