[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55039-55040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23329]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Gaviota Coast Seashore Feasibility Study, Santa Barbara County, 
CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National Park 
Service (NPS) is undertaking a conservation planning and impact 
analysis process to identify and assess potential impacts of 
alternative resource protection and visitor use concepts and other 
considerations within the Gaviota Coast Seashore Feasibility Study area 
in Santa Barbara County. Notice is hereby given that a public scoping 
process has been initiated to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) and feasibility study report. The purpose of the scoping process 
is to elicit public comment regarding the full spectrum of public 
issues and concerns, including a suitable range of alternatives, 
appropriate boundaries, and the nature and extent of potential 
environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation strategies which 
should be addressed in the EIS process.
    Background: As authorized by Pub.L. 106-113, and H.R. 3194 
Conference Report, November 17, 1999, Title III, Sec. 326, the NPS is 
conducting a feasibility study to determine the potential for 
designating the Gaviota Coast as a unit of the National Park System. 
The Gaviota Coast study area includes approximately 76 miles of 
coastline and 200,000 acres of land. It is entirely within Santa 
Barbara County, California, and extends from Coal Oil Point in Isla 
Vista northerly to Point Sal at the northern boundary of Vandenberg Air 
Force Base. The study area boundary extends inland to the watershed 
crests except in the Santa Ynez Valley, where it is primarily limited 
to Vandenberg Air Force Base. Inshore coastal waters will also be 
addressed in the feasibility study.
    In conducting the Gaviota Coast feasibility study, the NPS will 
evaluate the national significance of the area's natural, cultural, and 
recreational resources. The NPS will also assess the area's suitability 
and feasibility to be a unit of the National Park System, whereby 
factors which the NPS study team will evaluate include: Whether the 
Gaviota Coast includes types or quality of resources not already 
adequately represented in the National Park System; whether long-term 
protection and public use of the area are feasible, and; whether the 
area can be adequately protected and administered at a reasonable cost.
    The NPS will also consider: alternative boundaries and strategies 
for the management, protection and use of significant resources within 
the overall study area, including management by other public agencies 
or the private sector; technical or financial assistance available from 
established programs or special initiatives and partnerships; 
alternative designations to a National Seashore (e.g., Heritage Area), 
and; cooperative management by NPS and other entities.
    After public input and review of a draft feasibility study report, 
alternatives will be identified and evaluated, and the results 
transmitted to Congress in a final feasibility study report.
    Scoping to Date/Comments: Various newsletters and press releases 
issued during the initial scoping process for environmental impact 
analysis indicated initial consideration had been given to preparing an 
Environmental Assessment. Preliminary public information activities 
were undertaken beginning in January 2000. These included three public 
meetings in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Lompoc, as well as two 
invitational workshops in Gaviota to explore desired future conditions 
for the coast. In addition, scoping meetings were held with a wide 
representation of stakeholder groups and interested organizations. 
Approximately 200 responses were received by letter, comment sheets, e-
mail, and Internet web page forms. Two newsletter

[[Page 55040]]

mailings describing the planning process and preliminary identification 
of issues were also widely distributed. Upon consideration of public 
responses obtained through this initial public involvement, it has been 
determined that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared.
    All comments received during the initial phase have been fully 
documented and have already aided this conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process, as noted above. A summary of all 
issues and concerns generated to date is available on request--this 
summary and additional information about the study can also be obtained 
on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/pwro/gaviota/.
    In addition to the extensive public involvement undertaken to date, 
formal scoping for the feasibility study and EIS is hereby initiated. 
All interested individuals, organizations and agencies wishing to 
provide additional comments, suggestions, or relevant information (or 
those wishing to be added to the project mailing list) should respond 
to Gaviota Coast Feasibility Study Team, Attn: Ray Murray, National 
Park Service, 600 Harrison Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107. 
All written comments must be postmarked not later than October 9, 2000 
(or if via e-mail, transmitted no later than this date to 
[email protected]).
    If individuals submitting comments request that their name or/and 
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: Availability of the draft EIS for review and 
written comment will be announced by Federal Register notice, via local 
and regional news media, and direct mailing. At this time the draft EIS 
is anticipated to be available for public review in June 2001, and that 
subsequently a final EIS will be completed in January 2002. To afford 
additional opportunity to comment on the draft EIS after it is 
distributed, public meetings will be held in the Gaviota Coast area 
(dates and locations to be determined). Notice of the availability of 
the final EIS will likewise be published in the Federal Register. The 
official responsible for the initial recommendation is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. The official 
responsible for amending or ratifying the recommendation and 
transmitting to the Secretary of the Interior is the Director, National 
Park Service. The Secretary determines whether to forward the 
recommendation to Congress for their consideration.

    Dated: August 31, 2000.
Holly Bundock,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 00-23329 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P