[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61631-61632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24924]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-10631; 9475-0764-422]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Stehekin River Corridor 
Implementation Plan, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, North 
Cascades National Park Service Complex, Chelan County, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan, Lake Chelan 
National Recreation Area.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal 
Highway Administration, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan 
(SRCIP) and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area Land Protection Plan 
(LPP). The SRCIP/FEIS identifies and analyzes five alternatives for 
sustainable management of park facilities (e.g., roads, bridges, 
trails, maintenance yard) in response to increased flooding and erosion 
issues in the lower Stehekin River watershed. When approved, the SCRIP 
will implement several actions called for in the 1995 General 
Management Plan (GMP), including removal of park maintenance and 
residential facilities from floodplain areas, construction of 
recreational facilities and relocation of segments of the primary 
eastern access road to the adjoining North Cascades National Park, and 
protection of water quality and scenery along the lower Stehekin River. 
The updated Lake Chelan National Recreation Area LPP revises 
acquisition priorities and is intended to accommodate willing sellers 
of threatened private property.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Recent major floods and resultant channel 
changes on the lower Stehekin River have intensified flood and erosion 
threats to NPS facilities and are impacting natural resources within 
Lake Chelan NRA. The three largest recorded Stehekin River floods have 
occurred within the past 16 years, and in response, the NPS has spent 
more than $3 million to protect public roads and facilities and to 
repair flood damage. Roads, visitor facilities and private development 
once thought to be safe from the river are now threatened.
    Because of the current impacts and future risks associated with 
these unprecedented conditions, the primary purposes of the actions 
proposed within the SRCIP are to: (1) Sustainably operate and maintain 
NPS administrative facilities, public access (roads and trails), and 
campgrounds; (2) protect water quality, scenic values, habitat, and 
natural processes of the Stehekin River; and (3) partner with the 
Stehekin Community to provide services, facilities and experiences for 
visitors. The SRCIP is needed to (1) respond to the increased magnitude 
and frequency of flooding, (2) implement and clarify 1995 GMP guidance, 
(3) sustain public facilities while protecting natural resources, (4) 
manage limited funding, and to (5) respond to private landowners.
    The SRCIP/FEIS describes and analyzes five management alternatives, 
including continuation of current management actions. This includes a 
new Alternative 5, which is derived from modifications to Alternative 2 
as presented in the Draft EIS (which evaluated four alternatives), 
based on responses to public comments. All five alternatives have in 
common certain actions previously identified in the 1995 GMP, including 
relocation of the NPS maintenance area and some housing out of the 
channel migration zone; resurfacing of the road from Stehekin Landing 
to Milepost 9.2 (just above Stehekin Valley Ranch), including paving 
from Harlequin Bridge to Milepost 9.2; and construction of the Lower 
Valley Trail. Alternatives 2-5 would also add new campsites at 
different locations to supplement sites at Harlequin Bridge that are 
seasonally flooded.
    Alternative 1 (continue current management) and Alternative 4 would 
retain the Stehekin Valley Road access through McGregor Meadows. To 
protect the road from flood damage and to provide access to private 
residences, about 5,600 cubic yards of fill would be placed in the 
floodplain. Under both alternatives, new rock structures (barbs) could 
be placed along the river.
    Alternatives 2 and 3 would relocate 1.9 and 1.75 miles, 
respectively, of the Stehekin Valley Road from the floodplain in 
McGregor Meadows, while retaining private access to the area via a 
0.75-mile-long reduced maintenance road. Alternatives 2, 3 and 5 differ 
in where the reroute rejoins to the existing road, with the Alternative 
2 and 5 alignments outside of the channel

[[Page 61632]]

migration zone and Alternative 3 partially within it near the Lower 
Field. Because of the reroute, implementation of Alternatives 2 or 5 
would close the shooting range near the Lower Field. Alternatives 2, 3 
and 5 would install roughly half as many rock structures (barbs) 
compared to Alternatives 1 and 4.
    Alternatives 2-5 would revise the Lake Chelan NRA Land Protection 
Plan. Alternatives 2, 3 and 5 would focus more on exchange and 
acquisition of properties threatened by the river (provided there are 
willing sellers), and would cluster future development in areas outside 
of the channel migration zone. The 1995 LPP placed a higher value on 
scenic resources along the Stehekin Valley Road. In Alternative 4, less 
emphasis would be placed on exchange and acquisition priorities in the 
floodplain, and therefore far fewer private parcels would be high 
priority for purchase or exchange. Alternative 5 focuses on exchange/
acquisition in the most vulnerable areas threatened by the river and 
introduces two new criteria for prioritizing potential exchange/
acquisition lands, including scenic resources and threats within debris 
flow hazard zones.
    Decision Process: Not sooner than 30 days from the date of 
publication in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection 
Agency of its notice of filing of the Final EIS, a Record of Decision 
for the selected SRCIP alternative will be prepared. Because this is a 
delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final decision is the 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official 
responsible for implementation of the approved Stehekin River Corridor 
Implementation Plan is the Superintendent, North Cascades National Park 
Service Complex.

    Dated: September 26, 2012.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-24924 Filed 10-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-T6-P