Final Environmental Impact Statement, Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan For Joshua Tree National Park, California; Notice of Availability

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement, Backcountry and Wilderness

Management Plan For Joshua Tree National Park, California; Notice of

Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

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

Service (NPS), Department of Interior, has prepared a final

environmental impact statement (FEIS) assessing the potential impacts

of amending the current General Management Plan (GMP), which was

approved in 1995. The FEIS includes the Backcountry and Wilderness

Management Plan for Joshua Tree National Park and identifies and

evaluates the environmental consequences of the new proposed action and

four alternatives.

Proposal: As described under Alternative E (the new proposed

action), the NPS proposes to amend the GMP for Joshua Tree National

Park. These amendments would include, but not be limited to, the

following changes. The NPS would designate a trail system with

prescriptions for certain uses: foot, bicycle, equestrian, and would

identify

[[Page 58441]]

some of the unpaved in roads in lands added to the park in 1994 as part

of the developed zone and thus, open to motor vehicle use. Alternative

E would also designate management prescriptions for recreational

climbing throughout the park and would indicate locations in the park

where roadside auto camping would or would not be permitted.

Alternative E would prescribe the analysis of major artificial water

sources installed for wildlife in designated wilderness and if such

sources should be removed or maintained. It would adopt areas limited

to day use only or closed to public access seasonally or permanently.

It would establish group size limits for overnight stays in the

backcountry and wilderness, implement the Department of Interior's

Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan, and analyze proposed additions to

wilderness. Implementing Alternative E would result in the protection

of park lands and the reclamation of previously disturbed lands. User

conflicts would be minimized by providing for a variety of visitor

experiences, group sizes, trail designations, and a recreational

climbing management program.

Alternatives: Alternatives to the new proposed action include

Alternative A (the old proposed action), Alternative B (no action),

Alternative C (maximum protection), and Alternative D (minimum

protection). Alternative A would establish wilderness experience

classes, and would designate slightly fewer miles of equestrian trails

and roads. It does not provide reclamation prescriptions for the closed

trails and roads. Alternative A would prohibit the replacement of

existing bolts or the placement of new bolts in wilderness and would

analyze only three of the four artificial water sources placed in the

park's wilderness.

Under Alternative B, the park would maintain existing programs and

operations. Alternative C would impose greater restrictions upon all

uses in the park and afford the most rigorous and strict protection to

the resources, in particular the wilderness resource. Also, those lands

in the natural zone that are not wilderness would be treated and

managed as if they were so designated. Alternative D would impose no

restrictions on use of the old monument lands other than those that

already exist. The public could use the new lands much as they were

used prior to their inclusion within the park. Only those public

recreational activities that are illegal in NPS or other regulations,

such as hunting or operating vehicles in wilderness, would be

prohibited.

The potential environmental consequences of Alternative E (the new

proposed action) and other alternatives were previously addressed in

the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Supplement to the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement. No significant adverse

environmental impacts are anticipated.

Background: The NPS initiated scoping for the Wilderness and

Backcountry Management Plan on January 30, 1995. A Draft Environmental

Impact Statement was issued November 21, 1997 for a public review

period which was extended from January 31, 1998 through February 28,

1998. Approximately 1,100 written comments were received. In addition,

approximately 260 persons attended three public workshops held December

2 and December 11, 1997 and on January 16, 1998. A Supplemental

Environmental Impact Statement was issued November 3, 1998 for a public

review period which ended January 20, 1999. Approximately 200 written

comments were received. Both documents were made widely available

through direct mailings, distribution to area libraries, and via the

internet.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments or questions regarding the

final Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan and Environmental

Impact Statement should be directed to the Superintendent, Joshua Tree

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

92277. Copies may be requested by contacting the park at (760) 367-

5502. Copies are also available at libraries located in the park's

vicinity, as well as on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/jotr.

The no-action period for the FEIS/MP will extend for thirty (30) days

after the Environmental Protection Agency's notification of the filing

of the document is published in the Federal Register. Subsequently, the

National Park Service will publish a notice of the Record of Decision

in the Federal Register. The official responsible for the decision is

the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; the official responsible

for implementation is the Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park.

Dated: October 22, 1999.

Cynthia Ip,

Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 99-28405 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M