[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 212 (Friday, November 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 62271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21576]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement; Giacomini Wetlands 
Restoration; Point Reyes National Seashore; Marin County, CA; Notice of 
Approval of Record of Decision

    Summary: Pursuant to Sec.  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, in conjunction with the California State Lands Commission as 
co-lead agency, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
restoring the Giacomini Wetlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation 
Area (north district), administered by Point Reyes National Seashore. 
The Regional Director, Pacific West Region has approved the Record of 
Decision and supporting Statement of Findings for Wetlands and 
Floodplains for this restoration project. The formal no-action period 
was officially initiated June 27, 2007, with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the 
Final EIS.
    Decision:  As soon as practicable the Seashore will begin to 
implement restoration efforts of the ``environmentally preferred'' 
Alternative D as detailed in the Final EIS. The selected plan maximizes 
ecological restoration while providing public access and overlooks for 
viewing the restoration area. Work elements include removal of earthern 
levees and appurtenant infrastructure, and recreation of tidal channels 
and freshwater breeding habitat for California red-legged frogs. 
Certain public access features will be maintained or enhanced, and 
additionally the Seashore will collaborate with the County of Marin 
(including further conservation planning as appropriate) on additional 
public access facilities on the southern perimeter of the project area 
in furtherance of the Countywide Plan.
    As documented in the Final EIS, this course of action was deemed to 
be ``environmentally preferred''. The preferred plan and four 
alternatives were identified and analyzed in the Final EIS, and 
previously in the Draft EIS (the latter was distributed in December, 
2006). The full spectrums of foreseeable environmental consequences 
were 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 hosted. 
Approximately 200 oral and written comments were received during the 
scoping phase or in response to the Draft EIS. Key consultations or 
other contacts which aided in preparing the Draft and Final EIS 
involved (but were not limited to) the California Coastal Commission, 
Department of Fish and Game, and State Historic Preservation Office, 
the Marin County Parks and Open Space, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. Local communities, 
county and city officials, and interested organizations were contacted 
extensively during initial scoping and throughout the conservation 
planning and environmental impact analysis process.
    Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of 
Decision may obtain a complete copy by contacting the Superintendent, 
Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes, CA 94956; or via telephone 
request at (415) 464-5100.

    Dated: August 16, 2007.
Jonathan B. Jarvis,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. E7-21576 Filed 11-1-07; 8:45 am]
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