[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18694-18695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07488]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-14919; PPPWPWROP0/PX.P0118032i.00.1]


Notice of Termination of Environmental Impact Statement for 
General Management Plan, Devils Postpile National Monument, Mono and 
Madera Counties, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Termination of Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service is terminating the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan, 
Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, California. A Notice 
of Intent to prepare the EIS for the General Management Plan (GMP) was 
published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2009. The National Park 
Service has since determined that an Environmental

[[Page 18695]]

Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is the appropriate environmental 
documentation for the GMP. This determination includes due 
consideration of all public comment and other agency information 
received during the public scoping period.
    Background: The new GMP for Devils Postpile National Monument will 
provide long-term guidance for resource management, visitor services 
and interpretive programming. The planning team originally scoped the 
GMP as an EIS and a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in 
the Federal Register on June 15, 2009. No concerns or issues expressed 
during public scoping process and subsequently during development of 
preliminary GMP alternatives convey either the potential for 
controversy or identify potential significant impacts.
    In 2011, the planning team developed three action alternatives for 
the GMP. These three alternatives explored ways to enhance long-term 
preservation of park resources and provide new recreational and 
educational opportunities. The planning team produced a newsletter and 
comment form to seek public input on the preliminary alternatives in 
the summer of 2011. Feedback on the preliminary alternatives affirmed 
that the planning team provided an appropriate range of future 
management directions for the monument. Most of the public comments on 
the preliminary alternatives were supportive of various aspects of the 
proposed alternative concepts and desired conditions. To date, no major 
concerns or issues have been expressed during public involvement for 
the GMP that would convey the potential for public controversy.
    Initial analysis of the alternatives has revealed no potential for 
either major or significant effects on the human environment, nor any 
potential for impairing park resources and values. The foreseeable 
potential impacts which may occur from implementing any of the 
alternatives are expected to be negligible to moderate in magnitude. 
For these reasons, the NPS determined that the appropriate level of 
conservation planning and environmental impact analysis for the GMP is 
an EA. It is also noted that many of the actions proposed in the GMP 
will have benefits to the monument's resources, operational needs, and 
visitor experiences.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft GMP and EA will be integrated. The 
combined document is expected to be distributed for a public review and 
comment period during the spring of 2014. The NPS will notify the 
public by direct mail, Web site postings at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/depo, local and regional media, and other means, 
to provide regularly updated information on where and how to obtain a 
copy of the EA, how to comment on the EA, and the confirmed dates for 
local public meetings during the public review period. For further 
information contact Deanna Dulen, Superintendent, Devils Postpile 
National Monument, P.O. Box 3999, Mammoth Lakes, California 93546. 
(telephone: (760) 924-5505; email: [email protected]).
    A preferred vision for the new GMP will be presented to the public 
in the spring of 2014 and comments will be solicited. The official 
responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific 
West Region, National Park Service. Subsequently the official 
responsible for implementing the new GMP is the Superintendent, Devils 
Postpile National Monument.

    Dated: January 28, 2014.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-07488 Filed 4-2-14; 8:45 am]
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