[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17078-17079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8495]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; General 
Management Plan Amendment for Visitor Learning Center; Great Basin 
National Park, White Pine County, NV; Notice of Availability

    Summary: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared and distributed a 
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for a proposed 
amendment of the General Management Plan (which was approved in 1993). 
The SEIS assesses the potential impacts of a proposal to construct a 
Visitor Learning Center in the townsite of Baker, Nevada (rather than 
on National Park Service park lands north of Baker, known locally as 
Baker Ridge). This conservation planning and environmental impact 
analysis effort identified and analyzed three alternatives (and 
foreseeable environmental consequences and appropriate mitigation 
strategies) for constructing the park's new Visitor Learning Center.
    Proposal and Alternatives: The Final SEIS identifies and analyzes 
three alternatives, including ``no action'' (to document existing 
conditions and provide an environmental baseline for comparing 
``action'' alternatives). The No Action Alternative (Alternative 1) 
assumes that the Baker Ridge location for the Visitor Learning Center 
would remain unchanged, thus implementing the existing General 
Management Plan (GMP). The Proposed Action (Alternative 2) amends the 
GMP to allow the construction to occur outside of the main park area 
within the townsite of Baker, Nevada. The approximately 7,000 ft\2\ 
facilities identified are consistent with the concepts approved in the 
GMP. The Third Alternative (Alternative 3) amends the GMP to eliminate 
the Baker Ridge Visitor Learning Center and to maintain the current 
Lehman Caves Visitor Center as the only orientation facility.
    Public Involvement: Notice of initiation of the conservation 
planning and environmental impact analysis process was published in the 
Federal Register on December 2, 1999; and information regarding the 
proposal was mailed to the park's GMP mailing list, and press release 
was distributed to local and regional media. A notice of availability 
of the Draft SEIS was published in the Federal Register on April 19, 
2002; and on April 21, 2002 local announcements were published in the 
Ely Times. Copies of the document were distributed by direct mailings, 
posting in public libraries, and through electronic media. Copies were 
provided to Federal, state, and local agencies, interested 
organizations, and private individuals. Several scoping and 
consultation meetings were conducted throughout; fewer than a dozen 
written comments were received from these combined phases. Several 
letters of support were received. All substantive comments on the Draft 
SEIS, and specific responses, are included in the Final SEIS. Besides 
editorial revisions, changes from the Draft SEIS made in the Final SEIS 
were derived from clarifications prompted by comments received as a 
result of the 60 day comment period, as follows:
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised two concerns. First 
centered upon ``Greening the Government'' opportunities (Executive 
Order 13101 ``Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, 
Recycling, and Federal Acquisition''; Executive Order 13123 ``Greening 
the Government Through Efficient Energy Management''; and, Executive 
Order 13148 ``Greening the Government Through Leadership in 
Environmental Management''). Details on the park's compliance with 
these Federal ``greening the government'' policies are included in 
section 3.0 (p. 29) of the Final SEIS. The second concern was in 
regards to exclusion of water quality (including permitting under 
section 402 and 404 of the Clean Water Act) as a impact issue topic.

[[Page 17079]]

Further information to address this concern has been included in 
section 1.8 (pp. 18-19) of the Final SEIS.
    The Nevada Health Division requested further information on the 
potential for the construction of new water and sewage treat 
facilities. Clarifications and new information regarding this element 
of the proposed action has been included in section 3.0 (pp. 29 and 35) 
of the Final SEIS.
    Printed or CD-ROM copies of the Final SEIS may be obtained upon 
request to the Park Superintendent, Great Basin National Park, Baker, 
Nevada, 89311. The telephone number for the park is (775) 234-7331. In 
addition the document may be obtained via the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/grba.
    If individuals responding to release of the Final SEIS 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.
    Decision Process: The Proposed Alternative would amend the General 
Management Plan to allow the placement of a Visitor Learning Center 
outside of the main park area, on an administrative site located within 
the Baker townsite. A Record of Decision may be executed no sooner than 
30 (thirty) days after publication of EPA's notice of filing of this 
Final SEIS in the Federal Register. As a delegated EIS, the official 
with responsibility for approving the Final SEIS is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible 
for implementation is the Superintendent, Great Basin National Park.

    Dated: February 3, 2003.
Arthur E. Eck,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 03-8495 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P