[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6048-6049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3068]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Section 14 Specific Plan on the Agua Caliente Indian 
Reservation, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) and the City of Palm Springs, in cooperation with the 
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, intend to file a draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for approval of the Section 14 Master Development Plan on the Agua 
Caliente Indian Reservation, located within the boundaries of the City 
of Palm Springs, Riverside County, California. Details of the proposed 
action, location and areas of environmental concern are addressed in 
the DEIS/EIR and provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. 
This notice also announces a public

[[Page 6049]]

hearing to receive comments on the DEIS/EIR.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS/EIR must arrive by April 12, 2002. 
The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, from 7 
p.m. to 9 p.m., or until the last public comment is received.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Ronald 
Jaeger, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Regional 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825-1846. Please 
include your name, return address and the caption, ``DEIS/EIR Comments, 
Section 14 Master Plan, Riverside County, California,'' on the first 
page of your written comments.
    The public hearing will be at the Tahquitz Room of the Spa Resort 
Casino, 100 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California 92264. 
This meeting will be co-hosted by the BIA and Agua Caliente Band of 
Cahuilla Indians.
    To obtain a copy of the DEIS/EIR, please write or call William 
Allan, Environmental Protection Specialist, Pacific Region, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825-1846, 
telephone (916) 978-6043. Copies of the DEIS/EIR are also available in 
the Agua Caliente Tribal Administration Office, 650 East Tahquitz 
Canyon Way, Palm Springs, and at the public library, 300 South Sunrise 
Way, Palm Springs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Allan, (916) 978-6043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is the approval of the 
Section 14 Master Development Plan, which facilitates approval of 
future leases on trust land in Section 14 by the BIA. Section 14 is 
located on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in downtown Palm 
Springs. It is comprised of tribally owned parcels, allotted parcels 
and parcels owned in fee. The section is bounded by Alejo Road to the 
north, Sunrise Road to the east, Ramon Road to the south and Indian 
Canyon Drive to the west. The 640 acre section is one block east of 
downtown Palm Springs and one mile west of Palm Springs Regional 
Airport.
    The intent of the Section 14 Master Development Plan is to:
     Create an attractive, feasible and marketable vision for 
the area's future development;
     Achieve the highest and best use of Indian trust lands;
     Maximize and coordinate the development potential of 
Indian trust and fee lands in Section 14;
     Revitalize existing uses;
     Ensure compatibility with existing, proposed and planned 
development in the downtown area;
     Achieve a comprehensive master plan of development that is 
high quality, marketable and able to be implemented in a timely manner; 
and
     Provide a specific plan that ensures quality development 
will occur independent of ownership.
    Businesses that are expected to be attracted and which will result 
in new construction include restaurants and various retail 
establishments. These establishments will consist of cinemas, live 
theaters, museums, and ``entertainment retail'' shopping where 
customers are entertained as they browse. There will also be health, 
sports and recreational complexes along with a large-scale hotel 
located across from the existing Convention Center.
    In addition to the new development, existing structures will 
receive facade rehabilitation in order to blend in with the new 
destination resort theme of Section 14. Streets will also be redesigned 
and enhanced within Section 14 to promote a pedestrian-friendly 
destination resort environment.
    Alternative transportation modes will be established within the 
area to help limit automobile traffic. Walkways and bikeways will be 
linked into the existing street grid and the major attractions of the 
area. Shade features such as awnings, overhangs and trellises will be 
established to attract both recreational and destination oriented 
pedestrians and cyclists. A rubber-tire shuttle will be installed 
linking Section 14, the airport and downtown, with stops at major 
hotels and attractions.
    Alternatives to the proposed project that are considered in the 
DEIS/EIR include (1) no action, which will keep the City of Palm 
Springs General Plan in effect; (2) reduced intensity development; and 
(3) increased intensity development. Environmental issues addressed in 
the DEIS/ EIR include landform/topography, geology/soils/seismicity, 
hydrology/water quality, biological resources, cultural and scientific 
resources, land use, air quality, traffic/circulation, noise, health 
and safety, public services and utilities, and visual resources.

Public Comment Availability

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES section, during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or 
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with 
Sec. 1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
CFR, part 1500 through 1508) implementing the procedural 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), and the Department of the Interior 
Manual (516 DM 1-6), and is in the exercise of authority delegated 
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.

    Dated: January 23, 2002.
Neal A. McCaleb,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-3068 Filed 2-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P