[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 This communications technology is obsolete and AT&T officials have notified the Department of the Interior of their desire to remove segments of the system (consisting of underground coaxial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