[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 59543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24056]



[[Page 59543]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Environmental Education Campus Development Program at Crane Flat, 
Yosemite National Park, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, CA; Notice of 
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Environmental Education 
Campus Development Program at Crane Flat pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis effort could potentially result in a 
program that would redevelop and expand outdoor environmental education 
facilities at Crane Flat in Yosemite National Park. Pursuant to a 1971 
cooperative agreement, Yosemite Institute currently operates the campus 
at Crane Flat, along the Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park, 
California.

Background

    The proposed expansion is intended to create a Environmental 
Education campus within Yosemite National Park that is in close 
proximity to Yosemite Valley and which enables Yosemite Institute to 
provide sustainable high-quality educational facilities and programs, 
overnight accommodations for students, and food service for students at 
a cost that is affordable for diverse and underserved audiences, 
ranging from school aged groups to adults. The current campus at Crane 
Flat is not able to sustain an environmental education program and the 
existing structures need rehabilitation or replacement.

Public Involvement

    The NPS will conduct a conservation planning and environmental 
impact analysis effort for the proposed Environmental Education Campus 
Development Program at Crane Flat. At this time, the NPS invites the 
public, other Federal agencies, American Indian tribes, state and local 
governments, and all other interested parties to participate in the 
initial scoping and in the alternative development process. For initial 
scoping and alternative development, the most useful comments are those 
that identify concerns and issues, provide essential environmental 
information, and suggest reasonable design alternatives the park should 
consider in initiating the EIS process. All respondents will later have 
an opportunity to review the Draft EIS and submit additional comments.
    During the period when the Environmental Education Campus 
Development Program is open for public scoping comments, two scoping 
meetings will be held on June 26 and June 29, 2002. Both meetings will 
be conducted at the East Auditorium in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite 
National Park, from 2 pm to 9 pm. In addition, on June 29, 2002 there 
will be afternoon site tours of the existing campus at Crane Flat, from 
1 pm to 5 pm. Individuals, organizations, and agencies wishing to 
provide written comments on issues or concerns may respond by e-mail, 
mail or fax. All comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later 
than 45 days following the publication of the Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register. Comments should be addressed to the Superintendent, 
Yosemite National Park, Ann: Environmental Education Campus Development 
Program at Crane Flat, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 
(Fax to 209/379-1294, e-mail 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.

Future Information

    Updated information about this conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process will be distributed via mailings, 
regional and local news media, and the Yosemite National Park Web page 
(http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning). Responses to this Notice will be 
used to update the mailing list of people interested in receiving 
future information as the environmental documents are developed. Please 
contact the NPS by mail, e-mail, or fax at the appropriate number 
request placement on the mailing list. For all types of requests please 
be sure to include your mailing address.

Decision Process

    Availability of the Draft EIS for review and written comment will 
be officially announced by Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register, through local and regional news media, the above listed web 
site, and direct mailing. At this time the Draft EIS is anticipated to 
be available for public review and comment in spring 2003. Comments on 
the Draft EIS will be fully considered and incorporated into the Final 
EIS as appropriate. At this time it is anticipated that the Final EIS 
will be completed in Winter 2003. As a delegated EIS, the official 
responsible for the decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West 
Region, National Park Service; subsequently the official responsible 
for implementation would be the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.

    Dated: June 6, 2002.
James R. Shevock,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 02-24056 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M