80 FR 55378 - Record of Decision 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 178 (September 15, 2015)

Page Range		55378-55378
FR Document		2015-23170

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared and approved a Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Wilderness Stewardship Plan (WSP) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Approval of the WSP culminates an extensive public engagement and environmental impact analysis effort that began in 2009. The legally required thirty-day no-action ``wait period'' was initiated on April 3, 2015, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register publication of the filing of the Final EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 55378]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23170]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-18359;PX.P0206452B.00.1]


Record of Decision for Wilderness Stewardship Plan, Sequoia and 
Kings Canyon National Parks, Fresno and Tulare Counties, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared and approved a 
Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
and Wilderness Stewardship Plan (WSP) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon 
National Parks. Approval of the WSP culminates an extensive public 
engagement and environmental impact analysis effort that began in 2009. 
The legally required thirty-day no-action ``wait period'' was initiated 
on April 3, 2015, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal 
Register publication of the filing of the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Those wishing to review the Record of Decision may obtain a 
copy by submitting their request to the Superintendent, Sequoia and 
Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 
93271.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Woody Smeck, Superintendent, (559) 
565-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 26, 2011, a Notice of Intent to 
prepare an EIS for the WSP was published in the Federal Register. The 
NPS developed the WSP/EIS with substantial input and participation from 
the public. The park hosted 16 public meetings and presentations 
(including one webinar) and received over 1,300 written public comments 
throughout the public scoping period and public review of the Draft 
WSP/EIS (released for sixty-day review period on July 1, 2014). The NPS 
consulted with park partners; traditionally associated American Indian 
tribes and groups; the State Historic Preservation Officer; and other 
federal and state agencies. The U.S. Forest Service was a cooperating 
agency in the planning process.
    The Final WSP/EIS (released on April 3, 2015) evaluated the 
environmental consequences of four action alternatives and a no-action 
alternative. These alternatives described five different ways to 
provide appropriate types and levels of access for visitors and 
authorized users, preserve wilderness character, protect cultural and 
natural resources, and adhere to legally required management and 
preservation objectives.
    Alternative 2, the management-preferred alternative, has been 
selected for implementation. It provides a targeted approach to 
preserving wilderness character by focusing on those areas where 
conditions warrant management actions. Alternative 2 allows for current 
types and levels of use, and builds on existing management practices to 
protect wilderness character and the natural and cultural resources in 
the parks. The goal of Alternative 2 is to encourage wilderness use and 
minimize restrictions while preserving wilderness character. 
Alternative 2 recommends a 691-mile designated trail system (mirrors 
current conditions), of which 650 miles (95 percent) are open to stock. 
Approximately 41 miles of trails are closed to stock for visitor safety 
and protection of natural and cultural resources. Meadows in areas open 
to stock are available for grazing under a meadow management program 
with limited exceptions. Seven meadows are closed to grazing along the 
Pacific Crest Trail and High Sierra Trail to protect scenery for public 
enjoyment.

    Dated: September 1, 2015.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 2015-23170 Filed 9-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FF-P

