[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59423-59424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24658]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-0621-7758; 2310-0082-422]


Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special-Use Permit, Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of a 
draft environmental impact statement to consider the Drakes Bay Oyster 
Company Special-use permit in Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National 
Seashore, California.

DATES: We, the National Park Service, will accept all comments on the 
draft environmental impact statement that are submitted or postmarked 
no later than 60 days after the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its notice of filing of the DEIS in the Federal 
Register. We intend to hold public meetings in several San Francisco 
Bay Area locations during the public review period. We will announce 
details regarding the exact times and locations of these meetings on 
the Point Reyes National Seashore Web site, at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/pore (click on the Drakes Bay Oyster Company 
Special-use permit EIS link), and through local and regional media at 
least 15 days in advance of the meetings.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/pore (click on the Drakes Bay 
Oyster Company Special-use permit EIS link) and in the office of the 
Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, 
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956, (415) 464-5162.
    Submit comments on the draft environmental impact statement by any 
one of the following methods:
     Internet: We encourage you to comment via the Internet at 
NPS Web site in the ADDRESSES section.
     Mail: Mail comments to Point Reyes National Seashore, 
ATTN: DBOC SUP DEIS, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956.
     Hand delivery: Deliver comments to the Office of the 
Superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, 
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956.
     Other written: We will accept written comments at the 
public meetings.
    We will not accept comments by fax, e-mail, or in any other way 
than those specified above. We will not accept bulk comments in any 
format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Gunn, Outreach Coordinator, 
Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, 
CA 94956, (415) 464-5131. More information regarding this EIS is also 
available at http://www.nps.gov/pore/parkmgmt/planning_dboc_sup.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Section 124 of Public Law 111-88, the 
Secretary has the authority to issue a special-use permit (SUP) for 10 
years to Drakes Bay Oyster Company (DBOC) for its shellfish operation, 
which consists of commercial production, harvesting, processing, and 
sale of shellfish at Point Reyes National Seashore. The existing 
reservation of use and occupancy (RUO) and associated SUP held by the 
Company will expire on November 30, 2012, and the Company has requested 
a new permit.
    Although the Secretary's authority under Section 124 is 
``notwithstanding any other provision of law,'' it has been determined 
that it would help inform the decision-making process to prepare an EIS 
and otherwise follow National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
procedures. The purpose of the document is to use the NEPA process on 
behalf of the Secretary to engage the public and evaluate the effects 
of issuing a SUP for the commercial shellfish operation. The results of 
the NEPA process will be used to inform the decision of whether a new 
SUP should be issued to Drakes Bay Oyster Company for 10 years.

[[Page 59424]]

Project Objectives

     Manage natural and cultural resources to support their 
protection, restoration, and preservation.
     Manage wilderness and potential wilderness areas to 
preserve the character and qualities for which they were designated.
     Provide opportunities for visitor use and enjoyment of 
park resources.
    The draft environmental impact statement considers four 
alternatives.
    Alternative A. No New Special-Use Permit--Conversion to Wilderness 
(No Action). This alternative considers the expiration of existing RUO 
and SUP, and subsequent conversion of the area to Wilderness consistent 
with Public Law 94-567. The existing SUP and RUO expire on November 30, 
2012. The Secretary would not exercise the discretion granted to him 
under Section 124 of Public Law 111-88 to issue a new 10-year SUP. Upon 
removal of the non-conforming structures and uses from Drakes Estero, 
NPS would convert the area from potential wilderness to wilderness.
    Alternative B. Issue New Special-Use Permit--Existing Onshore 
Facilities and Infrastructure and Offshore Operations Would Be Allowed 
for a Period of 10 Years. This alternative considers a level of use 
consistent with conditions that were present in fall 2010 when NPS 
initiated evaluation under the environmental impact statement. The 
existing SUP and RUO expire on November 30, 2012. The Secretary would 
exercise the discretion granted to him under Section 124 to issue to 
DBOC a new 10-year SUP, expiring November 30, 2022.
    Alternative C. Issue new special-use permit--onshore facilities and 
infrastructure and offshore operations present in 2008 would be allowed 
for a period of 10 years. This alternative considers a level of use 
that is consistent with the conditions and operations that existed when 
the current SUP was signed in April 2008. The existing SUP and RUO 
expire on November 30, 2012. The Secretary would exercise the 
discretion granted to him under Section 124 to issue to DBOC a new 10-
year SUP, expiring November 30, 2022.
    Alternative D. Issue New Special-Use Permit--Expanded Onshore 
Development and Offshore Operations Would Be Allowed for a Period of 10 
Years. This alternative considers expansion of operations and 
development of new infrastructure consistent with the permittee's 
requests submitted for consideration as part of this EIS process. The 
existing SUP and RUO would expire on November 30, 2012. The Secretary 
would exercise the discretion granted to him under Section 124 to issue 
a new 10-year special use permit to DBOC, expiring November 30, 2022.

George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-24658 Filed 9-23-11; 8:45 am]
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