[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 20025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10027]



[[Page 20025]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan 
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Ventura and Los Angeles 
Counties, CA; Notice of Approval of Record of Decision

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the implementing 
regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
part 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has 
prepared, and the Regional Director, Pacific West Region has approved, 
the Record of Decision for the General Management Plan for Santa Monica 
Mountains National Recreation Area, in southern California. The formal 
no-action period was officially initiated January 31, 2003, with the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of 
the filing of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    Decision: As soon as practicable the NPS will begin to implement 
the General Management Plan described and analyzed as the Preferred 
Alternative contained in the Final EIS. The selected plan features a 
deliberate, long-term strategy to protect significant cultural and 
natural resources, while providing for compatible recreation (e.g., 
hiking, wildlife observation) and increased educational opportunities 
to a diverse public. This plan was also deemed to be the 
``environmentally preferred'' alternative.
    This course of action and four alternatives were identified and 
analyzed in the Final EIS, and previously in the Draft EIS (the latter 
was distributed in December 2000). The full spectrum of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation 
measures identified, for each alternative. Beginning with early 
scoping, through the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, numerous 
public meetings were conducted and newsletter updates (in english and 
spanish) were regularly produced. Approximately 600 written comments 
responding to the Draft EIS were received and duly considered. No 
substantive or adverse comments responding to the Final EIS were 
received during the no-action period which ended on March 3, 2003. Key 
consultations which aided in the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS 
involved (but were not limited to) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
California Dept. of Fish and Game, State Historic Preservation Office, 
native American Tribes, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, cities of 
Thousand Oaks, Malibu and Calabasas, and the Santa Monica Mountains 
Conservancy.
    Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of 
Decision may obtain a complete copy by contacting the Acting 
Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 401 
West Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks 91360-4223; or via telephone request 
at (805) 370-2300.

Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 03-10027 Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P