[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 32441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12848]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-IMR-ROMO-11943; PPIMROMO60 PAN00AN53.NM0000]


Grand Ditch Breach Restoration, Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Grand Ditch Breach Restoration, Rocky Mountain 
National Park.

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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 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Grand Ditch Breach 
Restoration, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental 
Protection Agency of the Notice of Availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public inspection online 
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/romo, in the office of the 
Superintendent, Vaughn Baker, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517-
8397, 970-586-1200 and at the Public Information Office, Rocky Mountain 
National Park, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado 80517-8397.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Information Office, Rocky 
Mountain National Park, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado 80517-
8397, (970) 586-1206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The document describes five management 
alternatives including a no-action alternative and the National Park 
Service preferred alternative. The anticipated environmental impacts of 
those alternatives are analyzed. The final document also includes 
responses to substantive comments from the public, cooperating 
agencies, and government agencies. The no-action alternative, 
alternative A, would extend existing conditions and management trends 
into the future. This alternative serves as a basis of comparison for 
evaluating the action alternatives. Minimal restoration, alternative B, 
would emphasize less intensive management activity to restore portions 
of the impacted area. This alternative would focus actions on areas 
that are unstable and present a high potential of continued degradation 
of ecosystem resources and services. High restoration, alternative C, 
would involve more intensive management actions over large portions of 
the impacted area. This alternative would focus actions on unstable 
areas that present a high to moderate potential of continued 
degradation of existing ecosystem resources and services. The preferred 
alternative, alternative D, would emphasize the removal of large debris 
deposits in the alluvial fan area and in the Lulu City wetland. Actions 
would be conducted to stabilize limited areas of unstable slopes and 
banks throughout the upper portions of the restoration area. Hydrology 
through the Lulu City wetland would be restored in the historical 
central channel through removal of large deposits of debris, relying on 
the historical channel to transport river flow. Small-scale motorized 
equipment would be employed for stabilization and revegetation 
activities, while larger equipment would be employed for excavation of 
large debris deposits and reconfiguration of the Colorado River through 
the Lulu City wetland. This alternative would include stabilization of 
zone 1A under the preferred option, option 1. Maximum restoration, 
alternative E, would involve extensive management activity and use of 
motorized equipment over large portions of the impacted area to restore 
the damage.

    Dated: December 20, 2012.
John Wessels,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12848 Filed 5-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-CB-P