[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14531-14533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05658]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-14562; PX.P0131800B.00.1]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Tuolumne Wild and Scenic
River Comprehensive Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Madera,
Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties, California
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the National
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Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), the
National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Tuolumne Wild and Scenic
River Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact
Statement (Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS). The Final Tuolumne River
Plan/EIS fulfills the requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(Pub. L. 90-542, as amended) (WSRA) and will provide a long-term
management program for the 54 miles of the Tuolumne River that flow
through Yosemite National Park.
The purpose of the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS is to protect the
river's free-flowing character and the values that make it worthy of
designation by (1) reviewing and updating river corridor boundaries and
segment classifications, (2) prescribing a process for the protection
of the river's free-flowing condition, (3) identifying and documenting
the condition of the river's outstandingly remarkable values, (4)
identifying management actions needed to protect and enhance river
values, (5) establishing management objectives for river values and a
monitoring program for ensuring the objectives are met, and (6)
defining visitor use and user capacity for the river corridor. The
Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS would update portions of the 1980
Yosemite General Management Plan (GMP) that address management within
the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor. It also identifies the
agency-preferred and environmentally preferred alternative.
DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision not sooner than 30
days from the date of publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's notice of filing for the Final EIS in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Morse, Chief of Planning,
Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 700-W, 5083 Foresta Road, El Portal,
CA 95318, (209) 379-1110. Electronic versions of the complete document
are available online at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm. Request
printed documents or CDs through email ([email protected]) (type
``Final TRP EIS'' in the subject line) or telephone (209) 379-1110.
Range of Alternatives: The Final EIS identifies and analyzes a No-
Action alternative and four action alternatives for managing the
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor. All alternatives would
preserve and sustain wilderness character, including natural ecosystem
function and opportunities for primitive, unconfined recreation, in the
more than 90% of the river corridor that is congressionally designated
Wilderness. The No-Action alternative would retain current conditions
in the Tuolumne River corridor with no change in management, use, or
development. A number of proposed actions are common to the action
alternatives (Alternatives 1-4). For example, Alternatives 1-4 include
WSRA elements such as boundaries, classifications, a WSRA Sec. 7
determination process, and a user capacity management program. Per WSRA
direction, Alternatives 1-4 would protect and enhance the values for
which the Tuolumne River was designated, including its free-flowing
condition, excellent water quality, and outstandingly remarkable
values. Alternatives 1-4 vary primarily in how they balance the
protection of river values with different kinds of visitor use and
associated user capacities. Alternatives 1-4 would provide for
traditional cultural practices by American Indian tribes. The EIS
analyzes potential impacts of each alternative and describes mitigation
measures.
The No-Action alternative serves as the baseline from which to
compare the action alternatives. This alternative assumes that current
trends in the conditions of natural and cultural resources and visitor
experiences would continue, consistent with the management activities
that are ongoing under current, approved plans. In the Tuolumne Meadows
area, opportunities for day and overnight use would continue to include
a range of recreational activities supported by modest commercial
services and overnight camping and lodging.
Alternative 4 (agency-preferred) seeks to retain the traditional
Tuolumne experience while reducing the impacts of development.
Alternative 4 would provide a meaningful introduction for the growing
number of short-term visitors in the Tuolumne Meadows area.
Opportunities for day visitors to connect with the river would be
improved by providing a visitor contact station, picnic area, and trail
connection to the river and Parsons Memorial Lodge. Existing
opportunities for traditional overnight use would remain. To
accommodate slightly increased use levels while protecting and
enhancing recovering meadow and riparian habitats, most day use would
be confined to maintained trails and specific destinations. As
discussed in detail in the EIS, Alternative 4 is identified as the
environmentally preferred course of action.
Alternative 1 would achieve a visitor experience characterized by
self-reliance in a more natural setting, with more wilderness-like
management throughout the river corridor. In Tuolumne Meadows, all
commercial services (including the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, store,
grill, fuel station, and mountaineering shop/school), would be
discontinued. Use levels at the campground would remain at a reduced
capacity, and the NPS would provide minimal camper supplies at the
campground office. Natural river values would be enhanced by greatly
reducing the development footprint, greatly reducing demands for water
supply and wastewater treatment, and eliminating most potential risks
to water quality.
