[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5490-5492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01464]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-10629; PX.P0131800B.00.1]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Tuolumne Wild and Scenic 
River Comprehensive Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera, 
Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne Counties, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2) (C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the National 
Park Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the proposed Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 
Management Plan (TRPCMP). The TRPCMP/DEIS addresses requirements of the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Pub. L. 90-542, as amended) (WSRA), and 
will provide long-term guidance for management of the 54 miles of the 
Tuolumne River that flows through Yosemite National Park. The DEIS 
evaluates potential environmental consequences of implementing a range 
of alternatives, including a no-action (continue with current 
management) alternative and five action alternatives. Both the agency-
preferred and environmentally preferred alternatives are identified.
    The purpose of the TRPCMP is to guide the park in protecting the 
river's free-flowing character and the values that make it worthy of 
designation by (1) reviewing and updating river corridor boundaries and 
segment classifications, (2) prescribing a process for the protection 
of the river's free-flowing condition, (3) identifying and documenting 
the condition of the river's outstandingly remarkable values, (4) 
establishing management objectives for river values and a monitoring 
program for ensuring the objectives are met, (5) identifying management 
actions needed to protect and enhance river values, and (6) defining 
visitor use and user capacity for the river corridor. Portions of the 
1980 Yosemite General Management Plan (GMP) addressing management 
inside the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor also will be 
updated; specific GMP amendments are outlined in the DEIS.
    Proposal and Alternatives: Based on a thorough examination of the 
river's baseline conditions, the TRPCMP/DEIS presents a multi-faceted 
approach to river management and stewardship. Because of the WSRA 
mandate to ``protect and enhance'' river values, most of the plan's 
contents are common to all the action alternatives, including (1) all 
WSRA management elements (boundaries, classifications, Sec.  7 
determination process), (2) an ecological restoration program and other 
management actions, (3) a monitoring program, and (3) a user capacity 
management program. As discussed in detail in the DEIS, Alternative 5 
is deemed to be the environmentally preferred course of action.
    Since the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis 
process began in 2005, the TRPCMP/DEIS has been methodically developed 
by park subject-matter experts, with attention to information provided 
by culturally-associated American Indian tribes, gateway communities, 
nonprofit organizations, and interested members of the public. 
Throughout the early conservation planning and environmental impact 
analysis effort, information was sought at over 127 public meetings, 
workshops, and presentations. At these events, the public was invited 
to share ideas that could be used in the development of a range of 
alternatives that would achieve NPS goals, while ensuring 
accessibility, public safety, resource protection, and protection and 
enhancement of river values.
    As noted above, a no-action alternative and five action 
alternatives for managing the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River are 
identified and analyzed. The five action alternatives represent the 
primary themes expressed during public scoping. Potential impacts are 
analyzed and appropriate mitigation measures are assessed for each 
alternative. Per WSRA direction, all of the action alternatives would 
protect and enhance the values for which the Tuolumne was designated, 
including its free-flowing condition, excellent water quality, and 
outstandingly remarkable values. In addition, all action alternatives 
would preserve and sustain

[[Page 5491]]

wilderness character, including natural ecosystem function and 
opportunities for primitive recreation in the more than 90 percent of 
the river corridor that is classified wild per the WSRA (some portions 
are also located in designated wilderness). Differences among the 
alternatives revolve primarily around a range of desired visitor 
experiences, levels of facilities needed to protect and enhance river 
values in Tuolumne Meadows and Glen Aulin, and use levels throughout 
the river corridor. The scenic segment below O'Shaughnessy Dam and the 
Tioga Road corridor east of Tuolumne Meadows would be managed the same 
under all the action alternatives in a manner that is protective of 
river values.
    The guidance for those segments of the river classified as wild 
(which are also part of congressionally designated wilderness) are 
similar under all the alternatives, although differences in visitor use 
management are identified and assessed. All alternatives accommodate 
traditional cultural practices by American Indian tribes. Numeric user 
capacities differ among the alternatives, based on the types of visitor 
experiences, levels of facilities needed to protect river values, and 
actions taken to achieve the various objectives. Day and overnight 
capacities for the entire river corridor--and the actions required to 
manage to proposed capacities--are considered for all alternatives.
