[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 36655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Warner Valley Comprehensive Site Plan, Lassen Volcanic National 
Park, Plumas County, CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement

    Summary: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 and pursuant to regulations of the President's Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22) the National Park 
Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
Comprehensive Site Plan for the Warner Valley area in Lassen Volcanic 
National Park. This notice supersedes a previous Notice of Intent which 
was published on April 4, 2003 (V68; N65; Pp16548-49) for a proposed 
Dream Lake Dam Management Plan. Subsequent to issuance of that notice 
it has been determined that future management of Dream Lake, located 
within Warner Valley, should be assessed as a part of a wider Warner 
Valley Comprehensive Site Plan (CSP). This notice hereby extends the 
scoping process and comment period; all comments received in response 
to the previous notice are documented in the project administrative 
record and need not be resubmitted.
    Background: The purpose of the CSP/EIS will be to determine the 
desired future resource conditions in Warner Valley and outline the 
steps that will be taken in order to achieve those conditions. The CSP/
EIS will evaluate the natural and cultural resources, aesthetics, and 
visitor experience in this area of the Park. Some topics that have 
already been identified as needing to be assessed include: (1) Future 
management of Dream Lake Dam, (2) impacts on wetlands, (3) historic 
structures, (4) protection of Drakesbad Meadow and Fen, (5) alternative 
energy, (6) water and sewage systems, (7) parking, (8) trail system, 
(9) accessibility, (10) safety, and (11) effluent from the horse corral 
(currently going into the meadow). The CSP will guide the management of 
Warner Valley over the subsequent 10-15 years.
    Comments: Persons wishing to comment or express concerns on the 
management issues and future management direction of these lands should 
address their written responses to the Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic 
National Park, P.O. Box 100, Mineral, California 96063 (comments can 
also be e-mailed to: [email protected]). All comment letters must 
be postmarked or transmitted not later than 30 days following the date 
this notice is published in the Federal Register (immediately upon 
confirmation of that date, it will be announced on the park Web site: 
http://www.nps.gov/law). Please note that names and addresses of people 
who comment become part of the public record. If individuals commenting 
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 from the 
record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. As always: the 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.
    At this time it is anticipated that three public workshops to hear 
additional comments and suggestions will be conducted in mid-June in 
the towns of Red Bluff (June 13), Chester (June 14), and Vacaville 
(June 15), California. The confirmed meeting times and locations will 
be posted on the park's website and announced via press release to 
local newspapers. Questions regarding the plan or scoping sessions 
should be addressed to the Superintendent either by mail to the above 
address, or by telephone at (530) 595-4444.
    Decision: At this time it is anticipated that the Draft EIS/CSP 
would be released for public review during the spring of 2006, and 
depending on the nature and extent of public comment the Final EIS/CSP 
would be completed in winter of 2006. As a delegated EIS, the official 
responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific 
West Region, National Park Service; subsequently the official 
responsible for implementing the approved plan would be the 
Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic National Park.

    Dated: May 16, 2005.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 05-12537 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
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