55378 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices

survey and subdivision of sections, Draft WSP/EIS (released for sixty-day DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
accepted August 5, 2015. review period on July 1, 2014). The NPS
T. 15 S., R. 3 E., dependent resurvey and Bureau of Reclamation
consulted with park partners;
metes-and-bounds survey, accepted
August 5, 2015. traditionally associated American [15XR5173F7, RR02142500,
T. 10 S., R. 14 E., supplemental plat of the Indian tribes and groups; the State RX.12056050.0000004]
SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of section 4, Historic Preservation Officer; and other
accepted August 20, 2015. federal and state agencies. The U.S. Notice of Availability for the Final
T. 10 S., R. 14 E., supplemental plat of the Forest Service was a cooperating agency Environmental Impact Statement for
SE 1/4 of section 15 and the NW 1/4 of in the planning process. the North Valley Regional Recycled
the NW 1/4 of section 23, accepted Water Program
August 20, 2015. The Final WSP/EIS (released on April
3, 2015) evaluated the environmental AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation,
Authority: 43 U.S.C., Chapter 3.
consequences of four action alternatives Interior.
Dated: August 28, 2015. and a no-action alternative. These ACTION: Notice.
Lance J. Bishop, alternatives described five different
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, California. ways to provide appropriate types and SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation
[FR Doc. 2015–23134 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am] levels of access for visitors and has made available the North Valley
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P authorized users, preserve wilderness Regional Recycled Water Program Final
character, protect cultural and natural Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The North Valley Regional Recycled
resources, and adhere to legally required
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Water Program would provide recycled
management and preservation
water from the Cities of Turlock and
National Park Service objectives. Modesto via the Central Valley Project’s
Alternative 2, the management- Delta-Mendota Canal to Del Puerto
[NPS–PWR–PWRO–
18359;PX.P0206452B.00.1] preferred alternative, has been selected Water District for irrigation purposes,
for implementation. It provides a and would further provide annual
Record of Decision for Wilderness targeted approach to preserving supplemental water to south of the
Stewardship Plan, Sequoia and Kings wilderness character by focusing on Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Canyon National Parks, Fresno and those areas where conditions warrant Central Valley Project Improvement Act-
Tulare Counties, California management actions. Alternative 2 designated wildlife refuges.
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. allows for current types and levels of DATES: The Bureau of Reclamation will
use, and builds on existing management not make a decision on the proposed
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
practices to protect wilderness character action until at least 30 days after release
SUMMARY: The National Park Service and the natural and cultural resources of the Final EIS. After the 30-day
(NPS) has prepared and approved a in the parks. The goal of Alternative 2 waiting period, Reclamation will
Record of Decision for the Final is to encourage wilderness use and complete a Record of Decision (ROD).
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) minimize restrictions while preserving The ROD will state the action that will
and Wilderness Stewardship Plan wilderness character. Alternative 2 be implemented and will discuss all
(WSP) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon recommends a 691-mile designated trail factors leading to the decision.
National Parks. Approval of the WSP system (mirrors current conditions), of ADDRESSES: To request a compact disc
culminates an extensive public which 650 miles (95 percent) are open of the Final EIS, please contact Ms. Rain
engagement and environmental impact to stock. Approximately 41 miles of Emerson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243
analysis effort that began in 2009. The trails are closed to stock for visitor N Street, Fresno, California 93721;
legally required thirty-day no-action safety and protection of natural and telephone at (559) 487–5196; or via
‘‘wait period’’ was initiated on April 3, cultural resources. Meadows in areas email at remerson@usbr.gov.
2015, with the Environmental open to stock are available for grazing The Final EIS may be viewed at the
Protection Agency’s Federal Register Bureau of Reclamation’s Web site at
under a meadow management program
publication of the filing of the Final EIS. http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_
with limited exceptions. Seven
ADDRESSES: Those wishing to review the projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=17241, or at
meadows are closed to grazing along the the following locations:
Record of Decision may obtain a copy
Pacific Crest Trail and High Sierra Trail 1. Bureau of Reclamation, South-
by submitting their request to the
to protect scenery for public enjoyment. Central California Area Office, 1243 N
Superintendent, Sequoia and Kings
Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Dated: September 1, 2015. Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271. Martha J. Lee, 2. Natural Resources Library, U.S.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street
Woody Smeck, Superintendent, (559) NW., Main Interior Building,
[FR Doc. 2015–23170 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am] Washington, DC 20240–0001.
565–3100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April
BILLING CODE 4312–FF–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
26, 2011, a Notice of Intent to prepare Rain Emerson, Supervisory Natural
an EIS for the WSP was published in the Resources Specialist, Bureau of
Reclamation, via email at remerson@
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register. The NPS developed
the WSP/EIS with substantial input and usbr.gov, or at (559) 487–5196; or Mr.
participation from the public. The park Scott Taylor, Repayment Specialist,
hosted 16 public meetings and Bureau of Reclamation, via email at
presentations (including one webinar) staylor@usbr.gov, or at (559) 487–5504.
and received over 1,300 written public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Del
comments throughout the public Puerto Water District (Del Puerto WD)
scoping period and public review of the and the Cities of Turlock and Modesto

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:09:14
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:09:14

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.
Contact		Woody Smeck, Superintendent, (559) 565-3100.
FR Citation		80 FR 55378

80 FR 55378 - Record of Decision for Wilderness Stewardship Plan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Fresno and Tulare Counties, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNational Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 178 (September 15, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service