Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan, Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Backcountry

and Wilderness Management Plan, Joshua Tree National Park, San

Bernardino and Riverside Counties, CA

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190 as amended), the National Park Service

(NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a supplement to the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) assessing alternatives for,

and potential impacts of, a proposed Backcountry and Wilderness

Management Plan for Joshua Tree National Park.

BACKGROUND: After an initial public review and comment phase, thorough

review of all comments received, and with consideration of the Joshua

Tree National Park Advisory Commission's input, the NPS has determined

it necessary to issue a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

(SEIS). The SEIS expands upon the conservation planning and impact

analysis undertaken in the original DEIS, and contains: an update on

the planning process; a discussion of an additional alternative, which

constitutes the new proposed action; a discussion of foreseeable

environmental consequences if this new alternative were to be

implemented; and summary tables comparing the actions and consequences

of all five alternatives.

COMMENTS: The formal review period for the SEIS document extends

through December 31, 1998. Reviewers may address any aspect of the DEIS

or SEIS. All written comments must be postmarked not later than

December 31, 1998, and sent to: Superintendent, Joshua Tree National

Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 92277.

Dated: October 21, 1998.

William C. Walters,

Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.

[FR Doc. 98-29241 Filed 10-30-98; 8:45 am]

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