82 FR 23290 - Final Environmental Impact Statement for Scorpion Pier Replacement, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 97 (May 22, 2017)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 97 (May 22, 2017)
| Page Range | 23290-23291 | |
| FR Document | 2017-10426 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 23290-23291] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-10426] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-PWR-PWRO-21619; PX.XPWRATP16.00.1] Final Environmental Impact Statement for Scorpion Pier Replacement, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Replacement of the Scorpion Pier on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park. The Final EIS identifies and analyzes the potential consequences of three alternatives: The No Action Alternative; Alternative 1, which would replace the existing pier in the current location and make extensive road improvements; and Alternative 2, which would construct a new replacement pier south of the existing location and make minor road improvements. It also proposes mitigation measures to minimize the adverse impacts from construction or operation of the alternatives where such impacts may occur. DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days after the date of publication of the Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: The Final EIS is available for public inspection online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.chis, in local public libraries, and in the office of the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 658-5702. 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: Santa Cruz Island is one of five remote islands spanning 2,228 square miles of land and sea comprising Channel Islands National Park. Given necessity for boat access to the island, need for the Project is driven by the following factors: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 unsteady ladder that is not compliant with standards for accessible design. Scorpion Pier should provide 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. 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. Scorpion Pier should provide access to Santa Cruz Island in consideration of predicted sea level rise. The predicted rise in sea level due to global warming must also be considered in the new design for the pier. 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, key project objectives include: (1) Improve the visitor experience; (2) Improve the pier while protecting marine and terrestrial environments; (3) Improve access for NPS and concessioner boats; (4) Improve passenger, cargo, and operations circulation; (5) Protect archaeological resources; (6) Preserve the historic landscape qualities and visual character of Scorpion Ranch; and (7) Improve efficiency and sustainability. The Draft EIS was made available for public review and comment from October 9, 2015, through December 18, 2015. The full text and graphics were also posted on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/chis). During the review period, the NPS received only six separate pieces of correspondence--the majority of comments were in regards to the general planning process and project design, as well as concerns about protecting aquatic biological resources and air quality. There were no objections to the proposed actions. After considering all comments received, the NPS prepared the Final EIS. There are no substantive [[Page 23291]] changes to the range of alternatives considered. Alternative 2 is deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' course of action, and is identified as the agency-preferred alternative. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Dated: February 27, 2017. Laura E. Joss Regional Director, Pacific West. [FR Doc. 2017-10426 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
![23290 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices
laws, but not from conveyance under which would construct a new activities. Additionally, the lack of
Section 701 of the CDPA (108 Stat. replacement pier south of the existing adequate armoring in the area increases
4471), is hereby extended for an location and make minor road the need for regular and expensive
additional 20-year period as to the improvements. It also proposes repairs to the eroding access road.
following described lands: mitigation measures to minimize the Improvement of the pier and access road
adverse impacts from construction or is necessary to meet current and future
Mount Diablo Meridian
operation of the alternatives where such visitor demands.
T. 29 S., R. 38 E., impacts may occur. • Scorpion Pier and the access
Sec. 4, lot 1, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, roadway should be operated in a
SE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and DATES: The NPS will execute a Record
of Decision no sooner than 30 days after manner that protects sensitive
NW1⁄4SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 5, S1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, the date of publication of the Notice of resources. The access road is extremely
SW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, Availability published in the Federal susceptible to harsh weather conditions,
NE1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and Register by the Environmental and is often washed out by Scorpion
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Protection Agency. Creek when it floods. Maintenance of
Sec. 7, lots 3 and 4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and ADDRESSES: The Final EIS is available the existing pier access road currently
W1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4; requires repairing and re-grading several
for public inspection online at http://
Sec. 8, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and times per year due to wave and storm
NW1⁄4SE1⁄4; parkplanning.nps.gov.chis, in local
public libraries, and in the office of the erosion. As a result of these ground-
Sec. 18, lots 1 and 2; disturbing activities, sensitive
Sec. 30, lots 4 and 6, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, Superintendent, Channel Islands
National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Dr., archaeological resources may be
E1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
E1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 658–5702. threatened. Ongoing re-construction can
W1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and also impact the environment through air
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4. emissions, erosion, and possible
Russell Galipeau, Superintendent,
The areas described aggregate 830.07 acres pollutants to waterways and sensitive
Channel Islands National Park, 1901
in Kern County. habitats.
Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001;
• Scorpion Pier should provide
2. The withdrawal extended by this russell_galipeau@nps.gov; (805) 658–
access to Santa Cruz Island in
order will terminate automatically upon 5702.
consideration of predicted sea level rise.
issuance of patent or expire on May 12, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Santa The predicted rise in sea level due to
2037, unless, as a result of a review Cruz Island is one of five remote islands global warming must also be considered
conducted before the expiration date spanning 2,228 square miles of land and in the new design for the pier. Current
pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal sea comprising Channel Islands predictions range from 0.33 foot to 1.1
Land Policy and Management Act of National Park. Given necessity for boat foot by the year 2050, and 0.74 foot to
1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f), the Secretary access to the island, need for the Project 3.2 feet by 2100. Anticipated sea level
determines that the withdrawal shall be is driven by the following factors: rise has implications for the new pier
further extended. • Scorpion Pier should provide safe design, as well as for the dynamics of
Dated: May 12, 2017. access to Santa Cruz Island. The existing Scorpion Creek during large storm
Ryan K. Zinke, pier is deteriorating and does not meet events.
