[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24449-24450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09883]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-14735; PX.P0073969J.00.1]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan 
for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National 
Monument, Counties of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service has prepared the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed General Management Plan 
(GMP) for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National 
Monument. The Final EIS/GMP evaluates four alternatives for managing 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods, and upon approval 
the GMP will serve as a blueprint to guide management of these units of 
the National Park System over the next 20 years.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following Federal Register publication by 
the Environmental Protection Agency of its notice of filing and 
availability of the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the Final EIS/GMP will be available 
for public inspection on the project Web site, and a limited number of 
CDs and printed copies will be made available at park headquarters. 
Printed or CD copies may also be requested by contacting Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 
94123; telephone (415) 561-4930.

Background

    Established in 1972 to bring ``parks to the people'', until now 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) has been operating under 
the 1980 GMP. During the 30 years since the first GMP was approved, 
GGNRA has doubled in size and visitation now approaches 16 million 
annually. The management staff has gained a better understanding of the 
natural and cultural resources of the park and the many recreational 
uses that occur within the park areas. Muir Woods was declared a 
national monument in 1908 and is currently managed as part of GGNRA.
    Public scoping was initiated in the spring of 2006. The Notice of 
Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on March 
29, 2006. Five public scoping meetings were held in the area; 
approximately 300 participants overall provided relevant information 
which was duly considered in drafting preliminary alternatives. The 
preliminary alternatives were initially reviewed with the public at 
meetings held in June, 2008 (over 1,500 substantive comments were 
collected). Additionally, numerous coordination meetings were conducted 
with local agencies and partner organizations. An update on the 
evolving preferred alternative was provided to the public in the 
summer, 2009. The Draft EIS/GMP was released on September 9, 2011 with 
comments accepted through December 9, 2011. Three public meetings were 
hosted. Approximately 540 pieces of correspondence were received. Some 
plan content was modified based on public comments, but there have been 
very few substantial changes to the alternatives under consideration.

Proposed Plan and Alternatives

    The Final EIS/GMP describes and analyzes four alternatives. The no-
action alternative consists of the existing park management and serves 
as a comparative basis for evaluating the other alternatives.
    Alternative 1, ``Connecting People with the Parks,'' would further 
the founding idea of ``parks to the people'' and would engage the 
community and other visitors in the enjoyment, understanding, and 
stewardship of the park's resources and values. Park management would 
focus on ways to attract and welcome people, connect people with the 
resources, and promote understanding, enjoyment, preservation, and 
health. Alternative 1 is the ``agency-preferred'' alternative for 
managing most park lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo 
Counties.
    Alternative 2, ``Preserving and Enjoying Coastal Ecosystems,'' 
would place an emphasis on preserving, enhancing, and promoting the 
dynamic and interconnected coastal ecosystems in which marine resources 
are valued and prominently featured. Recreational and educational 
opportunities would allow visitors to learn about and enjoy the ocean 
and bay environments, and gain a better understanding of the region's 
international significance and history.
    Alternative 3, ``Focusing on National Treasures,'' would place an 
emphasis on the park's nationally important natural and cultural 
resources. The fundamental resources of each showcased site would be 
managed at the highest level of preservation to protect the resources 
in perpetuity and to

[[Page 24450]]

promote appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of those resources. 
Visitors would have the opportunity to explore locally the wide variety 
of experiences that are associated with many different types of units 
of the National Park System. All other resources would be managed to 
complement the nationally significant resources and associated visitor 
experiences. Alternative 3 is the ``agency-preferred'' alternative for 
Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods National Monument.
    Alternative 1 is the ``environmentally preferred'' course of action 
for lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Alternative 
3 is ``environmentally preferred'' for Muir Woods National Monument and 
Alcatraz Island.
    Decision Process: As a delegated EIS the official responsible for 
approval of the GMP is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region. 
Subsequently the official responsible for implementing the new GMP is 
the General Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

    Dated: December 27, 2013.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-09883 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
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