[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26730-26731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12726]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Yosemite Institute 
Environmental Education Campus; Yosemite National Park; Mariposa and 
Tuolumne Counties, California; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), has prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) identifying and 
evaluating three alternatives for managing the Yosemite Institute 
Environmental Education Campus in Yosemite National Park, California. 
The Draft EIS for the proposed Environmental Education Campus 
identifies and analyzes two ``action'' alternatives and a ``no-action'' 
alternative. The full spectrum of foreseeable environmental 
consequences are assessed and suitable mitigation strategies are 
considered; an ``environmentally preferred'' course of action is also 
identified. Concurrently completion of the EIS process will fulfill the 
public review requirements of Sec.  106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act.
    Range of Alternatives: Under the ``no-action'' alternative 
(Alternative 1), there would be no change in the management direction, 
program, location, or conditions at the Crane Flat campus. Necessary 
maintenance and repairs would continue, but no major rehabilitation of 
facilities, construction of buildings, or improvements to utilities 
would occur. There would be no change in size of facilities--the number 
of student and staff beds (76 and 8, respectively) would remain the 
same. The overall number of students in the park per session would 
remain the same (361 students), with the majority of students in 
commercial lodging in Yosemite Valley.
    Under both ``action'' alternatives, new energy-efficient, 
sustainable facilities would be constructed to accommodate more 
students on campus, rather than using additional commercial lodging in 
Yosemite Valley. These improvements would provide a safer environment 
and provide more opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to 
participate in the program. All facilities would achieve fire, health, 
safety and accessibility standards.
    Under Alternative 2, the Crane Flat campus would be redeveloped, 
doubling its capacity (to 154 students, 14 staff), and greatly reducing 
reliance upon commercial lodging in Yosemite Valley. Most campus 
buildings would be removed and replaced. Historic structures on the 
campus would be retained, and some new facilities would be constructed. 
Utilities would be upgraded to conserve water, meet additional 
capacity, and achieve health, safety, and accessibility standards. The 
new campus would be reconstructed largely in its existing location 
(shifting the campus cabins upslope, away from a sensitive meadow). 
Under Alternative 3 (agency-preferred), a new campus would be located 
at Henness Ridge. New facilities would be constructed to accommodate 
224 students and 20 staff and to meet park operational needs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping was initiated in 2002; the 
park conducted two public meetings on June 26 and June 29, 2002 at the 
East Auditorium in Yosemite Valley. A Notice of Intent to prepare a 
Draft EIS for the ``Crane Flat Environmental Education Campus 
Redevelopment'' published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2002 
established a 45-day scoping period (comments were accepted through 
November 14, 2002). During the scoping period, NPS held discussions and 
briefings with: tribes, park staff, elected officials, public service 
organizations, and other interested members of the public. The feedback 
received helped broaden the range of alternatives to include 
consideration of additional sites for the campus; a Scoping Summary is 
available and may be obtained by contacting the park as noted below.
    Copies of the Draft EIS will be distributed to the general public, 
sent directly to those who have requested it, as well as to 
congressional delegations, state and local elected officials, federal 
agencies, tribes, organizations, local businesses, public libraries, 
and the news media. Reference copies will be available at park 
headquarters in Yosemite Valley, the Office of Environmental Planning 
and Compliance at the NPS Maintenance Complex in El Portal, and at 
local and regional libraries in El Portal, Mariposa, Oakhurst, Sonora, 
San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The complete document will be posted on 
the Yosemite National Park Web page at http:/www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/planning.htm. Additional copies can be requested by contacting the park 
through one of the methods listed below. Public meetings and project 
site visits will be scheduled during the public review period; details 
regarding specific dates, locations and time will be posted on the 
park's planning Web page (address above) and announced via local and 
regional news media.
    Review and Comment: All written comments must be postmarked or 
transmitted not later than July 15, 2009 (this information will also be 
posted on the project Web site and announced via local and regional 
media). All comments received will become available for public review 
in the park's planning and compliance office. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All comments should be 
addressed to the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, and may be 
mailed to Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Environmental 
Education Campus DEIS, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, California 95389 
(comments may also be sent by facsimile to (209) 379-1294, Attn: 
Environmental Planning and Compliance, YIEEC; or transmitted 
electronically to [email protected] with YIEEC typed in the 
subject line).
    Decision Process: All comments as may be received on the draft EIS 
will be analyzed and fully considered in preparing the Final EIS, which 
is anticipated to be available for public release in Fall-Winter 2009. 
Availability of the Final EIS will be announced in the Federal Register 
and via local and regional press media and direct mailings. Following a 
minimum 30-day waiting period, a Record of Decision will be prepared 
and notice of approval similarly published in the Federal Register. As 
a delegated EIS, the official responsible for approval of the project 
is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the 
official responsible for project implementation would be the 
Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.


[[Page 26731]]


    Dated: February 11, 2009.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on May 28, 2009.
[FR Doc. E9-12726 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
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