[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 66347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9188]



[[Page 66347]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Scoping for Completion of El Portal Road 
Rehabilitation; Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, CA

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accord with the provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) that public 
scoping has been initiated for a conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process for the completion of road 
improvements to the El Portal Road in Yosemite National Park. The 
purpose of the scoping process is to elicit public comment regarding 
applicable issues and concerns, a suitable range of alternatives, and 
the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts and 
appropriate mitigating measures which should be addressed. This project 
would result in completion of the Highway 140 improvements which began 
in 1997 following floods which extensively damaged the road. The 
proposed reconstruction would improve the one mile segment of the El 
Portal Road from the intersection of the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 
120) and the El Portal Road (Highway 140) to the west, and Pohono 
Bridge to the east (also known as Segment D). The pending environmental 
analysis will evaluate alternatives, including a no-action alternative, 
and one or more action alternatives. Some of the project elements that 
may be evaluated include:
     Reconstructing failing retaining walls and undercut road 
sections;
     Altering the lane and/or the shoulder to enhance traffic 
safety;
     Replacing portions of the existing stone wall with a 
reinforced concrete guardwall;
     Improving the El Portal Road-Big Oak Flat Road 
intersection;
     Improving, relocating, and/or removing some parking 
spaces;
     Improving road drainage with new culverts and drainage 
ditches;
     Repaving road surfaces; and
     Maintaining the road's essential historic character as a 
winding, narrow mountain road.
    Public Involvement: As noted, the NPS will conduct an environmental 
review of feasible alternatives and potential impacts on rehabilitation 
of segment of road corridor. At this time, it has not been determined 
whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact 
Statement will be prepared, however, this scoping process will aid in 
the preparation of either document. This environmental review of a 
reasonable range of alternatives for rehabilitation this segment of the 
El Portal Road is being conducted by Yosemite National Park. As a key 
step for initiating this environmental review, the park invites the 
public, other Federal agencies, American Indian tribes, State and local 
governments, and all other interested parties to participate in the 
initial scoping and alternative development process. For initial 
scoping and alternatives development, the most useful comments are 
those which aid the park in identifying environmental issues, public 
concerns, and pertinent information that can be used to help:
     Determine resource issues and visitor concerns that may 
need to be evaluated;
     Formulate alternatives for fulfilling the purpose and need 
for the proposed project; and/or
     Identify potential cumulative actions and/or appropriate 
mitigation strategies which should be considered.
    Responses to this Scoping Notice will also be used to establish a 
mailing list of people and organizations interested in receiving 
further information as the environmental document is developed. Please 
contact the park by mail, e-mail, or fax (see below) to request 
placement on the mailing list; for all types of requests please be sure 
to include your full mailing address. In addition to direct mailings, 
additional information about this conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process will be regularly distributed via 
regional and local news media and by posting to the Yosemite National 
Park Web page (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning).
    The public scoping period for this Segment D environmental review 
will be open for 45 days from the date of publication of this Scoping 
Notice in the Federal Register--immediately upon confirmation of this 
date it will be announced on the park's Web site. Scoping meetings and 
public open houses will be held on a regular basis in Yosemite National 
Park, California. Specific locations and dates for these meetings will 
be announced in local and regional media and via direct mailings. 
Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies wishing to provide 
written comments on issues and concerns or provide pertinent 
information may by mail to: Superintendent, ATTN: El Portal Road 
Rehabilitation, Yosemite National Park, PO Box 577, Yosemite National 
Park, CA 95389; via Fax at (209) 379-1294; or electronically via [email protected].
    Our practice is to make comments, including names, home addresses, 
home phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of respondents, available for 
public review. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their names and/or home addresses, etc., but if you wish us to consider 
withholding this information you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your comments. In addition, you must present a rationale 
for withholding this information. This rationale must demonstrate that 
disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. 
Unsupported assertions will not meet this burden. In the absence of 
exceptional, documentable circumstances, this information will be 
released. We will always make submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, 
available for public inspection in their entirety.
    Decision Process: Availability of the forthcoming environmental 
document for public review and written comment will be announced by 
local and regional news media, via the above listed Web site, and by 
direct mailing. At this time, the document is anticipated to be 
available for public review and comment in summer of 2007. All comments 
received will be duly considered in the environmental decision-making 
process and responded to as appropriate. At this time, it is 
anticipated that a final decision will be recommended during autumn of 
2007. The official responsible for the decision is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service; subsequently, the 
official responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Yosemite 
National Park.

    Dated: August 29, 2006.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 06-9188 Filed 11-13-06; 8:45 am]
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