[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59370-59372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20423]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Reconstruction of the 
Furnace Creek Water Collection System; Death Valley National Park; Inyo 
County, CA; Notice of Availability

    Summary: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (Pub. L. 91-190, 42U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1, 1970, as 
amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40CFR 
Part 1500-1508), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service and its cooperating agency have completed a draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed reconstruction of the Furnace 
Creek water collection system at Death Valley National Park in Inyo 
County, California. The proposed project would rebuild the outdated 
water collection system in the Furnace Creek area to deliver a safe and 
reliable potable and nonpotable water supply to the park's main visitor 
use area. The draft EIS also describes and analyzes three alternatives 
and appropriate

[[Page 59371]]

mitigation measures, and identifies an ``environmentally preferred'' 
alternative.
    Background: The National Park Service (NPS), Xanterra Parks and 
Resorts (Xanterra), and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe (cooperating 
agency) are the primary water user groups in the Furnace Creek area. 
The Texas-Travertine Springs complex in the Furnace Creek area may be 
the most critical water resource in Death Valley National Park. This 
series of springs provides water for all of the human use needs in the 
park headquarters area; infrastructure in this area includes the 
primary NPS administrative offices and three campgrounds, two private 
resort/visitor services facilities owned and operated by Xanterra, and 
the offices and residences for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. The Texas-
Travertine Springs complex also provides water that supports a riparian 
area, a biological community that includes habitat for a minimum of 
eight endemic special-status species, and a biologically and 
culturally-important mesquite bosque.
    The current water collection system consists of four water 
collection boxes at Travertine Springs, a collection gallery in Furnace 
Creek Wash, a tunnel for water collection constructed similar to a mine 
adit at Texas Springs, and a tunnel for water collection constructed 
similar to a mine adit at the Furnace Creek Inn. All water distributed 
by the existing collection system is potable, although much of the 
water is used for irrigation and other nonpotable purposes. The 
existing water collection system installed in the 1970's has become 
unreliable, subject to failure, and is nearing the end of its useful 
life-span. Many of the existing collection galleries have 
intermittently tested positive for coliform or E. coli bacteria, 
experienced unpredictable inputs of soil or organic matter, 
intermittently and unpredictably produced reduced volumes of water, and 
collected groundwater that does not meet state drinking water 
standards. When the system was installed approximately 30 years ago, 
there was an incomplete understanding of the Furnace Creek area's 
unique biological resource values and water conservation strategies 
were not a priority.
    Proposal and Alternatives: The NPS proposes to rebuild the 
antiquated water collection system in the Furnace Creek area to deliver 
safe and reliable drinking water to the park's main visitor use area, 
and provide separate delivery systems for potable and nonpotable water. 
Desired redevelopment of the Furnace Creek water collection system 
includes efforts to restore historic wetland and riparian habitat, and 
ensure the long-term conservation of species endemic to the Furnace 
Creek area. The draft EIS identifies and analyzes four alternatives for 
reconstructing the Furnace Creek water collection system.
    Alternative 1 (``no action'') would result in continued operation 
and maintenance of the existing water collection system. Under this 
alternative, the Furnace Creek water collection system would remain in 
its existing condition. Necessary maintenance and repairs would 
continue, but no major undertakings (e.g., maintenance activities) 
would occur. Alternative 1 would provide potable water from collection 
galleries at Travertine Springs Lines 2, 3, and 4, and Furnace Creek 
Wash. Nonpotable water would be provided from the Inn Tunnel. Riparian 
water would be released from Travertine Springs Line 1, Texas Springs, 
and the Inn Tunnel. Alternative 1 would continue to store water in the 
existing 2-million gallon and 500,000 gallon storage tanks. Potable 
water would continue to be disinfected at the 2-million gallon tank 
with chlorine.
    All three ``action'' alternatives would separate the potable and 
nonpotable water system in the project area, and provide nonpotable 
water from the Inn Tunnel and a Furnace Creek Wash collection gallery. 
These alternatives primarily differ in terms of how each would provide 
potable water to the Furnace Creek area. Alternative 2 would provide 
potable water from rebuilt collection galleries at Travertine Springs 
Line 3 and Line 4, and two to three new groundwater wells in the Texas 
Springs Syncline. Alternative 2 would treat potable water using a 
reverse osmosis water treatment plant. Riparian water would be released 
from Travertine Springs Line 1 and Line 2 and Texas Springs to restore 
historic wetland and riparian habitat. The restoration effort would 
include the incorporation of riparian water release measures that would 
reduce erosion and promote groundwater infiltration.
    Alternative 3 (agency preferred) would provide potable water from 4 
to 6 new groundwater wells in the Texas Springs Syncline, and would 
treat potable water using a reverse osmosis water treatment plant. 
Riparian water would be released from all of Travertine Springs and 
Texas Springs to restore historic wetland and riparian habitat. The 
restoration effort would include the incorporation of riparian water 
release measures that would reduce erosion and promote groundwater 
infiltration.
    Alternative 4 would provide potable water from Travertine Springs 
Lines 2, 3, and 4 and Texas Springs, and would treat water using a 
reverse osmosis water treatment plant with supplemental water 
disinfection. Since the NPS would treat all potable water under this 
alternative (including bypass water), Travertine Springs would not 
require reconstruction of spring collection boxes or clearing and 
grubbing of vegetation from the spring area. Riparian water would be 
released from Travertine Springs Line 1 and Texas Springs to restore 
historic wetland and riparian habitat. The restoration effort would 
include the incorporation of riparian water release measures that would 
reduce erosion and promote groundwater infiltration.
    The draft EIS identifies and evaluates a full range of mitigation 
strategies, project design elements, and other measures to minimize 
environmental harm. In addition to identifying the agency-preferred 
alternative, based on the environmental impact analysis detailed in the 
draft EIS an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative is also 
evaluated.
    Scoping: Early public and agency participation has been 
incorporated in this conservation planning process. Death Valley 
National Park held public scoping and informal meetings in 2001 through 
2004 to solicit ideas and concerns from park visitors, park staff, 
Native American groups, scientists, and government agencies. A notice 
of intent to prepare the Reconstruction of the Furnace Creek Water 
Collection System Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published in 
the Federal Register on November 20, 2000; the formal public scoping 
phase concluded on March 14, 2001. The public was notified about the 
public scoping process through the Federal Register announcement, local 
press releases, website postings, mailings, and the Furnace Creek 
Visitor Center newsletter.
    During 2001 the NPS held three public scoping meetings on January 
30 (in Pahrump, Nevada), January 31 (in Death Valley National Park), 
and February 1 (in Independence, California). The purpose of these 
meetings was to: (1) Provide participants with an overview of existing 
conditions and the proposed action; (2) ask participants to identify 
key issues that should be analyzed during the environmental review and 
compliance process; and (3) provide an opportunity for participants to 
ask questions regarding project alternatives and the overall 
environmental review and compliance process. As a result of the public 
scoping process, two letters were received via U.S. mail. Issues 
identified during the public scoping process are summarized in the EIS

