80 FR 18865 - Final Environmental Impact Statement for Wilderness Stewardship Plan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Fresno and Tulare Counties, California
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
| Page Range | 18865-18866 | |
| FR Document | 2015-08041 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 18865-18866] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-08041] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-PWR-PWRO-17645; PX.P0206452B.00.1] Final Environmental Impact Statement for Wilderness Stewardship Plan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Fresno and Tulare Counties, California AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Final WSP/EIS). The Final WSP/EIS identifies and analyzes five alternatives that will provide direction for the NPS to make decisions regarding the future use and protection of the Sequoia-Kings Canyon and John Krebs Wilderness within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 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 availability for the Final EIS in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Hendricks, Environmental Compliance and Planning Coordinator, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271, (559) 565-3102. Electronic versions of the complete document are available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. Request printed documents or CDs through email ([email protected]) (type ``Final WSP/EIS'' in the subject line) or telephone (559) 565-3102. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purposes of the WSP/EIS include implementing the long-term vision for protecting wilderness character that is contained in the parks' Final General Management Plan (GMP)/ Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as well as enhancing established programs and actions for managing these areas as wilderness. A variety of controversial or long-standing issues are addressed in the WSP/EIS, including visitor capacity, wilderness permitting, party (group) size limits for people and stock, campfire regulations, camping locations and regulations, food-storage requirements, human-waste management, stock access, stock grazing, maintenance of facilities and trails, and management of frontcountry facilities that support wilderness use. The WSP/EIS also analyzes and determines the types and levels of commercial services that may be performed for activities that are proper for realizing the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the areas, as required by Sec. 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (Extent Necessary Determination). The WSP/EIS considers five alternatives that would manage the overall character of the parks' wilderness, including key aspects such as wilderness use levels, access and trails, stock use and grazing, recreational and administrative infrastructure, and the extent to which those activities proper for realizing wilderness purposes may be supported by commercial services. The main differences between these alternatives lie in the key elements of wilderness management--use levels, access and trails, stock use and grazing, and infrastructure, both recreational and administrative. These differences are driven by the different approach to management that each alternative offers. Each alternative serves visitor and/or operational needs in different ways, and would preserve natural resources in a condition that is consistent with the purposes of the Wilderness Act. Alternative 1 (No-action/Status Quo) would continue to implement the existing Backcountry Management Plan (BMP) and the Stock Use and Meadow Management Plan (SUMMP) to guide wilderness management. The BMP establishes trailhead quotas, a wilderness permit system, and management objectives for campfires, campsites, sanitation, food storage, special-use limits, area closures, stock use and grazing, education and interpretation, trails and travel, signs, commercial operations, ranger stations, administrative policies, and monitoring (e.g., meadows monitoring). The SUMMP establishes the management system and tools for stock use and includes site-specific opening dates for grazing, grazing management, use levels, protection of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep ewe-lamb ranges, installation of [[Page 18866]] drift fences, stock and camp etiquette, implementation of temporary variances, and other closures. The SUMMP also establishes a monitoring program to inform and modify management as necessary to reduce resource impacts. Alternative 2 (NPS preferred alternative) would protect wilderness character by implementing site-specific actions, incorporating much of the current management strategies and tools used by the parks to protect wilderness. Wilderness would be managed by evaluating conditions in specific areas and mitigating impacts through targeted actions. The goal is to encourage wilderness use and minimize restrictions while preserving wilderness character. Alternative 2 acknowledges that there are some challenges in the most popular areas and in areas with sensitive resources that can be mitigated through targeted improvements in management. Most wilderness trails in the parks would remain open to stock under this alternative. Stock would continue to be allowed to travel up to one-half mile off maintained trails to reach campsites. Off-trail stock travel would continue to be allowed in four areas of the parks: On the Monarch Divide, in the Roaring River area, on the Hockett Plateau, and along the western side of the Kern River watershed south from the Chagoopa Plateau. Grazing would generally be allowed in areas open to camping with stock (within 0.5 mile of maintained trails open to camping with stock or in off- trail travel areas), with some exceptions. Under alternative 2, the levels and types of commercial services to be performed would be similar to current conditions. However, the levels and types of commercial services allowed would be limited in the Mount Whitney Management Area, an approximately 37,200 acre area around Mount Whitney within Sequoia National Park. Alternative 3 would provide more opportunities for primitive recreation by allowing additional use, which would