[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34301-34302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5397]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest, CA; 
Moonridge Animal Park Relocation

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The San Bernardino National Forest is seeking public input and 
comment on a proposed animal park, which would be located near the Big 
Bear Discovery Center. The project is called the Moonridge Animal Park 
Relocation. The proposed action will be defined in the Special Use 
Permit application and draft Master Plan to be developed by Big Bear 
Valley Recreation and Parks District. A proposed Joint Venture 
Management Plan is a guiding document for the permit and the operating 
plan. The proposed concept design would occupy about 35 acres more or 
less of National Forest System (NFS) land. New facilities would include 
zoological and botanical gardens with habitat, education center, 
classrooms, animal exhibits, animal hospital and rehabilitation center, 
restrooms, retail and concession

[[Page 34302]]

buildings, support buildings, and paved parking for approximately 250 
cars.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by (30 days from the date of the NOI) July 14, 2006. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected December, 2006 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected April, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Paul W. Bennett, Recreation 
Officer, Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest, 
P.O. Box 290, Fawnskin, CA 92333. For further information, mail 
correspondence to: Paul W. Bennett, Recreation Officer, Mountaintop 
Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest, P.O. Box 290, 
Fawnskin, CA 92333. Or e-mail to [email protected]. Or telephone 
(909) 382-2819.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. Thornburgh, Environmental 
Coordinator, San Bernardino National Forest Service, 602 S. Tippecanoe, 
San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-2642.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for action

    The purpose and need for action is for the San Bernardino National 
Forest to respond to a request from the Big Bear Valley Recreation and 
Parks District, a Special District of San Bernardino County, for a 
special use permit to occupy National Forest Service lands to operate a 
wild animal park and associated facilities. The Recreation and Parks 
District is proposing to relocate the animal park to the North Shore of 
Big Bear Lake adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center on the 
Mountaintop Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The 
project would occupy approximately 35 acres of National Forest lands, 
and not more than 40 acres. No new groundwater extraction would be 
allowed in connection with this project, in order to protect nearby 
meadow habitats. The type of use requested is consistent with the 
Forest Plan direction. The action is needed now because the Moonridge 
Animal Park's current lease expires in February 2009 and all facilities 
must be removed from that site by then. Alternate sites were evaluated 
and no other feasible site was found. Additionally, there is a joint-
venture opportunity for environmental education objectives with the 
Forest Service's Big Bear Discovery Center.

Proposed Action

    The Moonridge Animal Park is currently located on private land in 
the Moonridge area of Big Bear Valley. The Recreation and Park 
District's lease expires in February 2009. The District looked at 
several potential locations for the animal park, and determined that 
the area adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center best met their 
needs. The Recreation and Parks District has applied for a special use 
permit to build and maintain the new animal park and associated 
facilities on approximately 35 acres. If approved, the permit would be 
issued for a 20-30 year term.
    New facilities would include zoological and botanical gardens, 
education center and classrooms, animal exhibits, animal hospital and 
rehabilitation center, restrooms, retail and concession buildings, 
support buildings, and paved parking for visitors and staff. Water and 
sewer would be connected to the community systems. The Big Bear 
Department of Water and Power water line would be extended from the 
Municipal Water District East Launch Ramp to the site. No additional 
water wells would be drilled in connection with this project. Night 
lighting would be provided for security purposes. A perimeter fence 
would be installed around the entire animal park.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The San Bernardino National Forest is the lead agency this 
analysis. San Bernardino County is a cooperating agency.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    To approve in whole, or in part, or a modified special use 
application for the relocation of the Moonridge Animal Park to national 
forest system lands.

Scoping Process

    A scoping letter is being mailed to known potentially interested or 
affected parties. A legal notice announcing this project is being 
published in the San Bernardino Sun which is the Forest's newspaper of 
record. A scoping meeting will be held on June 17, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 
4 p.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin, California.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental 
impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal 
Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the 30 day comment period for initial 
scoping and 45 days on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedure provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: June 8, 2006.
Jeanne Wade Evans,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-5397 Filed 6-13-06; 8:45 am]
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