Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Master Development Plan for Section 14 on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, Located Within the Boundaries of the City of Palm Springs, Riverside County, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the Proposed Master Development Plan for Section 14 on the Agua

Caliente Indian Reservation, Located Within the Boundaries of the City

of Palm Springs, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian

Affairs (BIA) and the City of Palm Springs, in cooperation with the

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, intend to prepare a joint

Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/

EIR) for the approval of the Section 14 Master Development Plan on the

Agua Caliente Indian Reservation located within the boundaries of the

City of Palm Springs, Riverside County, California. A description of

the proposed project, location, and environmental considerations to be

addressed in the EIS/EIR are provided below. In addition to this

notice, two public meetings will be held on the proposal and the

preparation of the EIS/EIR. This notice is published in accordance with

the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations found in 40

CFR 1508.22. The purpose of this Notice is to obtain suggestions and

information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues

to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Comments and participation in this

scoping process are encouraged.

DATES: Comments should be received within 30 days of the date of this

Notice. Public scoping meetings will be held June 11, 1997, from 1:30

p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and June 12, 1997, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Ronald Jaeger, Area

Director, Sacramento Area Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W2550,

Sacramento, California 95825. Public scoping meetings will be held on

June 11, 1997, at the Planning Commission Meeting in the City Council

Chambers, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs,

California, which begins at 1:30 p.m. (public hearings begin at 2:00

p.m.) and ends at 5:00 p.m., telephone number (760) 323-8245; and on

June 12, 1997, at the Palm Springs Public Library, 300 South Sunrise

Way, Palm Springs, California, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., telephone

number (760) 322-7323.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Eckart, Environmental

Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sacramento Area

Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W2550, Sacramento, California 95825,

telephone number (916) 979-2600 extension 254; or Gloria Mesteth,

Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Palm Springs Field

Office, 555 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California 92263,

telephone number (760) 323-1725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is approval of the

Section 14 Master Development Plan, which will facilitate approval of

future leases on trust lands by the BIA in Section 14. Section 14 is

located on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in downtown Palm

Springs. It is comprised of Tribally owned parcels, allotted parcels,

and parcels owned in fee. The section is bounded by Alejo Road to the

north, Sunrise Road to the east, Ramon Road to the south, and Indian

Canyon Drive to the west. The 640 acre section is one block east of

downtown Palm Springs and one mile west of Palm Springs Regional

Airport.

The intent of the Section 14 Master Development Plan is to (1)

create an attractive, feasible and marketable vision for the area's

development; (2)

[[Page 28893]]

achieve the highest and best use of Indian trust lands; (3) maximize

and coordinate the development potential of Indian trust and fee lands

in Section 14; (4) ensure compatibility with existing, proposed and

planned development in the downtown area; (5) achieve a comprehensive

master plan of development that is high quality, marketable and can be

implemented in a timely manner; (6) revitalize existing uses; and (7)

provide a specific plan that ensures quality development will occur

independent of ownership.

Businesses that are expected to be attracted and which will result

in new construction include restaurants and a variety of retail

establishments. These establishments will consist of cinemas, live

theaters, museums, and ``entertainment retail'' shopping where

customers are entertained as they browse. There will also be health,

sports and recreational complexes along with a large-scale hotel

located across from the existing Convention Center.

In addition to the new development, existing structures will

receive facade rehabilitation in order to blend in with the new

destination resort theme of Section 14. Streets and streetscapes will

be redesigned and enhanced within the section to promote a pedestrian-

friendly, destination resort environment.

Alternative transportation modes will be established within the

area to help limit the amount of automobile traffic. Walkways and

bikeways will be linked into the existing street grid and the major

attractions of the area. Shade features, such as awnings, overhangs and

trellises will be established to attract both recreational and

destination oriented pedestrians and cyclists. A rubber-tire shuttle

will be installed linking Section 14, the airport and downtown with

stops at major hotels and attractions.

Required actions by the BIA and the City of Palm Springs to be

evaluated in the EIS/EIR are the approval of lease transactions by the

BIA and the approval of a Specific Plan, General Plan amendments, and

zone changes by the City of Palm Springs. Environmental issues expected

to be addressed include: topography, geology, soils, seismicity, water

resources, biological resources, cultural and scientific resources,

land use, air quality, traffic, noise, health and safety, public

services and utilities, light and glare, and visual resources. In

addition to the Year 2010 project proposal, the EIS/EIR will address a

number of alternatives, including (1) no action, which would keep the

City of Palm Springs' General Plan in effect, (2) less intense

development, (3) an alternate design, and (4) an ultimate build-out of

50 years. The range of issues addressed may be expanded, depending upon

comments received during the scoping process.

This notice is published pursuant to Sec. 1501.7 and Sec. 1508.22

of the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR, Part 1500

through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA of

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Department of the Interior

Manual (516 DM 1-6) and is in the exercise of authority delegated to

the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM-8.

Dated: May 22, 1997.

Ada E. Deer,

Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97-13949 Filed 5-27-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-02-P