[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 13161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3557]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 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 
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 Fire Management Plan for Santa Monica 
Mountains National Recreation Area. The formal no-action period was 
officially initiated December 23, 2005, 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 park will begin to implement 
as its updated Fire Management Plan the ``Mechanical Fuel Reduction/
Ecological Prescribed Fire/Strategic Fuels Treatment'' alternative 
(also described and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative (2)) 
contained in the Draft and Final EIS. The selected plan provides the 
maximum potential environmental benefits and minimizes adverse effects 
of fire management activities. Alternative 2 is the most flexible 
alternative, utilizing all available fire management strategies deemed 
to be appropriate for the mediterranean type conditions found in Santa 
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. As documented in the EIS, 
this plan was also deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' 
alternative.
    This course of action and three alternatives were identified and 
analyzed in the Final EIS, and previously in the Draft EIS (the latter 
was distributed in June 2004). 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 (in Thousand Oaks, Malibu, Los Angeles, 
Agoura Hills, Calabasas) and newsletter updates were regularly 
provided. Approximately 25 written comments responding to the Draft EIS 
were received and duly considered. Key consultations which aided in 
preparing the Draft and Final EIS involved (but were not limited to) 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Historic Preservation Office, 
native American Tribes, air quality management districts, adjoining 
land managing agencies, and U.S. Geological Survey. Local communities, 
county and city officials, and interested organizations were contacted 
extensively during initial scoping and throughout the fire planning 
process.
    Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of 
Decision may obtain a complete copy by contacting the Superintendent, 
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and 401 West Hillcrest 
Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-4223 or via telephone request at (805) 
370-2300.

    Dated: February 16, 2006.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
 [FR Doc. E6-3557 Filed 3-13-06; 8:45 am]
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