Alternative 2 would facilitate resource enjoyment and stewardship
for a broad spectrum of visitors, including visitors with only a short
time to spend in the area. In the Tuolumne Meadows area, Alternative 2
would retain or expand all current activities and service. For example,
there would be a new day parking and picnic area near the trailhead for
Parsons Memorial Lodge and the Tuolumne Meadows Campground would be
expanded. Overall visitor use levels in the river corridor would be the
highest among the range of alternatives. River values would be
protected by directing visitors to those areas most able to withstand
use.
Alternative 3 would preserve the opportunity for a classic national
park experience in a historic setting, in the Tuolumne Meadows and Glen
Aulin areas. Visitors would have recreational opportunities in a
setting that would appear little changed over time. A full range of
orientation, interpretation, and education programs would be available.
The store, grill, and concessioner day rides would remain. The Tuolumne
Meadows Campground would remain at its current capacity, and the
Tuolumne Lodge would be retained at half its current capacity. The
levels of visitor use would be in the middle of the range of
alternatives.
Changes Incorporated in Final EIS: In response to public comments
on the Draft Tuolumne River Plan/EIS, agency feedback, and new
technical information, the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS was revised as
follows:
A recreational outstanding remarkable value was reworded
to clarify that it is the rare and easy access provided by the Tioga
Road, not the Tioga Road itself, that is the outstanding remarkable
value.
The Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp would be retained at up to
28 beds. No tents would be removed, but the capacity of two tents would
be reduced from four beds to two beds. Water consumption and wastewater
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production at the camp would not exceed 500 gallons per day.
Limited boating would be allowed through the Grand Canyon
of the Tuolumne, from Pothole Dome to Pate Valley. Overnight boating
would be permitted under the Wilderness overnight trailhead quota
system used to manage the user capacity in Wilderness zones; only
noncommercial boating would be permitted. The NPS would provide for
such use on a trial basis, monitoring and adjusting the management of
this recreational opportunity as needed.
Twenty-one campsites in Loop A of the Tuolumne Meadows
Campground that are within 100 feet of the river would be relocated
within the campground to protect riparian vegetation along the Lyell
Fork.
The mountaineering school function would be retained and
accommodated at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
The NPS would seek to move the dining hall and kitchen at
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge upslope within the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
complex, more than 150 feet from the banks of the Dana Fork. This move
would be dependent on identification of a suitable site and
consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Officer.
The grazing capacity for meadows along the Lyell Fork
would be adjusted from a capacity of 192 grazing-nights per season to a
flexible capacity of 167-249 grazing-nights per season, depending on
snowfall and rainfall patterns.
The percentage of total use allocated to commercial use in
Wilderness portions of the Tuolumne River Corridor would be adjusted to
a slightly higher percentage. Such uses would consist of no more than
15% of total use in the Lyell Canyon portion of the river corridor.
The Draft EIS mistakenly showed that the ranger station in
Tuolumne Meadows would be relocated to the existing visitor center. The
Final EIS confirms that the ranger station would remain in its existing
location. The maintenance offices would occupy the old visitor center
once the new visitor contact station is constructed.
An employee fuel station would be provided at the
maintenance yard. Visitors who ran out of gas could also obtain fuel.
Decision Process: The Record of Decision will be prepared not
sooner than 30 days after release of the Final Tuolumne River Plan/EIS.
As a delegated EIS process, the official responsible for final approval
of the Tuolumne River Plan is the Regional Director, Pacific West
Region, NPS; subsequently the official responsible for implementation
of the approved Tuolumne River Plan is the Superintendent, Yosemite
National Park.
Dated: November 22, 2013.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
Editorial Note: This document was received by the Office of the
Federal Register on March 11, 2014.
[FR Doc. 2014-05658 Filed 3-13-14; 8:45 am]
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