[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24449-24450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09883]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-14735; PX.P0073969J.00.1]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan
for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National
Monument, Counties of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service has prepared the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed General Management Plan
(GMP) for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National
Monument. The Final EIS/GMP evaluates four alternatives for managing
Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods, and upon approval
the GMP will serve as a blueprint to guide management of these units of
the National Park System over the next 20 years.
DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following Federal Register publication by
the Environmental Protection Agency of its notice of filing and
availability of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the Final EIS/GMP will be available
for public inspection on the project Web site, and a limited number of
CDs and printed copies will be made available at park headquarters.
Printed or CD copies may also be requested by contacting Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA
94123; telephone (415) 561-4930.
Background
Established in 1972 to bring ``parks to the people'', until now
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) has been operating under
the 1980 GMP. During the 30 years since the first GMP was approved,
GGNRA has doubled in size and visitation now approaches 16 million
annually. The management staff has gained a better understanding of the
natural and cultural resources of the park and the many recreational
uses that occur within the park areas. Muir Woods was declared a
national monument in 1908 and is currently managed as part of GGNRA.
Public scoping was initiated in the spring of 2006. The Notice of
Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on March
29, 2006. Five public scoping meetings were held in the area;
approximately 300 participants overall provided relevant information
which was duly considered in drafting preliminary alternatives. The
preliminary alternatives were initially reviewed with the public at
meetings held in June, 2008 (over 1,500 substantive comments were
collected). Additionally, numerous coordination meetings were conducted
with local agencies and partner organizations. An update on the
evolving preferred alternative was provided to the public in the
summer, 2009. The Draft EIS/GMP was released on September 9, 2011 with
comments accepted through December 9, 2011. Three public meetings were
hosted. Approximately 540 pieces of correspondence were received. Some
plan content was modified based on public comments, but there have been
very few substantial changes to the alternatives under consideration.
Proposed Plan and Alternatives
The Final EIS/GMP describes and analyzes four alternatives. The no-
action alternative consists of the existing park management and serves
as a comparative basis for evaluating the other alternatives.
Alternative 1, ``Connecting People with the Parks,'' would further
the founding idea of ``parks to the people'' and would engage the
community and other visitors in the enjoyment, understanding, and
stewardship of the park's resources and values. Park management would
focus on ways to attract and welcome people, connect people with the
resources, and promote understanding, enjoyment, preservation, and
health. Alternative 1 is the ``agency-preferred'' alternative for
managing most park lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo
Counties.
Alternative 2, ``Preserving and Enjoying Coastal Ecosystems,''
would place an emphasis on preserving, enhancing, and promoting the
dynamic and interconnected coastal ecosystems in which marine resources
are valued and prominently featured. Recreational and educational
opportunities would allow visitors to learn about and enjoy the ocean
and bay environments, and gain a better understanding of the region's
international significance and history.
Alternative 3, ``Focusing on National Treasures,'' would place an
emphasis on the park's nationally important natural and cultural
resources. The fundamental resources of each showcased site would be
managed at the highest level of preservation to protect the resources
in perpetuity and to
[[Page 24450]]
promote appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of those resources.
Visitors would have the opportunity to explore locally the wide variety
of experiences that are associated with many different types of units
of the National Park System. All other resources would be managed to
complement the nationally significant resources and associated visitor
experiences. Alternative 3 is the ``agency-preferred'' alternative for
Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods National Monument.
Alternative 1 is the ``environmentally preferred'' course of action
for lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Alternative
3 is ``environmentally preferred'' for Muir Woods National Monument and
Alcatraz Island.
Decision Process: As a delegated EIS the official responsible for
approval of the GMP is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
Subsequently the official responsible for implementing the new GMP is
the General Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Dated: December 27, 2013.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-09883 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
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