[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19809-19810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10433]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Mojave National Preserve Notice of Intent to Prepare 
Environmental Impact Statement for AT&T Corp's Removal of Coaxial Cable

Summary

    In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (PL91-190), the National Park Service is initiating 
an environmental impact analysis process to identify and assess 
potential impacts of alternative means proposed for recovering 
approximately 220 miles of a coaxial cable communications system. AT&T 
Corp. of Atlanta, Georgia (AT&T) owns and maintains a transcontinental 
Phillips-140 cable system, a portion of which extends for 709 miles 
between Mojave, California and Socorro, New Mexico. This communications 
technology is obsolete and AT&T officials have notified the Department 
of the Interior of their desire to remove segments of the system 
(consisting of underground coaxial communications cable and appurtenant 
surface and below-ground servicing facilities).

Background

    AT&T was originally issued Right-of-Way Grants for the subject 
communications system in 1963 and 1964. In March, 1997 a formal request 
to terminate portions of the right-of-way was submitted to the National 
Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, pursuant to the terms 
of the grants. Upon preliminary review of the formal termination 
request and supplemental materials (an environmental report and draft 
plan of operation for removing the cable), it has been determined that 
the potential for significant impact to the human environment may 
exist. Notice is hereby given that it is anticipated that a draft 
environmental impact statement and removal plan (DEIS/RP) will be 
prepared. As the Department's designated lead bureau, the National

[[Page 19810]]

Park Service will be joined by the Bureau of Land Management and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as cooperating agencies in the DEIS/RP 
process. All three agencies will collaborate in identifying and 
analyzing alternative means for accomplishing cable removal while 
providing for resource protection and restoration, and minimizing 
disturbance to visitors, users, and operations. As a conceptual 
framework for formulating these alternatives, the purposes of the 
Federal lands managed will be identified and contrasted. Other key 
elements to be addressed include: project-associated cultural and 
natural resources, visitor patterns and experiences, authorized users, 
access and management facilities, and available recovery and 
remediation techniques.

Comments

    All interested persons, organizations, and agencies wishing to 
provide initial comments or suggestions about issues and concerns 
recommended to be addressed in the DEIS/RP may send such information to 
the Superintendent, Mojave National Preserve, 222 East Main Street, 
Suite 202, Barstow, California, 92311; or to Ms. Joan DeGraff, Project 
Manager, Denver Service Center, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box, 
Denver, Colorado, 80225-0281. All such comments should be postmarked 
not later than sixty (60) days from the date of publication of this 
Notice. All respondents will be included in timely project updates. In 
addition, it is anticipated that several public hearings will be held 
in late April or early May, 1997, affording an additional early comment 
opportunity. Full details on times and locations of these sessions may 
be obtained by contacting the Project Manager at the above address or 
via telephone at (303) 969-2464.

Supplementary Information

    The subsequent availability of a DEIS/RP will be announced by 
formal Notice and in local and regional news media. The DEIS/RP is 
anticipated to be completed and available for public review during late 
summer, 1997. A final environmental impact statement (FEIS) is 
anticipated to be completed approximately six months later. A Record of 
Decision will be published in the Federal Register not sooner than 
thirty (30) days after distribution of the FEIS document. The 
responsible official is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, 
National Park Service.

    Dated: April 9, 1997.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 97-10433 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P