[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 241 (Thursday, December 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 78186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31915]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan; 
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Los Angeles and 
Ventura Counties, CA; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft environmental 
impact statement assessing the potential impacts of the proposed 
General Management Plan (GMP) for Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area. This conservation planning and environmental impact 
analysis effort to date has identified and analyzed five alternatives 
(and appropriate mitigation strategies) for the management and use of 
the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area over the next 
fifteen to twenty years.
    Proposal and Alternatives: The draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) includes five alternatives, including the ``no action'' 
(existing conditions) alternative. The No Action Alternative assumes 
that physical facilities would remain largely unchanged and staffing 
and operational funding would remain relatively constant over the next 
fifteen to twenty years. The Preferred Alternative incorporates the 
exceptional elements of all of the alternatives to provide protection 
of significant natural and cultural resources while promoting 
compatible recreation and educational opportunities. The Preservation 
Alternative emphasizes the preservation of all natural and cultural 
systems and removing some park-related development. Virtual media and 
exhibits would provide visitors with alternative experiences and 
information. Visitor disturbance would be reduced while visitor 
appreciation for the resource would increase. The Education Alternative 
would promote strong environmental and cultural education programs that 
reach the public and especially the school systems. The Recreation 
Alternative maximizes recreation with any new park development in non-
sensitive areas.
    Comments: Printed or CD-ROM copies of the DEIS are available for 
public review at Park Headquarters, as well as at many public libraries 
and federal offices in southern California. In addition the document is 
posted on the internet at www.nps.gov/samo. Inquiries and requests for 
copies may also be directed to: Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains 
National Recreation Area, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, 
California, 91360. The telephone number for the park is (805) 370-2300. 
Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies wishing to provide 
information or suggest issues and concerns to be addressed in future 
land management are encouraged to address these to the Superintendent, 
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. All written comments 
must be postmarked not later than February 28, 2001.
    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 may also 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 and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be 
considered.
    Public Meetings: Five public meetings will be held in the vicinity 
surrounding the park. The particular locations selected for these 
meetings were determined based upon responses received from the public 
during the scoping process. The meetings scheduled are: February 5, 
2001 (Calabasas/Agoura Hills); February 6, 2001 (Santa Monica); 
February 7, 2001 (Los Angeles); February 8, 2001 (Malibu); February 9, 
2001 (Thousand Oaks). Confirmed details as to specific locations and 
times will be announced in local newspapers, available at the internet 
site identified above, or can be obtained by calling the park at (805) 
370-2341.
    Decision: After the formal DEIS review period has concluded, all 
comments and suggestions received will be considered in preparing the 
final EIS. Currently the final EIS is anticipated in the fall of 2001; 
its availability will be similarly announced in the Federal Register. 
Subsequently a Record of Decision would be executed no sooner than 30 
(thirty) days after the release of the final EIS. The official 
responsible for approval of the DEIS/GMP is the Regional Director, 
Pacific West Region; the official responsible for implementation of the 
approved GMP is the Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area.

    Dated: December 4, 2000.
James R. Shevock,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 00-31915 Filed 12-13-00; 8:45 am]
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