[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32667-32668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13398]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-0411-10061; 8140-P122-579]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for 
Alcatraz Ferry Embarkation Site, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 
San Francisco and Marin Counties, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for Alcatraz Ferry Embarkation Site.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and pursuant to the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-08), the 
National Park Service (NPS) is initiating the conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process for the proposed establishment of 
a long-term ferry embarkation site for passenger ferry service between 
the northern San Francisco waterfront and Alcatraz Island. In addition 
to considering the Alcatraz Ferry Embarkation site, the Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will also evaluate potential for a secondary 
ferry transit service offering a cross-bay connection from the San 
Francisco embarkation site to Sausalito and/or Fort Baker. NPS is the 
lead federal agency for the environmental review under NEPA, and is 
developing the project in coordination with the Port of San Francisco 
(Port) and City and County of San Francisco (City) planning and 
transportation agencies.
    As set forth in 36 CFR 800.8(c), the NPS is also using the NEPA 
process to fulfill certain provisions of Sec.  106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act related to consultation and public 
involvement. In addition, the NPS has requested that the Port and the 
City be cooperating agencies for the EIS. In the event that a site on 
Port property is identified as the preferred alternative, environmental 
review of the project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality 
Act (CEQA) would be required, and would be initiated at a later date.

DATES: All scoping comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later 
than July 31, 2012.
    Background: Alcatraz Island, the site of pre-Civil War 
fortifications, was the nation's first military prison. It later became 
the most notorious maximum security penitentiary in the United States, 
and subsequently was the site of the occupation that helped ignite the 
movement for American Indian self-determination. Over 1.4 million 
people visit Alcatraz Island annually from the existing ferry 
embarkation site at Pier 31\1/2\ in San Francisco, managed by Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The Alcatraz Ferry Embarkation 
EIS will build upon several studies completed by NPS, the Port, the 
City, the State of California, and the California Water Emergency 
Transportation Authority (WETA; formerly the Water Transit Authority).
    A 2011 draft feasibility study identified potential sites for 
consideration located among GGNRA, Fisherman's Wharf, and the northern 
Embarcadero. The sites studied included Port piers 19\1/2\, 29\1/2\, 
31\1/2\, 41, and 45, and GGNRA piers 1, 2, 3, and 4 at Fort Mason. If 
suggested during scoping, other sites that meet the project purpose and 
need could also be considered. The draft feasibility study and 
subsequent investigations also analyzed the surrounding area, 
identified the programs and facilities needed to operate the sites, 
existing conditions at the sites, and criteria to evaluate the sites.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS seeks to secure a site on the 
northern San Francisco waterfront that provides for a long-term (50 
years or more) orientation and ferry embarkation facility for visitors 
to Alcatraz Island. NPS desires an identifiable, adequate, and quality 
visitor welcome and support area that begins to connect visitors to 
Alcatraz history, GGNRA, and the national park system. The NPS also 
seeks to establish ferry connections between the embarkation site and 
existing piers at Sausalito and/or at Fort Baker, which is managed by 
GGNRA.
    The need for the project is driven by the following factors:
     Alcatraz ferry service is currently subject to location 
changes every 10 years which has led to visitor confusion, community 
concerns, and inconsistency in visitor support services.
     Ability to make improvements at the existing site is 
constrained by lease provisions between the Port and the concessioner, 
with substantial amounts of revenue spent on rent, reducing the amount 
available to invest on Alcatraz and other GGNRA sites.
     The condition of existing facilities constrains and 
negatively affects NPS and the concessioners' abilities to create a 
recognizable identity and quality visitor experience.
     The current facility has insufficient space to 
appropriately orient visitors to Alcatraz or provide information to the 
many visitors who are unable to visit Alcatraz.
     There is very limited opportunity to provide cross-bay 
ferry service to other GGNRA areas.
    The objectives for this project include creating a ferry 
embarkation site that:
     Establishes a long-term (50 years or more) primary 
location for visitor access to Alcatraz Island.
     Is economically feasible and sustainable, and generates 
revenue for investment on Alcatraz and other park facilities and 
visitor programs.
     Accommodates critical visitor and operational programs and 
facilities, and provides for efficient land and vessel operations.
     Provides an identifiable area for quality welcome, 
orientation, and interpretation of the natural, cultural, scenic and 
recreational resources of Alcatraz, the larger GGNRA, and the national 
park system.
     Provides facilities for cross-bay ferry service to 
accommodate existing and future visitor demand for travel to Alcatraz 
Island, Muir Woods, and the Marin Headlands.
    Public Scoping Comments and Further Information: This notice serves 
to formally open the agency and public scoping comment phase for this 
EIS. Key impact topics which are expected to be addressed in the EIS 
include transportation, visitor experience, aesthetics, economics, 
cultural resources, natural resources, and air quality--however, 
agencies, members of the public, and interested organizations are 
encouraged to provide any comments on the spectrum of issues and 
concerns that should be addressed. Respondents will also assist with 
defining a suitable range of alternatives; advise on the nature and 
extent of potential environmental impacts, including natural, cultural, 
socioeconomic and other topics; and suggest possible mitigation 
strategies that would reduce potential impacts from project 
development.
    Several public scoping meetings will be scheduled in San Francisco 
and Marin Counties. Meeting dates, times, and locations will be 
publicized through local and regional news media, by email to the park 
mailing list (to be included on the EIS email list, please visit: 
www.nps.gov/goga and click the ``Join the Mailing List'' link), and via 
the project Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ALCAembarkation. This 
Web site will also provide relevant information, including the project 
description, planning process updates, meeting notices, reports and 
documents, and useful links associated with the project. You may also 
contact the

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GGNRA Planning Division at [email protected] or (415) 561-4700 for 
further information.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed to the following address: 
Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Attn: Alcatraz 
Ferry Embarkation EIS, Fort Mason, Bldg. 201, San Francisco, CA 94123. 
Before including your address, phone number, email 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: At this time, it is anticipated that the Draft 
EIS will be available for public review in mid-2013. Availability of 
the document for review will be announced by the publication of a 
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, through local and 
regional news media, via the project Web site, and by email to project 
email recipients. Additional public meetings will be held after the 
Draft EIS is distributed to provide further opportunities to comment on 
the proposed project. Following due consideration of all comments 
received on the Draft EIS, preparation of the Final EIS is anticipated 
to be completed in 2014. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible 
for the final decision regarding the proposed ferry embarkation site is 
the NPS Regional Director, Pacific West Region. Subsequently, the 
official responsible for implementation will be the GGNRA 
Superintendent.

    Dated: April 6, 2012.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-13398 Filed 5-31-12; 8:45 am]
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