be expected to occur mostly in popular areas. To preserve the natural quality of wilderness, the popular use areas in wilderness would require additional development and restrictions on visitor behavior. Most wilderness trails in the parks would remain open to stock under this alternative. Stock would continue to be allowed to travel up to one-half mile off maintained trails to reach campsites. Off-trail stock travel would continue to be allowed in four areas of the parks: On the Monarch Divide, in the Roaring River area, on the Hockett Plateau, and along the western side of the Kern River watershed south from the Chagoopa Plateau. Grazing would generally be allowed within 0.5 mile of maintained trails open to camping with stock, with some exceptions. As part of allowing increased use, the levels of commercial services would increase to accommodate less experienced visitors, to help educate visitors, and to control the impacts of inexperienced or inadequately equipped visitors. Alternative 4 emphasizes the undeveloped quality and non-commercial recreation. This alternative would eliminate some of the development currently in wilderness to emphasize the undeveloped quality of wilderness. There would be fewer signs, bridges, stock-related facilities, and ranger stations. Restrooms/privies and food-storage boxes would be removed and there would be no designated campsites. Because fewer resource-protecting developments would remain in place, the amount of use would need to be reduced to protect the natural quality of wilderness. Private parties traveling with stock would continue to have access to most trails in the parks, and stock would continue to be allowed to travel off-trail in four designated areas. However, commercial stock use would be limited to certain destinations and trails. No private, commercial, or administrative stock grazing would be allowed under this alternative. Commercial services would be reduced to levels significantly lower than those in the no-action alternative and commercial services would be limited in high-use areas Alternative 5 (environmentally preferable alternative) emphasizes opportunities for solitude by reducing the total number of wilderness visitors allowed in wilderness. Presence of fewer visitors in wilderness would in turn allow for reduced levels of development, along with reduced restrictions on visitor behavior (fewer people need fewer facilities). Reducing the numbers of visitors would also result in reduced impacts on resources. Stock travel more than 0.5 mile from trails open to camping with stock would be prohibited. Stock use and grazing would generally be allowed in most areas where overnight use is permitted with some exceptions. Commercial services would be at levels lower than those in the no-action alternative in most locations, but the percentage of total visitor use supported by commercial services would be similar to the no-action alternative to ensure that reduced access would not disproportionally affect any particular user group. Dated: February 6, 2015. Patricia L. Neubacher, Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region. [FR Doc. 2015-08041 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices 18865
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR from location and entry under the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. as well as enhancing established
Bureau of Land Management Ch. 2), but not from leasing under the programs and actions for managing
mineral leasing laws, to protect the these areas as wilderness. A variety of
[LLOR–936000–L14300000–ET0000–
14XL1116AF; HAG–14–0109; WAOR–50706] investment at the Brown Mountain, Pal controversial or long-standing issues are
Moore Meadows, Teepee, Cedar Creek, addressed in the WSP/EIS, including
Public Land Order No. 7832 Extension and Flowery Trail Seed Orchards, is visitor capacity, wilderness permitting,
of Public Land Order No. 7133; hereby extended for an additional 20- party (group) size limits for people and
Washington year period until April 12, 2035. stock, campfire regulations, camping
Dated: March 23, 2015. locations and regulations, food-storage
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, requirements, human-waste
Interior. Janice M. Schneider,
management, stock access, stock
Assistant Secretary—Land and Minerals grazing, maintenance of facilities and
ACTION: Public Land Order. Management.
trails, and management of frontcountry
SUMMARY: This order extends the [FR Doc. 2015–08009 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am]
facilities that support wilderness use.
duration of the withdrawal created by BILLING CODE 3410–11–P The WSP/EIS also analyzes and
Public Land Order 7133 for an determines the types and levels of
additional 20-year period. This commercial services that may be
extension is necessary to continue DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR performed for activities that are proper
protection of the Brown Mountain, Pal for realizing the recreational or other
National Park Service
Moore Meadows, Teepee, Cedar Creek, wilderness purposes of the areas, as
and Flowery Trail Seed Orchards, [NPS–PWR–PWRO–17645; required by § 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness
located in the Colville and Kaniksu PX.P0206452B.00.1] Act (Extent Necessary Determination).
National Forests, which will expire on The WSP/EIS considers five
April 12, 2015, unless extended. Final Environmental Impact Statement alternatives that would manage the
for Wilderness Stewardship Plan, overall character of the parks’
DATE: Effective Date: April 13, 2015.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National wilderness, including key aspects such
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Parks, Fresno and Tulare Counties,
Michael L. Barnes, Bureau of Land as wilderness use levels, access and
California trails, stock use and grazing,
Management Oregon/Washington State
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. recreational and administrative
Office, 503–808–6155, or Candice
ACTION: Notice of Availability. infrastructure, and the extent to which
Polisky, U.S. Forest Service Pacific
those activities proper for realizing
Northwest Region, 503–808–2479.
