[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33237-33239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13612]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-0411-10063; 2310-0085-422]


Saline Valley Warm Springs Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Saline Valley Warm Springs Management Plan, Death Valley 
National Park.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) is 
initiating the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis 
process for the Saline Valley Warm Springs Management Plan for Death 
Valley

[[Page 33238]]

National Park. This effort will result in a plan that provides a sound 
basis for guiding management actions within the Saline Valley Warms 
Springs area of Death Valley National Park, based upon evaluation of a 
range of reasonable alternatives regarding recreational use and tribal 
interests. The plan would fulfill this need and complete the park's 
broad-level management objectives for this area, as called for in the 
2001 General Management Plan (GMP).

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 
August 6, 2012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the EIS process, the NPS will 
evaluate different approaches for managing the Saline Valley Warm 
Springs area to determine the potential impacts on visitor access, 
asset management, water resources, biological and cultural resources, 
human health and safety, aesthetics, visitor experience, wilderness 
character, and other stewardship considerations. Alternatives to be 
considered include no-action and reasonable action alternatives, such 
as establishing designated camping areas, limiting further development 
of the springs, restoration or partial restoration of the springs, and 
either closure or authorization of the nearby airstrip.
    Saline Valley is a large desert valley located in the northwest 
portion of Death Valley National Park. Despite the variety of resources 
within this remote area, many people associate Saline Valley only with 
Warm Springs. Since the 1940s, impromptu developments were 
incrementally added to the area, particularly at Lower Warm Spring. 
Over the years, the soaking pools became ``clothing optional'' sites. 
Warm Springs and the rest of Saline Valley were transferred to Death 
Valley National Park from the Bureau of Land Management with the 
passage of the California Desert Protection Act in 1994. Under NPS 
management, efforts have been made to enforce measures to reduce 
impacts on certain resources, manage or remove non-native species, and 
discontinue use of unimproved airstrips.
    In the late 1990s, preliminary scoping meetings for the draft GMP 
attempted to establish a vision for more direct management and 
oversight of the Saline Valley Warm Springs area. This became 
controversial because many visitors wanted a less regulatory approach 
for accommodating bathers and campers at Warm Springs. However, the 
Warm Springs possess religious, historical, and spiritual significance 
for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. In addition, the Timbisha Shoshone 
Homeland Act of 2000 mandates that the park and the tribe ensure that 
certain park resources and values are protected by partnerships between 
the NPS and the Tribe. As a consequence of conflicting perceptions and 
values, park staff decided to remove site-specific details from the GMP 
and instead develop a separate plan specifically focused on the Saline 
Valley Warm Springs area in order to adequately address the Timbisha's 
concerns.
    For this EIS the Warm Springs area of Saline Valley is defined as 
an approximately 100 acre tract of non-wilderness surrounded by 
backcountry and designated Wilderness. The park is currently preparing 
a separate Backcountry and Wilderness Stewardship Plan (Wilderness 
Plan) and Environmental Assessment that will provide a framework for 
managing lands and resources surrounding Warm Springs. The Saline 
Valley Warm Springs Management Plan will be prepared separately in 
order to concentrate on the issues specific to the Warm Springs, but in 
coordination with the Wilderness Plan so as not to conflict with the 
values and desired conditions set forth in that plan.
    Scoping Process: This notice formally initiates the public scoping 
comment phase necessary for informing preparation of the Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). Early public comment will be elicited regarding 
issues and concerns, the nature and extent of potential environmental 
impacts (and as appropriate, mitigation measures), and alternatives 
that should be addressed in preparing the Draft EIS. The NPS welcomes 
information and suggestions from the public regarding resource 
protection, visitor use, and land management. A scoping brochure has 
been prepared that details the issues identified to date; copies of the 
brochure as well as current information about the EIS effort may be 
obtained from Mike Cipra at Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, 
Death Valley, CA 92328 (760) 786-3227.
    During the scoping phase any person desiring to comment on any 
issues associated with the plan, or wishing to provide relevant 
environmental information, may use any one of several methods. If you 
wish to comment electronically, you may submit your comments via email 
to [email protected] or online via the NPS Planning, Environment 
and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site by visiting http://parkplanning.nps.gov/SalineValleyWarmSprings. If it is more convenient, 
or if you lack access to a computer, you can hand-deliver or mail your 
written comments to: Superintendent, Death Valley National Park, Attn: 
Saline Valley Warm Springs Management Plan, Death Valley National Park, 
P.O. Box 579, Death Valley, California 92328.
    At this time, it is expected that several public meetings will be 
held in towns near the park during the week of June 10-16, 2012: 
Bishop, Ridgecrest, and Victorville, California. Confirmed details 
regarding these meetings will be posted on the project Web site (noted 
above) and will be announced in the local press; details may also be 
obtained by contacting the park directly. These meetings will provide 
current information, and provide an opportunity to ask questions, 
comment on issues, and suggest potential alternatives to be addressed 
in developing the Draft EIS; written comments will also be accepted. 
The project Web site will provide the most up-to-date information 
regarding the project, including project description, EIS process 
updates, meeting notices, reports and documents, and useful links 
associated with the project.
    Comments will not be accepted by fax or in any other way than those 
specified above. Comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) 
submitted by an individual or organization on behalf of another 
individual or organization will not be accepted.
    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: Following the scoping phase and consideration of 
public concerns and comments from agencies, a Draft EIS will be 
prepared and released for public review. Availability will be announced 
through the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register, as well as through local and regional news media, direct 
mailing to the project mailing list, and via the Project Web site. 
Following due consideration of all agency and public comments on the 
Draft EIS, a Final EIS will be prepared and its availability for public 
review will be similarly announced. Not sooner than 30 days after 
release of the Final EIS, a Record of Decision will be prepared. As a 
delegated EIS, the official responsible for final approval of the 
Saline Valley Warm Springs

[[Page 33239]]

Management Plan is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region. 
Subsequently the official responsible for implementation of the 
approved plan would be the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park.

    Dated: March 22, 2012.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-13612 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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