80 FR 61233 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Scorpion Pier Replacement, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 196 (October 9, 2015)

The National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Scorpion Pier Replacement on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park. The Draft EIS analyzes the potential consequences of three alternatives: The No Action Alternative; Alternative 1, which would replace the existing pier in the same location and make road improvements; and Alternative 2, which would construct the new replacement pier south of the existing location and make minor road improvements. The Draft EIS also proposes mitigation measures to minimize the adverse impacts from pier construction or utilization. Road improvements would be more extensive under Alternative 1.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61233-61234]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25786]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-18475; PX.P0127341D.00.4]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Scorpion Pier Replacement, 
Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura and Santa 
Barbara Counties, California

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Scorpion Pier 
Replacement on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park. The 
Draft EIS analyzes the potential consequences of three alternatives: 
The No Action Alternative; Alternative 1, which would replace the 
existing pier in the same location and make road improvements; and 
Alternative 2, which would construct the new replacement pier south of 
the existing location and make minor road improvements. The Draft EIS 
also proposes mitigation measures to minimize the adverse impacts from 
pier construction or utilization. Road improvements would be more 
extensive under Alternative 1.

DATES: All comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked or transmitted 
not later than 60 days after the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes notice of filing and release of the EIS in the Federal 
Register. The National Park Service will hold one public meeting during 
the comment period--the date, time, and location of the meeting will be 
announced on http://parkplanning.nps.gov/chis, via local and regional 
press media, and will also be available by contacting Channel Islands 
National Park.

ADDRESSES: Regularly updated project information will be available for 
public review and comment online through the NPS Planning, Environment 
& Public Comment Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.chis, and in 
the office of the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901 
Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001. You may submit comments by one of two 
methods: Mail or hand-deliver comments to Channel Islands National 
Park, Attn: DEIS--Scorpion Pier Replacement (address above), or you may 
transmit comments electronically via the Web site noted above. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Russell Galipeau, Superintendent, 
Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001; 
[email protected]; (805) 658-5702.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Channel Islands National Park includes five 
remote islands spanning 2,228 square miles of land and sea. Santa Cruz 
Island, Scorpion Anchorage, is the most visited destination within the 
Park. The existing pier needs to be replaced in order to improve safety 
and accessibility, allowing all visitors to move safely from vessels to 
the pier, and providing easy access to the adjacent shoreline, the 
historic Scorpion Ranch and visitor center, restrooms, orientation 
displays, campground, and hiking trails.
    The need for the Project is driven by the following factors: (1) 
Scorpion Pier should provide safe access to Santa Cruz Island. The 
existing pier is deteriorating and does not meet NPS requirements for 
administrative use or safe visitor access. The access road to the 
current location also requires frequent rebuilding. The current height 
of the pier cannot sufficiently accommodate high and low tides; as 
such, vessel operators have difficulty docking without compromising 
risk to individuals, vessels, and the pier itself. The embarkation 
process requires passengers to climb--one person at a time, often while 
carrying a backpack--a single ladder that is not compliant with 
standards for accessibility.
    (2) Scorpion Pier should facilitate efficient access to Santa Cruz 
Island that accommodates visitor demand. The existing pier and access 
road significantly weaken the efficiency of NPS operations. The one-
person ladder needed for embarkation, for example, lengthens the entire 
boarding process and increases visitor exposure to adverse weather 
conditions. The narrow width of the pier also causes delays because it 
cannot simultaneously accommodate visitors and large cargo (i.e., 
maintenance vehicles); as such, passenger embarkation must occur 
separately from many maintenance activities. Additionally, the lack of 
adequate armoring in the area increases the need for regular and 
expensive repairs to the eroding access road. Improvement of the pier 
and access road is necessary to meet current and future visitor 
demands.
    (3) Scorpion Pier and the access roadway should be operated in a 
manner that protects sensitive resources. The access road is extremely 
susceptible to harsh weather conditions, and is often washed out by 
Scorpion Creek when it floods. Maintenance of the existing pier access 
road currently requires repairing and re-grading several times per year 
due to wave and storm erosion. As a result of these ground-disturbing 
activities, sensitive archaeological resources may be threatened. 
Ongoing re-construction can also impact the environment through air 
emissions, erosion, and possible pollutants to waterways and sensitive 
habitats.
    (4) Scorpion Pier should provide access to Santa Cruz Island in 
consideration of predicted sea level rise. The predicted rise in sea 
level must be considered in the new pier design. Current predictions 
range from 0.33 foot to 1.1 foot by the year 2050, and 0.74 foot to 3.2 
feet by 2100. Anticipated sea level rise has implications for the new 
pier design, as well as for the dynamics of Scorpion Creek during large 
storm events.
    Accordingly, the range of alternatives which have been developed 
will fulfill the following key project objectives:
     Improve visitor experience.
     Improve the pier while protecting marine and terrestrial 
environments and archeological resources.
     Improve access for NPS and concessioner boats.

[[Page 61234]]

     Improve passenger, cargo, and operations circulation.
     Preserve historic landscape qualities and visual character 
of Scorpion Ranch.
     Improve efficiency and sustainability.
    Decision Process: Following due consideration of all public and 
agency comments received, a Final EIS will be prepared and released for 
public inspection during a 30 day no-action period. The official 
responsible for approval of the pier replacement project is the 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region. Subsequently the official 
responsible for implementing the approved project and for monitoring 
results is the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park.

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

    Note:  The Office of the Federal Register received this document 
on October 6, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015-25786 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
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