SUMMARY: The National Park Service wilderness purposes may be supported
Persons who use a telecommunications
(NPS) has prepared a Wilderness by commercial services. The main
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Stewardship Plan and Environmental differences between these alternatives
Federal Information Relay Service
Impact Statement (Final WSP/EIS). The lie in the key elements of wilderness
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the
Final WSP/EIS identifies and analyzes management—use levels, access and
above individual. The FIRS is available
five alternatives that will provide trails, stock use and grazing, and
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave
direction for the NPS to make decisions infrastructure, both recreational and
a message or question with the above administrative. These differences are
individual. You will receive a reply regarding the future use and protection
of the Sequoia-Kings Canyon and John driven by the different approach to
during normal business hours. management that each alternative offers.
Krebs Wilderness within Sequoia and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Each alternative serves visitor and/or
Kings Canyon National Parks.
purpose for which the withdrawal was operational needs in different ways, and
DATES: The NPS will execute a Record
first made requires this extension to would preserve natural resources in a
continue protection of the investments of Decision not sooner than 30 days
from the date of publication of the U.S. condition that is consistent with the
made in the Brown Mountain, Pal purposes of the Wilderness Act.
Moore Meadows, Teepee, Cedar Creek, Environmental Protection Agency’s
Alternative 1 (No-action/Status Quo)
and Flowery Trail Seed Orchards in notice of availability for the Final EIS in
would continue to implement the
Colville and Kaniksu National Forests. the Federal Register.
existing Backcountry Management Plan
The withdrawal extended by this order FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (BMP) and the Stock Use and Meadow
will expire on April 12, 2035, unless, as Nancy Hendricks, Environmental Management Plan (SUMMP) to guide
a result of a review conducted prior to Compliance and Planning Coordinator, wilderness management. The BMP
the expiration date pursuant to Section Sequoia and Kings Canyon National establishes trailhead quotas, a
204(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three wilderness permit system, and
Management Act of 1976 43 U.S.C. Rivers, CA 93271, (559) 565–3102. management objectives for campfires,
1714, the Secretary of the Interior Electronic versions of the complete campsites, sanitation, food storage,
determines that the withdrawal shall be document are available online at http:// special-use limits, area closures, stock
further extended. parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. Request use and grazing, education and
printed documents or CDs through interpretation, trails and travel, signs,
Order email (seki_planning@nps.gov) (type commercial operations, ranger stations,
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
By virtue of the authority vested in ‘‘Final WSP/EIS’’ in the subject line) or administrative policies, and monitoring
the Secretary of the Interior by Section telephone (559) 565–3102. (e.g., meadows monitoring). The
204 of the Federal Land Policy and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SUMMP establishes the management
Management Act of 1976 43 U.S.C. purposes of the WSP/EIS include system and tools for stock use and
1714, it is ordered as follows: implementing the long-term vision for includes site-specific opening dates for
Public Land Order No. 7133 (60 FR protecting wilderness character that is grazing, grazing management, use levels,
18777(1995)), which withdrew 496.22 contained in the parks’ Final General protection of Sierra Nevada bighorn
acres of National Forest System lands Management Plan (GMP)/Final sheep ewe-lamb ranges, installation of
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Apr 07, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM 08APN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_18932/page/1.svg)
![18866 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices
drift fences, stock and camp etiquette, generally be allowed within 0.5 mile of Dated: February 6, 2015.
implementation of temporary variances, maintained trails open to camping with Patricia L. Neubacher,
and other closures. The SUMMP also stock, with some exceptions. As part of Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
establishes a monitoring program to allowing increased use, the levels of [FR Doc. 2015–08041 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am]
inform and modify management as commercial services would increase to BILLING CODE P
necessary to reduce resource impacts. accommodate less experienced visitors,
Alternative 2 (NPS preferred to help educate visitors, and to control
alternative) would protect wilderness the impacts of inexperienced or
character by implementing site-specific DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
inadequately equipped visitors.
