[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74129-74130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30160]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-17266;PX.P0169628B.00.1]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for 
Wilderness Stewardship Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera, Mariposa, 
and Tuolumne, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Yosemite National Park is initiating the conservation planning 
and environmental impact analysis process needed to inform 
consideration of alternative strategies for the future management of 
Yosemite Wilderness. The Yosemite Wilderness encompasses 704,638 acres 
that were designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (an 
additional 927 acres were designated as potential wilderness 
additions). Through the preparation of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (WSP/EIS), Yosemite National Park (YOSE) 
proposes to update the park's current

[[Page 74130]]

1989 Wilderness Management Plan to achieve enhanced wilderness 
stewardship objectives, which include preserving wilderness character, 
providing appropriate types and levels of access for visitors and 
authorized users, protecting natural and cultural resources, and 
adhering to legally-mandated management and preservation requirements. 
YOSE intends to coordinate the steps of Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act with reviews under the NEPA process.

DATES: All written comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later 
than January 26, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Requests to be added to the WSP/EIS mailing list may be 
submitted to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Wilderness 
Stewardship Plan, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the Yosemite Planning 
and Compliance Office by telephone at (209) 379-1365 or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Over 94% of Yosemite National Park is 
designated Wilderness. The Wilderness encompasses the upper watersheds 
of the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers, ranging in elevation from less than 
3,000 feet to more than 13,000 feet. This large elevation range 
supports a wide diversity of plant and animal communities including 
threatened and endangered species. The Yosemite Wilderness is rich in 
cultural resources including tribal ancestral homelands and historic 
and archeological features. It is known for its granite peaks, alpine 
and subalpine lakes, and dramatic waterfalls. It is a popular 
Wilderness, with visitors enjoying over 100,000 use nights and 
approximately 400,000 to 500,000 use days. Visitors engage in 
activities such as backpacking, rockclimbing, stock trips, fishing, and 
dayhiking. The WSP/EIS will address a variety of issues including, but 
not limited to trails, minimum requirements analysis for administrative 
use and facilities, wilderness restoration, cultural resources 
management, potential wilderness additions, commercial use, visitor use 
and capacity, stock use and meadow management. The plan will provide 
detailed management direction consistent with the National Park 
Service's Management Policies (2006) and other agency guidelines 
regarding the preservation of wilderness character.
    How To Comment: Public comments regarding the range of issues that 
should be addressed, alternative approaches to managing YOSE 
wilderness, and other concerns regarding YOSE Wilderness or the 
planning process may be submitted online through the Planning, 
Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yosewild (electronic comment submittal saves 
resources and allows for direct entry into the National Park Service's 
comment analysis system). You may also submit written comments mailing 
to the address noted above; written comments will also be accepted 
during public scoping meetings.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be 
advised 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.
    At this time several public scoping meetings are expected to be 
hosted during the Winter of 2015. Scoping materials including WSP 
planning process information and confirmed details regarding public 
meetings will be posted on the park planning Web site http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/yosewild.htm and on the PEPC Web site (noted 
above). The status of the Draft WSP/EIS will be updated periodically at 
both Web sites listed above. To be added to the WSP/EIS mailing list, 
email your request to [email protected] or mail your request to the 
address noted above. Please note in your request if you would like to 
receive an electronic copy of the document (i.e., CD-ROM) or a printed 
copy of the Draft WSP/EIS when it is released (limited copies will be 
available). To reduce printing costs and conserve resources, the public 
is strongly encouraged to download materials from the Web site.
    Decision Process: Following consideration of all comments obtained 
through this scoping effort, YOSE will prepare the Draft WSP/EIS. This 
document will state the purpose and need for federal action, describe 
and analyze a range of alternatives (including a ``no action'' baseline 
alternative), assess potential environmental consequences and provide 
appropriate impact mitigation strategies for each alternative, and 
identify the ``agency-preferred'' alternative. Public release of the 
Draft WSP/EIS will be formally announced by publication of a Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register and via Web site postings and 
announcements in local and regional news media. Notifications will also 
be sent to the WSP/EIS mailing list and YOSE planning electronic 
mailing list, as well as to local, state, federal, and tribal 
organizations and groups.
    Following careful analysis of all responses received concerning the 
Draft WSP/EIS, a Final WSP/EIS will be prepared and its availability 
similarly announced in the Federal Register. Thereafter, but not sooner 
than 30 days after release of the Final WSP/EIS, a Record of Decision 
will be prepared. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for 
final approval of the WSP/EIS is the Regional Director, Pacific West 
Region. Subsequently the official responsible for implementation of the 
approved WSP is the Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.

    Dated: November 12, 2015.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-30160 Filed 11-25-15; 8:45 am]
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