    No Action Alternative. Continuing current management and trends 
would result in additional localized impacts associated with roadside 
parking in Tuolumne Meadows and facilities located in sensitive 
riverine locations.
    Common to Action Alternatives. In response to public comments and 
in keeping with findings related to baseline conditions, all action 
alternatives call for an ecological restoration program, elimination of 
roadside parking in Tuolumne Meadows with slight expansion of existing 
parking areas, elimination of social trails in meadows and riparian 
areas, removal of concessioner housing from sensitive areas, relocation 
of the Cathedral Lakes trailhead to the current visitor center 
location, retention of the Tuolumne Meadows campground, and either no 
expansion or a reduction of overnight lodging.
    Alternative 1. Alternative 1 responds to those members of the 
public who advocated emphasis on primitive and self-reliant experiences 
in the river corridor while providing a wilderness staging area and a 
focal point for High Sierra interpretation and education at Tuolumne 
Meadows. Subalpine meadow and riparian areas would be protected from 
visitor-related impacts by restoring informal trails, mitigating the 
hydrologic impacts caused by historic trail segments, and eliminating 
all facilities except trails and roads from meadow and riparian areas. 
Most amenities and commercial services would be discontinued at 
Tuolumne Meadows, including the store and grill, gas station, Tuolumne 
Meadows Lodge, and trail rides. The Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would 
be removed and the area restored to natural conditions. Overall, use 
levels in the river corridor would be the lowest in the range of 
alternatives considered.
    Alternative 2. Alternative 2 responds to those members of the 
public who voiced a desire for a greater diversity of day use 
opportunities (including limited kayaking, by permit) and a modest 
increase in campground capacity, while retaining the rustic lodges at 
Tuolumne Meadows and Glen Aulin. This alternative would facilitate 
resource enjoyment and stewardship by a broad spectrum of visitors, 
including people discovering the area for the first time, by 
encouraging short interpretive walks and picnicking. To facilitate 
these connections, a picnic and parking area would be located across 
from the Parsons Lodge trailhead on Tioga Road. The visitor center and 
other core visitor services would be co-located at the site of the 
existing Tuolumne Meadows store. Overall, use levels in the river 
corridor would be the highest in the range of alternatives considered, 
and river values would be protected by directing visitors to those 
areas most able to withstand use.
    Alternative 3. Alternative 3 responds to those members of the 
public who desired a Tuolumne experience largely the same as today, 
while facilitating the changes needed to protect and enhance river 
values. Alternative 3 would emphasize the historic character of 
Tuolumne, while providing opportunities for visitors to connect with 
the river through its historic landscape character and traditional, 
unconfined experiences. Wilderness-oriented recreational opportunities 
would be encouraged and river-related systems would be sustained by 
natural ecological processes. Most facilities at Tuolumne Meadows would 
remain in their dispersed locations, however some may be relocated to 
protect sensitive areas. Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would remain at a 
slightly reduced capacity. Overall, use levels would fall within the 
middle of the range of alternatives considered.
    Alternative 4. Alternative 4 responds to those members of the 
public who wanted visitor activities and amenities to be secondary to 
protecting and enhancing the integrity and connectivity of river-
related ecological communities, particularly at Tuolumne Meadows. The 
rustic lodge at Tuolumne Meadows would be reduced to half its current 
capacity and other commercial services would be eliminated, including 
the gas station and commercial day rides. Facilities and like functions 
at Tuolumne Meadows would be consolidated and visitor experiences would 
be facilitated in a manner that connects people with the river and 
emphasizes the importance of protecting meadow and riparian ecosystems. 
Capacity at the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would be reduced. Overall, 
use levels would fall within the middle of the range of alternatives 
considered, and management of visitor use would be intensive, including 
possible closures to facilitate ecological recovery.
    Alternative 5. Alternative 5 (agency-preferred and environmentally 
preferred) would combine elements from alternatives 2, 3 and 4, to 
balance greater protection of ecological communities while allowing for 
traditional wilderness-oriented visitor experiences. While most visitor 
services would remain, the gas station and concessioner trail rides 
would be eliminated. A small visitor contact station, picnic and 
parking area would be located across from the Parsons Lodge trailhead 
on Tioga Road. Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would be reduced to nearly 
half its current capacity. Overall, use levels would fall within the 
middle of the range of alternatives considered, and management of 
visitor use would be intensive, including possible closures to 
facilitate ecological recovery.
