Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan, Redwood National and State Parks, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, California; Notice of Availability

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan,

Redwood National and State Parks, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties,

California; Notice of Availability

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

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 81-190 as amended), the

National Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) assessing the potential impacts

of adopting a General Management Plan (GMP) for Redwood National and

State Parks. These parks comprise a 105,516-acre cooperative federal-

state parklands area that preserves some of the last remaining stands

of the world's tallest trees along 35 miles of scenic northwestern

California coastline. The document identifies and evaluates the

potential environmental consequences of a Proposed Action and three

Alternatives; appropriate mitigation measures are also identified and

evaluated. Once approved, the GMP will guide resource management and

preservation, watershed protection, restoration, and other stewardship

activities (as well interpretation, site planning and other operations)

for the next 10-15 years.

This FEIS/GMP document also incorporates all the elements of an

Environmental Impact Report/General Plan, which were prepared

concurrently by the State of California's Department of Parks and

Recreation. Although this comprehensive document results and benefits

from a cooperative effort, each agency has slightly different

requirements for completing the conservation planning and environmental

impact analysis process.

Proposal and Alternatives

This document presents and analyzes four alternatives for joint

management of the commingled Redwood National and State Parks. The

concept under Alternative 1 (the proposed action) would be to emphasize

the protection of the parks' resources and values (including proactive

restoration where sensitive resources are at risk). A variety of

opportunities for visitors to be inspired by cultural and natural

values would be ensured. Under Alternative 2 (no action), existing

management policies and resources protection, preservation, and

restoration programs would be continued; some trail development and new

campgrounds as described in previously approved plans for the area

would also occur. Under Alternative 3 the agencies would emphasize

resource restoration, protection, and preservation; the opportunities

for public use and enjoyment of parklands would be limited to

experiences consistent with a high degree of resource stewardship.

Under Alternative 4 priority would be placed on providing a wide

spectrum of appropriate visitor experiences, consistent with

overarching stewardship obligations to protect parklands resources and

values.

The degree of foreseeable impact varies according to each

Alternative, and includes: major beneficial effects from watershed and

estuary restoration; some short-term adverse effects from proposed

facility development and visitor use activities; and substantial

economic benefits from park visitation, operations, and construction in

the Humboldt-Del Norte area. Both the Draft and Final documents

evaluate the same Proposed Action and Alternatives. The environmental

consequences of the Alternatives are fully documented in the FEIS. No

significant adverse impacts are foreseen from the three action

Alternatives, because each includes provisions to avoid or mitigate

potentially significant impacts. However, the No-Action Alternative

could result in significant long-term impacts to natural and cultural

resources due to management and protection activities insufficient to

keep pace with conditions and trends foreseen. Estimated costs to

implement the Alternatives are presented and compared in the

appendices.

Public Review

Public collaboration with various local and regional organizations

and individuals was formally initiated with a Notice of intent

published in the Federal Register on May 24, 1996. Public scoping

meetings were held in Brookings, Oregon and Eureka, Orick, Klamath, and

Crescent City, California during June, 1996. During this period a

number of focus group meetings and workshops were held. Consultations

were undertaken with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National

Marine Fisheries Service, and the California State Historic

Preservation Office. The Yurok Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer

participated as an active consultant in the overall conservation

planning and environmental analysis process (following a one-day

scoping workshop undertaken with eight American Indian Tribes,

Rancherias, and Nations). The Draft EIS/GMP was formally released July

9, 1998 for a 60 day public review (which was extended for 30 days

through November 8, 1998). During the draft review period, four public

meetings and numerous workshops and informal meetings were conducted in

local communities. Approximately 600 written comments and preprinted

signed forms were received.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For more information or to obtain a copy of

the document, contact the Superintendents, Redwood National and State

Parks, 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531; or telephone 1-800-

423-6101 or voice/TDD 707-464-6101; or via e-mail at

[email protected]. The document will also be available at

area libraries. the no-action period for the FEIS/GMP 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 prepare a Record

of Decision, which will also be duly noticed in the Federal Register.

The official responsible for the NPS decision is the Regional Director,

Pacific West Region; the responsibility for the State decision is

vested with the California State Park and Recreation Commission in

concert with the Depart of Parks and Recreation. The officials

responsible for implementation are the Superintendents, Redwood

National and State Parks.

[[Page 63057]]

Dated: November 9, 1999.

John J. Reynolds,

Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 99-30112 Filed 11-17-99; 8:45 am]

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