[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12375-12376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6414]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement; Marin Headlands and Fort 
Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area, Marin County, California; Notice of 
Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1, 
1970, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and 
Management Plan. The proposed project would provide greater access to 
and within the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker areas of Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area (GGNRA) for a variety of users in a way that 
minimizes impacts to the rich natural diversity and cultural resources 
within all the areas of potential effect. Roadway infrastructure would 
be rehabilitated or reconstructed with non-character altering roadway 
widening, and parking facilities would be improved. Additional transit 
options would be provided to and within the Marin Headlands and Fort 
Baker to improve access to visitor sites. Pedestrian and bicycle 
facilities would be improved through closure and rerouting of existing 
trails and construction of new trails.
    A successful project would meet the following goals: (1) Promote 
public transit, pedestrian, and bicycle travel to and within GGNRA to 
improve visitor experience and enhance environmental quality; (2) 
Rehabilitate the Marin Headlands/Fort Baker transportation road and 
trail infrastructure in a manner that protects resources and improves 
safety and circulation; (3) Reduce traffic congestion at key park 
locations and connecting roads.
    Range of Alternatives Considered: The Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) describes and analyzes four alternatives. Alternative 
1, the No Action Alternative, would provide no change from the existing 
management direction; it serves as an environmental baseline from which 
potential effects of the three ``action'' alternatives may be compared. 
Alternative 2 would provide basic multi-modal access. Roadway 
infrastructure would be rehabilitated within the existing roadway 
width; parking facilities would be improved; transit service to the 
Marin Headlands would be expanded on weekends; and minor pedestrian and 
bicycle facility enhancements would be implemented to improve access to 
these GGNRA areas. Alternative 4 would provide maximum multi-modal 
access. Roadway infrastructure would be reconstructed throughout the 
study area, and parking facilities would be improved. Transit options 
would be similar to those provided in the Alternative 3 (agency-
preferred), with the addition of connections to regional transit 
centers outside of GGNRA. Extensive pedestrian and bicycle facility 
enhancements would be implemented, including closure and rerouting of 
existing trails, construction of new trails, and road widening to allow 
for bicycle lane construction on nearly all major roads.
    Alternative 3 (agency-preferred) would provide enhanced multi-modal 
access. Roadway infrastructure would be rehabilitated or reconstructed 
with non-character altering roadway widening, and parking facilities 
would be improved. Additional transit options would be provided to and 
within the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker (MH/FB) to improve access. 
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities would be improved through closure and 
rerouting of existing trails and construction of new trails. Key 
project elements include:
     Roadways and Vehicular Circulation: At selected sites 
within the area of potential effect, roads and intersections will be 
modified to improve safety and operations. Modifications include 
widening the road widths from two to four feet to allow for the 
provision of Class 2 bicycle lanes or improved safety on Class 3 bike 
routes, and reconstructing intersections from a ``Y'' to a ``T'' 
configuration. In addition the park would implement a wayfinding 
program and intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies to 
improve visitor information and reduce traffic congestion at key 
locations.
     Parking Management and Fees: In many MH/FB locations 
parking areas would be reconfigured, delineated, and formalized, in 
order to improve parking operations, reduce congestion, better match 
parking supply with demand, and reduce natural resource impacts. A 
parking fee program would be implemented to provide enhanced transit 
service operations.
     Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Class 1 bicycle path 
and Class 2 bicycle lanes would be added in several locations, and 
extensive improvements to pedestrian trails would be implemented. A new 
bicycle/pedestrian trail would be constructed to provide a separate 
facility connecting Fort Baker to the bike lanes at Barry-Baker tunnel 
and the Marin Headlands. Rodeo Valley Trail would be widened with a 
hardened surface between Capehart Housing and Bunker Road at Rodeo 
Lagoon to provide a Class 1 bicycle path and hiking trail. The Coastal 
Trail would be rerouted from its current interior Rodeo Valley 
alignment to a more coastal alignment with spectacular views.
     Transit Services: Existing transit services in the MH/FB 
area would be expanded to improve access to and within these areas. The 
goal of improved transit service would be to provide transit access 
seven days a week by expanding MUNI and Golden Gate Transit service on 
existing routes, and by implementing additional park shuttle service.
     Car-Free Days and Special Events: A car-free days program 
would be implemented on selected days on a trial basis--upon review of 
the program, the NPS may adjust the number of car-free days or the 
implementation times and operations. This program would allow visitors 
to experience the area with minimal vehicular traffic and would 
encourage visitors to use alternative modes of transportation to access 
and travel within GGNRA.
     Natural Resource Protection: Improvements designed to 
protect natural resources include: restoring the wetland community at 
the unpaved parking lot at Rodeo Beach; repair and restore gullies that 
have formed due to past poor drainage along Conzelman roadway; and 
remove fill and restore wetlands along Rodeo Lagoon/Lake along selected 
portions of Smith and Bunker Roads.
    Changes Between Draft EIS and Final Eis: Several changes were made 
to the analysis following release of the Draft

[[Page 12376]]