    Since some portions of the DEIS planning area have historic 
structures or are located in designated wilderness, appendices are 
included which address (1) role of 1999 and 2008 programmatic 
agreements between Yosemite NP and the State Historic Preservation 
Office in protecting and managing historic structures, and (2) the 
extent to which commercial services are necessary in wilderness.
    Public Involvement. On July 10, 2006, the Notice of Intent to 
prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register, formally 
initiating a 60-day public scoping period. At that time a letter from 
the Superintendent was sent to over 6,000 interested members of the 
public on the park's Planning Mailing list, soliciting ideas, issues, 
and concerns relating to the scope of this planning effort. Press 
releases were sent to local and regional newspapers

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announcing details of the 60-day public scoping period, including 
information about public meetings. In July and August 2006, a series of 
thirteen public scoping meetings were held; in addition, an on-site 
visit was hosted in Tuolumne Meadows on August 29, 2006. In addition to 
local and regional press media, public meetings were publicized on the 
park's Web site, through emailed notices on the park's electronic 
newsletter, and on various state-wide online bulletin boards. The 
scoping period was extended for an additional two weeks in deference to 
public requests.
    Overall there were 457 public responses (including letters, faxes, 
emails, comment forms, and public meeting flip-chart notes), and over 
4,000 individual comments. From 2006-2010 over 127 public meetings, 
presentations, workshops, field visits, and open houses were conducted 
in support of preparation of the Tuolumne River Plan. These included 
all-tribes meetings, public work sessions to parallel planning team 
work sessions (known as ``Planner-for-a-Day'' workshops), socioeconomic 
workshops held in gateway communities, open houses and other public 
forums, meetings with park staff, and presentations to other land 
management agencies and stakeholder groups. The park's Web site served 
as a central repository for not only information about the plan's 
status, but various products for public comment--including two separate 
workbooks devoted to release of preliminary concepts and early 
alternatives.
    How to Comment: All comments must be transmitted or postmarked not 
later than 60 days from the date the U. S. Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes their notice of filing of the DEIS in the Federal 
Register. Immediately upon confirmation of this date it will be 
announced via local and regional news media, through direct mailings, 
and posted on the project Web sites. Written comments should be mailed 
to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Tuolumne River Plan 
DEIS, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, California 95389. If preferred, comments 
also may be transmitted electronically through the http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yose_trp Web site.
    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.
    During the public review period public meetings will be hosted in 
Yosemite gateway communities, as well as in Yosemite Valley and 
Tuolumne Meadows; Web-based meetings will also take place. Public site 
visits may be offered during the public review period, depending upon 
weather conditions. All meeting and site visit locations and dates will 
be announced similarly as noted above for the comment due date, and 
will be included in the Yosemite electronic newsletter and posted on 
the Yosemite National Park Web site http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm.
    Limited printed and CD copies of the TRPCMP/DEIS will be available, 
and may be requested by email ([email protected]) or telephone at 
(209) 379-1110. The document will be sent directly to congressional 
delegations, state and local elected officials, federal and state 
agencies, tribes, organizations, local businesses, public libraries, 
and the news media. Printed copies can be viewed at local and regional 
libraries (i.e., El Portal, Mariposa, Oakhurst, Sonora, San Francisco, 
and Los Angeles). Electronic versions will be available online at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yose_trp, or may be accessed through the 
Yosemite National Park Web site http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm.
    Decision Process: All comments received on the TRPCMP/DEIS will be 
duly considered in preparing the Final EIS. The Final EIS is expected 
to be available in early 2013; availability of the document will be 
announced in a manner similar to that used for the DEIS, including 
publication of a notice of availability in the Federal Register. A 
Record of Decision would be prepared not sooner than 30 days after 
release of the Final EIS. Because this is a delegated EIS, the official 
responsible for approving the final plan is the Regional Director, 
Pacific West Region, National Park Service; subsequently the official 
responsible for implementation of the approved Tuolumne Wild and Scenic 
River Comprehensive Management Plan will be the Superintendent, 
Yosemite National Park.

    Dated: November 26, 2012.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-01464 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
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