[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 7933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2340]



[[Page 7933]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement, Timbisha 
Shoshone Homeland, Death Valley National Park; 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 parts 1500-1508), at the 
request of the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, 
in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a Final Legislative 
Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) identifying and evaluating 
alternatives for a Timbisha Shoshone Homeland within and around Death 
Valley National Park, California. Potential impacts and appropriate 
mitigation strategies are identified and assessed for each alternative.
    On July 19, 2000 the United States Senate passed the Timbisha 
Shoshone Homeland Act. A similar version of the Act was passed on 
October 17, 2000 by the House of Representatives, and on November 1, 
2000 the Act was signed by the President. The plan will guide 
management actions in the transfer of lands and the development of 
cooperative agreements.
    Proposal: The proposed Timbisha Shoshone Homeland (Alternative A-
Preferred) would transfer approximately 7,500 acres of federal lands 
(identified as ``multiple use'' and managed by Death Valley National 
Park and the Bureau of Land Management in California and Nevada) into 
trust with the Department of the Interior for the creation of a tribal 
homeland. Permission would be sought for acquisition of two parcels 
(approximately 120 acres of former Indian allotted lands) in Saline 
Valley, California, and approximately 2,430 acres near Lida, Nevada, 
from private owners, as willing sellers. Also, water rights (either 
appurtenant or separately held) could be obtained from willing sellers. 
Cooperative activities at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge would 
also be undertaken. Some portions of lands previously designated by 
Congress as ``wilderness'' would be also recognized as Timbisha 
Shoshone Natural and Cultural Preservation Area, but ownership would 
not be transferred.
    Alternatives: Alternative B maintains the status quo, as described 
in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed Action, No Action, and 
Alternatives Considered But Not Brought Forward For Analysis. It 
provides a baseline from which to compare and evaluate the magnitude of 
proposed changes, and to measure the foreseeable 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.
    Background: Although initial scoping is not required for the 
preparation of a LEIS, an understanding of public concerns was desired. 
Accordingly, a notice was published in the Federal Register on April 
19, 1999 announcing to the public the opportunity of commenting on a 
Draft Secretarial Report regarding the Homeland initiative. In 
addition, six public meetings were conducted (attended by 79 persons), 
and five informational meetings were held at the request of state 
congressional delegations and county commissioners and supervisors. 
Over 550 letters were received during the public scoping period. In 
October 1999, a copy of the 11-page Scoping Summary Document was mailed 
to everyone who attended the public meetings or commented during the 
process.
    In October, 1999 the Department of the Interior determined that the 
NPS would serve as the lead agency for this conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process. As noticed in the Federal 
Register on May 12, 2000, a draft Timbisha Shoshone Homeland LEIS was 
prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, and 
distributed by mail and libraries for a formal public review period 
ending August 21, 2000. In addition, the document was available via the 
internet at http//www3.iwvisp.com/blm/report. Five public meetings were 
conducted (attended by 100 persons), and 238 letters were received.
    Availability: The Final Timbisha Shoshone Homeland LEIS was sent 
directly to the project mailing list. Copies are also available at park 
headquarters at Furnace Creek, field offices of BLM Ridgecrest, 
California and Tonopah, Nevada. Also, the Final LEIS will be posted on 
the internet at http://www.nps.gov/deva. Inquiries should be addressed 
to the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, Death 
Valley, California 92328.
    All comments received throughout the conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process are archived and will be 
available for public review in the park's library. If individuals 
submitting comments requested 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, the NPS will make available for 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.
    Recommendation Process: A notice of final recommendations will be 
published in the Federal Register not sooner than thirty (30) days 
after the final document is distributed. This is expected to occur 
early in 2001. The National Park Service officials responsible for 
implementation will be the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park 
and the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; as well as the State 
Directors, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada and California; the 
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; and the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Central California Agency.

    Dated: January 9, 2001.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-2340 Filed 1-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P