EIS. Modifications included in the FEIS consist mostly of simple text 
revisions and technical edits. There are also both extensive text 
revisions to more clearly explain proposed actions or environmental 
impacts analysis, and minor changes to actions proposed in the agency-
preferred alternative. The text edit changes were mostly a result of 
public comment on the Draft EIS. Chapter 6 of the FEIS summarizes the 
public comments and responds to the comments both within the chapter 
and in other chapters where appropriate. Some text was added that 
provided additional analysis. This additional analysis was mostly 
focused on two proposals within the analysis: the wetland restoration 
at the unpaved parking lot, and the Mission blue butterfly habitat 
compensation planned at Hawk Hill.
    Project proposal changes included in Alternative 3 are as follows:
     Rodeo Valley Connector Trail: Cyclists would be allowed on 
the trail between Conzelman Road north to Bunker Road. The trail starts 
east of Battery Rathbone-McIndoe on Conzelman Road, connecting to 
Bunker Road east of the riding stables; there would be multi-use by 
permit pedestrians, equestrians, and bicycles.
     Slacker Hill Trail: The existing trail from the top of 
Slacker Hill to the launch site would be downgraded from a road to a 
trail, providing access to the launch site for hikers and equestrians 
only. Access to the east side of the launch site would be maintained 
for its views of the bay and city.
     Hawk Hill Parking on Conzelman Road: In preparing the 
FEIS, the planning team observed parking utilization at Hawk Hill in 
the fall of 2007. These observations showed that demand for the parking 
spaces exceeds 25 spaces for week-end peak and shoulder seasons. 
Therefore, Alternative 3 now includes a revised parking configuration 
at Hawk Hill, which is a modified version of the parking configuration 
provided in Alternative 4 (the same proposal is common to both 
alternatives).
     Smith Road Parking: The proposed parking area at Smith 
Road has been revised to mostly avoid the riparian area to the east. 
Under Alternative 3, Smith Road has been reduced in size and realigned 
to the south, moving it farther from Rodeo Creek and the riparian area 
along the creek.
     East Road and Bay Trail: Additional width will be provided 
where possible in the shoulder area for bicyclists, providing a balance 
between protecting the resources and improving bicyclists' safety and 
experience. The refined design includes 11-foot travel lanes in each 
direction and widened shoulders where practicable.
    Scoping and Public Involvement: The Notice of Intent to prepare an 
EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2002. Early in 
the EIS scoping phase three public meetings were hosted in San 
Francisco, Marin City, and Oakland. The San Francisco meeting occurred 
on March 26, 2002 during a meeting of the park's Advisory Committee 
(approximately ten members of the public attended the meeting). The 
Marin City meeting occurred on April 10, 2002 at the Manzanita 
Community Center in Marin City (approximately 20 members of the public 
attended). The Oakland meeting occurred on April 11, 2002 at the 
Metropolitan Transportation Commission Auditorium in Oakland. Three 
members of the public attended, along with several agency staff 
members. In addition GGNRA held two Alternatives Refinement Workshops 
for the public. The primary goal of these meetings was to solicit 
public input on the four preliminary alternatives. The meetings were 
held on November 19, 2002 at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley 
(approximately 11 community members attended) and on November 26, 2002 
at GGNRA Headquarters in San Francisco (approximately 15 community 
members attended). GGNRA staff prepared and distributed announcements 
of the meetings to 2,000 individuals and organizations (and these were 
also distributed at Marin Headlands Visitor Center and posted widely on 
bulletin boards in Marin County). Summaries of the comments received at 
each workshop and written comments from the public were documented in a 
2003 memorandum titled ``Summary of November 2002 Alternatives 
Refinements Workshops''. Workshop comments were used to further refine 
the alternatives and identify the main issues to be addressed in 
finalizing the alternatives to be presented in the Draft EIS. The park 
also hosted a public forum March 14, 2003 to review initial findings of 
the Fort Baker Cultural Landscape Report and Marin Headlands/Fort Baker 
Historic Roads Characterization Study (two members of the public 
attended). The most recent public outreach efforts included presenting 
project alternatives at the last four of the park's quarterly public 
meetings beginning with the May 16, 2006 meeting at the Mill Valley 
Community Center. Regular posting of information updates occurs on the 
park's Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga).
    The park's Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published 
in the Federal Register on June 12, 2007 (the 60-day public review 
period was formally initiated June 8, 2007 when the EPA notice of 
filing appeared in the Federal Register); public comment was accepted 
through August 13, 2007. In an effort to solicit public awareness an 
extensive public notification effort was done for the release of the 
Draft EIS, including letters, post cards mailers, newspaper public 
notices, and posting on the park's Web site. A public meeting was held 
in Sausalito, CA on July 18, 2007 where the park hosted an open house 
and answered questions from the public. The public meeting was attended 
by approximate 80 people and was covered by San Francisco local 
television KTVU. Several media (radio, television, newspapers) reported 
on the project during the public review and comment period. Public 
correspondence was accepted electronically and via fax or letter; a 
total of 321 correspondences were received on the Draft EIS.
    Approval Process: The National Park Service will prepare a Record 
of Decision no sooner than 30 days following EPA's notice of filing of 
the FEIS in the Federal Register. The document is available for public 
inspection as follows: at the Office of the Superintendent (Bldg. 201 
Fort Mason, San Francisco, California), and at local public libraries 
(Marin County Free Library, Mill Valley, Point Reyes, and Sausalito). 
An electronic version may be accessed at http://parkplanning.np.gov/goga. Copies may also be obtained by contacting Mr. Steve Ortega, (415) 
561-2841 or [email protected]. As a delegated EIS, the official 
responsible for approval of the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker 
Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible 
for implementing the final plan would be the Superintendent, Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area.

    Dated: December 11, 2008.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on Thursday, March 19, 2009.

[FR Doc. E9-6414 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FN-P