[[Page 59372]]

under the Planning Issues section, in Chapter I, Purpose and Need. All 
comments received during the public scoping process have been duly 
considered in this EIS. In addition to public scoping, the park and its 
cooperating agency have also consulted with the Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Army Corps of Engineers, California State Historic 
Preservation Office, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.
    Comments: The draft EIS is now available for public review during a 
60-day comment period. Persons wishing to express any new concerns 
about water management, facilities development, resource protection, or 
other pertinent aspects of the proposal are encouraged to do so; all 
responses should be sent to James T. Reynolds, Superintendent, Death 
Valley National Park, Death Valley, California 92328. Faxed or 
electronic comments are also acceptable (such transmittals may be sent 
to the park superintendent's attention at [email protected] 
or FAX (760) 786-3283). Written comments will also be accepted at NPS 
public meetings which are to be held November 15 and 16, 2005 at 
Pahrump, Nevada, and Death Valley, California. As soon as meeting 
venues are confirmed, details will be posted on the park's Web site and 
publicized via local and regional press (and may be obtained by 
contacting the park at (769) 786-3243).
    All written comments must be postmarked (or transmitted) no later 
than 60 days from the date that the Environmental Protection Agency 
posts its notice of filing in the Federal Register (immediately upon 
confirmation, this date will be announced on the park's Web site and 
via local and regional press media; this information will also be 
available at the park's telephone contact at (760) 786-3243). Please 
note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the 
public record. If individuals commenting request that their name 
or[bs]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.
    Printed or compact disk copies of the draft EIS will both be 
available. Please specify which document format you would like to 
receive when calling, e-mailing, or faxing Death Valley National Park. 
The draft EIS also can be viewed on the internet at www.nps.gov/deva/pphtml/documents.html or reviewed at several public libraries.
    Decision Process: Following careful consideration of all comments 
as may be received, a final EIS will be prepared. Not sooner than 30 
days following release of the final EIS a Record of Decision would be 
prepared. At this time its anticipated that project construction may 
begin during winter, 2007. As a delegated EIS the approving official is 
the Regional Director, Pacific West Region of the National Park 
Service; subsequently the official responsible for project 
implementation would be the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park.

    Dated: March 1, 2005.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register October 6, 2005.
[FR Doc. 05-20423 Filed 10-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-EF-P