[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13376-13377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04538]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-11436; PXP0137227A001]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Cottonwood Cove and 
Katherine Landing Development Concept Plans, Clark County, NV, and 
Mohave County, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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[[Page 13377]]

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cottonwood Cove 
and Katherine Landing Development Concept Plans, Lake Mead National 
Recreation Area. The Draft EIS identifies and analyzes three 
alternatives, as follows. Alternative 1 Continue Current Management 
Trends (no action alternative) reflects current management direction 
and serves as a baseline for comparison with the other alternatives. 
Existing facilities would be retained with minimal changes. Alternative 
2 Implement Previous Planning Proposals would implement previous 
planning proposals that separate day use and marina facilities, 
maintain the type of overnight facilities, and provide flood 
mitigation. Alternative 3 Enhance Visitor Experience and Park 
Operations (agency-preferred alternative) would enhance day-use 
opportunities, upgrade and expand the type of overnight facilities, and 
provide flood mitigation. The Draft EIS also evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of the alternatives, including potential impacts 
to native plant communities and soils, wildlife, threatened, 
endangered, and special status species; floodplains; archeological 
resources; historic structures; cultural landscape; ethnographic 
resources; visitor use, experience, and safety; park operations; and 
socioeconomic environment.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft EIS 
from the public for 60 days after the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its notice in the Federal Register. The National Park 
Service will also hold public meetings during the public comment 
period; the date, time, and location of the meetings will be announced 
on Project Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lake, as well as via 
local and regional press media.

ADDRESSES: Respondents may submit comments by one of two methods. You 
may mail written comments to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Attn: 
DCP-DEIS, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005. You may also 
submit comments electronically via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lake. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Holland, Park Planner, Lake 
Mead National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 
89005 (702) 293-8986.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the development concept plans 
is to reevaluate the implementation strategies for these two areas that 
were identified in the 1986 Lake Mead National Recreation Area General 
Management Plan/Development Concept Plans/Final Environmental Impact 
Statement and to incorporate the concepts and carrying capacities that 
were approved in the 2003 Lake Mead National Recreation Area Lake 
Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement. Each development 
concept plan provides an integrated plan for development with site 
specific guidance for the extent, type, and location of facilities and 
services that is consistent with the management direction and intent 
established in the general management plan and lake management plan.
    The general management plan addressed the need to provide 
recreational opportunities while preserving and protecting natural and 
cultural resources. It established land-based management zones and 
included development concept plans for Cottonwood Cove and Katherine 
Landing that identified limits on the development, established the 
number and type of facilities, and addressed flood hazards. The general 
management plan's vision for both areas was to accommodate increasing 
use, enhance the visitor experience, and mitigate flood hazards. The 
lake management plan established water-based management zones and 
provided further guidance for the long-term protection of park 
resources while allowing a range of recreational opportunities to 
support visitor needs. A number of the management actions identified in 
both approved plans require more site-specific development planning. 
There are also a number of management issues that have not been 
adequately addressed or resolved in the previous planning efforts and 
that require a more detailed examination of development and operational 
needs.
    The primary issues affecting the management of the Cottonwood Cove 
and Katherine Landing developed areas are as follows:

 Providing flood mitigation
 Enhancing shoreline-based day-use opportunities and facilities 
to meet a growing demand
 Improving the safety and ease of access, providing better 
organized and more convenient parking, and providing an appropriate 
number of parking spaces
 Improving NPS campgrounds to function effectively to meet 
visitor needs while protecting the cultural landscape
 Providing adequate visitor information and education programs 
and determining if commercial services and NPS educational and 
interpretive services be provided in a joint facility enhancing 
operational facilities to function effectively and efficiently, meeting 
the needs of both park staff and visitors
 Identifying which concession facilities or services are still 
necessary and appropriate at these sites for public use and enjoyment 
of the park
    Decision Process: Following due consideration of all comments 
received, a Final EIS will be prepared. As a delegated EIS, the 
official responsible for a final decision is the Regional Director, 
Pacific West Region. Subsequently the official responsible for 
implementing the approved development concept plans and for monitoring 
results is the Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

    Dated: September 28, 2012.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-04538 Filed 2-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FF-P