actions, incorporating much of the
Alternative 4 emphasizes the National Park Service
current management strategies and tools
used by the parks to protect wilderness. undeveloped quality and non-
Wilderness would be managed by commercial recreation. This alternative [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–17899;
evaluating conditions in specific areas would eliminate some of the PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000]
and mitigating impacts through targeted development currently in wilderness to
actions. The goal is to encourage emphasize the undeveloped quality of National Register of Historic Places;
wilderness use and minimize wilderness. There would be fewer signs, Notification of Pending Nominations
restrictions while preserving wilderness bridges, stock-related facilities, and and Related Actions
character. Alternative 2 acknowledges ranger stations. Restrooms/privies and
that there are some challenges in the food-storage boxes would be removed Nominations for the following
most popular areas and in areas with and there would be no designated properties being considered for listing
sensitive resources that can be mitigated campsites. Because fewer resource- or related actions in the National
through targeted improvements in protecting developments would remain Register were received by the National
management. Most wilderness trails in in place, the amount of use would need Park Service before March 14, 2015.
the parks would remain open to stock to be reduced to protect the natural Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR part
under this alternative. Stock would quality of wilderness. Private parties 60, written comments are being
continue to be allowed to travel up to traveling with stock would continue to accepted concerning the significance of
one-half mile off maintained trails to have access to most trails in the parks, the nominated properties under the
reach campsites. Off-trail stock travel and stock would continue to be allowed National Register criteria for evaluation.
would continue to be allowed in four Comments may be forwarded by United
to travel off-trail in four designated
areas of the parks: On the Monarch States Postal Service, to the National
areas. However, commercial stock use
Divide, in the Roaring River area, on the Register of Historic Places, National
Hockett Plateau, and along the western would be limited to certain destinations
and trails. No private, commercial, or Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., MS 2280,
side of the Kern River watershed south Washington, DC 20240; by all other
from the Chagoopa Plateau. Grazing administrative stock grazing would be
allowed under this alternative. carriers, National Register of Historic
would generally be allowed in areas
Commercial services would be reduced Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye
open to camping with stock (within 0.5
mile of maintained trails open to to levels significantly lower than those St. NW., 8th Floor, Washington, DC
camping with stock or in off-trail travel in the no-action alternative and 20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written
areas), with some exceptions. Under commercial services would be limited or faxed comments should be submitted
alternative 2, the levels and types of in high-use areas by April 23, 2015. Before including your
commercial services to be performed Alternative 5 (environmentally address, phone number, email address,
would be similar to current conditions. preferable alternative) emphasizes or other personal identifying
However, the levels and types of opportunities for solitude by reducing information in your comment, you
commercial services allowed would be the total number of wilderness visitors should be aware that your entire
limited in the Mount Whitney allowed in wilderness. Presence of comment—including your personal
Management Area, an approximately fewer visitors in wilderness would in identifying information—may be made
37,200 acre area around Mount Whitney turn allow for reduced levels of publicly available at any time. While
within Sequoia National Park. development, along with reduced you can ask us in your comment to
Alternative 3 would provide more withhold your personal identifying
restrictions on visitor behavior (fewer
opportunities for primitive recreation by information from public review, we
people need fewer facilities). Reducing
allowing additional use, which would cannot guarantee that we will be able to
the numbers of visitors would also
be expected to occur mostly in popular do so.
areas. To preserve the natural quality of result in reduced impacts on resources.
wilderness, the popular use areas in Stock travel more than 0.5 mile from Dated: March 18, 2015.
wilderness would require additional trails open to camping with stock would J. Paul Loether,
development and restrictions on visitor be prohibited. Stock use and grazing
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/
behavior. Most wilderness trails in the would generally be allowed in most National Historic Landmarks Program.
parks would remain open to stock under areas where overnight use is permitted
this alternative. Stock would continue with some exceptions. Commercial ARIZONA
to be allowed to travel up to one-half services would be at levels lower than
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Cochise County
mile off maintained trails to reach those in the no-action alternative in
Bowie School District No. 14, 315 W. 5th St.,
campsites. Off-trail stock travel would most locations, but the percentage of
Bowie, 15000168
continue to be allowed in four areas of total visitor use supported by
the parks: On the Monarch Divide, in commercial services would be similar to CALIFORNIA
the Roaring River area, on the Hockett the no-action alternative to ensure that
Los Angeles County
Plateau, and along the western side of reduced access would not
the Kern River watershed south from the disproportionally affect any particular Federal Building, 15000 Aviation Blvd.,
Chagoopa Plateau. Grazing would user group. Hawthorne, 15000169
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:07:07
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:07:07
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of Availability. | |
| 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 availability for the Final EIS in the Federal Register. | |
| Contact | Nancy Hendricks, Environmental Compliance and Planning Coordinator, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271, (559) 565-3102. Electronic versions of the complete document are available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. Request printed documents or CDs through email ([email protected]) (type ``Final WSP/EIS'' in the subject line) or telephone (559) 565-3102. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 18865 |
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