[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28055-28056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11955]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


General Management Plan; Joshua Tree National Park; San 
Bernardino and Riverside Counties, CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(C), the National Park Service is updating the General 
Management Plan (GMP) for Joshua Tree National Park, California. The 
new GMP will update the overall direction for the park approved in 
1995, refining goals and objectives for managing the park over the next 
15 to 20 years. The GMP will prescribe desired resource conditions and 
visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained throughout 
the park based on such factors as the park's purpose, significance, 
special mandates and the body of laws and policies directing park 
management and resource analysis, other designations such as 
establishment of 594,502 acres by Congress as Wilderness, and the 
spectrum of public expectations and concerns. The GMP also will outline 
the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, and 
developments that would be appropriate and sustainable in the park in 
the future.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A range of reasonable alternatives for 
managing the park will be developed by the National Park Service (NPS) 
through this conservation planning and environmental impact analysis 
process, and which will include, at a minimum, no-action and agency-
preferred alternatives. Major issues the GMP will address include 
changes in visitor use patterns, adequacy and sustainability of 
existing visitor facilities and park operations, management of natural 
and cultural resources, collaboration and partnership opportunities, 
Wilderness stewardship goals, evaluation of park boundaries, and pro-
active planning in response to climate change. The environmental impact 
statement (EIS) will evaluate the potential environmental consequences 
of the

[[Page 28056]]

alternative management approaches and identify all possible measures to 
avoid or minimize harm; an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative 
will also be identified.
    Early in this scoping period the NPS will distribute a GMP 
newsletter to neighboring communities, state and federal agencies, 
associated American Indian tribes, County commissioners, local 
organizations, researchers and institutions, the Congressional 
delegation, and other interested members of the public. In addition, 
five public scoping meetings will be hosted during May 17-21, 2010, to 
provide opportunities for interested persons to learn about the 
proposed update of the GMP. Specific times and locations will be 
announced in the local and regional media, and details will be included 
in the GMP newsletter and also posted on the project Web site http://www.nps.gov/jotr (details may also be obtained by telephone, as noted 
below).
    Scoping Comments and Dates: General park information requests or 
requests to be added to the GMP mailing list should be directed to 
Karin Messaros, Management Assistant, Joshua Tree National Park, 
Joshua, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 92277. 
Telephone: (706) 367-5512. General information about Joshua Tree 
National Park is also available on the internet at http://www.nps.gov/jotr. If you wish to provide relevant information or suggest any issues 
to be considered in updating the GMP, you may submit your comments by 
any one of several methods: (1) Mail comments to Management Assistant 
Karen Messaros (address as noted above); (2) transmit via the internet 
to [email protected] or http://parkplanning.nps.gov/jotr; (3) 
hand-deliver comments to park headquarters at Joshua Tree National 
Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 92277, or 
deliver at any of the public meetings. All written comments must be 
postmarked or transmitted not later than August 31, 2010. Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, 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.
    Decision Process: Following due consideration of all public and 
agency comments as may be forthcoming; a draft EIS/GMP will be 
prepared. Availability would be announced through the Federal Register 
as well as via direct mailing, Web site postings, and through local and 
regional press media. After an opportunity for public review, a final 
EIS/GMP would be prepared. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible 
for the final decision on the plan update is the Regional Director, 
Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible for 
implementation of the updated GMP would be the Superintendent, Joshua 
Tree National Park.

    Dated: April 5, 2010.
Cicely A. Muldoon,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-11955 Filed 5-18-10; 8:45 am]
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