[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 15761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4545]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement/Fire Management Plan; Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area; Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo 
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 
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 updated Fire Management Plan for Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area. The formal no-action waiting 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 ``Hazard Reduction and Resource 
Enhancement through Multiple Treatments'' alternative (also identified 
and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative C in the Draft and Final 
EIS). The selected plan update allows for the greatest number of acres 
to be treated annually while minimizing potential adverse resource 
effects of fire management activities. Alternative C utilizes 
prescribed burning and mechanical treatment strategies deemed to be 
appropriate for reducing fuel loads near developed areas. Expanded 
research will examine the role of these strategies in enhancing natural 
resource conditions, and will also be used to adaptively guide the fire 
management program and maximize the benefits to park cultural and 
natural resources. As documented in the EIS, this plan was also deemed 
to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative.
    This course of action and two alternatives were initially 
identified and analyzed in the Draft EIS (distributed in March 2005); 
minor modifications were made based on public and agency review. The 
Final EIS was released in December 2005. The full spectrum of 
foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate 
mitigation measures identified. Beginning with early scoping, through 
the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, numerous public meetings 
and agency consultations were conducted, and newsletter updates were 
regularly provided. Approximately one dozen written responses 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 California State Historic Preservation Office, 
California Coastal Commission, local air quality management districts, 
adjoining land managing agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
National Marine Fisheries Service. Area residents, 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, 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Bldg. 201, Ft. Mason, San 
Francisco, CA 94123 or via telephone request at (415) 331-6374.

    Dated: February 24, 2006.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. E6-4545 Filed 3-28-06; 8:45 am]
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