NPS requirements for administrative use Accordingly, key project objectives
Secretary of the Interior.
or safe visitor access. The access road to include: (1) Improve the visitor
[FR Doc. 2017–10357 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
the current location also requires experience; (2) Improve the pier while
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
frequent rebuilding. The current height protecting marine and terrestrial
of the pier cannot sufficiently environments; (3) Improve access for
accommodate high and low tides; as NPS and concessioner boats; (4)
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
such, vessel operators have difficulty Improve passenger, cargo, and
National Park Service docking without compromising risk to operations circulation; (5) Protect
individuals, vessels, and the pier itself. archaeological resources; (6) Preserve
[NPS–PWR–PWRO–21619; The embarkation process requires the historic landscape qualities and
PX.XPWRATP16.00.1] passengers to climb—one person at a visual character of Scorpion Ranch; and
time, often while carrying a backpack— (7) Improve efficiency and
Final Environmental Impact Statement
a single unsteady ladder that is not sustainability.
for Scorpion Pier Replacement,
compliant with standards for accessible The Draft EIS was made available for
Channel Islands National Park, Ventura
design. public review and comment from
and Santa Barbara Counties, California
• Scorpion Pier should provide October 9, 2015, through December 18,
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. efficient access to Santa Cruz Island that 2015. The full text and graphics were
ACTION: Notice of availability. accommodates visitor demand. The also posted on the NPS Planning,
existing pier and access road Environment and Public Comment Web
SUMMARY: The National Park Service significantly weaken the efficiency of site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/chis).
(NPS) announces the availability of the NPS operations. The one-person ladder During the review period, the NPS
Final Environmental Impact Statement needed for embarkation, for example, received only six separate pieces of
(EIS) for Replacement of the Scorpion lengthens the entire boarding process correspondence—the majority of
Pier on Santa Cruz Island, Channel and increases visitor exposure to comments were in regards to the general
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Islands National Park. The Final EIS adverse weather conditions. The narrow planning process and project design, as
identifies and analyzes the potential width of the pier also causes delays well as concerns about protecting
consequences of three alternatives: The because it cannot simultaneously aquatic biological resources and air
No Action Alternative; Alternative 1, accommodate visitors and large cargo quality. There were no objections to the
which would replace the existing pier in (i.e., maintenance vehicles); as such, proposed actions. After considering all
the current location and make extensive passenger embarkation must occur comments received, the NPS prepared
road improvements; and Alternative 2, separately from many maintenance the Final EIS. There are no substantive
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices 23291
changes to the range of alternatives Tuesday, June 20, 2017, the day before II. Statutes and Regulations
considered. Alternative 2 is deemed to the lease sale. For more information on Each lease is issued pursuant to the
be the ‘‘environmentally preferred’’ bid submission, see Section VII, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
course of action, and is identified as the ‘‘Bidding Instructions,’’ of this (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), and is
agency-preferred alternative. document. subject to OCSLA, its implementing
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ADDRESSES: Interested parties, upon regulations pursuant thereto (30 CFR
Dated: February 27, 2017. request, may obtain a compact disk part 556), and other applicable statutes
Laura E. Joss (CD–ROM) containing the Final Notice and regulations in existence upon the
Regional Director, Pacific West. of Sale (NOS) package by contacting the effective date of the lease, as well as
BOEM Alaska OCS Region at: those applicable statutes enacted and
[FR Doc. 2017–10426 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 3801 regulations promulgated thereafter,
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, except to the extent that the after-
Alaska 99503, (907) 334–5200 or (800) 764– enacted statutes and regulations
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 2627. explicitly conflict with an express
The Final NOS package can also be provision of the lease. Each lease is
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management downloaded from the BOEM Web site at subject to amendments to the applicable
http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244. statutes and regulations, including, but
[Docket No. BOEM–2017–0013; not limited to, OCSLA, that do not
MMAA104000] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
explicitly conflict with an express
David Diamond, Chief, Leasing
Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer provision of the lease. The lessee
Division, (703) 787–1776,
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease expressly bears the risk that such new
david.diamond@boem.gov.
Sale 244 amended statutes and regulations (i.e.,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: those that do not explicitly conflict with
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Table of Contents an express provision of the lease) may
Management, Interior. increase or decrease the lessee’s
ACTION: Final Notice of Sale. This Final NOS includes the following obligations under the lease.
sections:
SUMMARY: On Wednesday, June 21, I. Lease Sale Area III. Lease Terms and Economic
2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy II. Statutes and Regulations Conditions
Management (BOEM) will open and III. Lease Terms and Economic Conditions
IV. Lease Stipulations Lease Terms
publicly announce bids received for
blocks offered in the Cook Inlet V. Information to Lessees OCS Lease Form
VI. Maps
Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf BOEM will use Form BOEM–2005
VII. Bidding Instructions
(OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 (Cook VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions (February 2017) to convey leases issued
Inlet Sale 244), in accordance with IX. Forms as a result of this sale. This lease form
provisions of the Outer Continental X. The Lease Sale may be viewed on the BOEM Web site
Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the XI. Delay of Sale at http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2005/.
implementing regulations issued The lease form will be amended to
thereto. The Cook Inlet Sale 244 Final Lease Sale Area
conform with the specific terms,
Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains BOEM will offer for bid in this lease conditions, and stipulations applicable
information essential to potential sale all unleased whole blocks and to each individual lease. The terms,
bidders. partial blocks in the area of Cook Inlet conditions, and stipulations applicable
DATES: Public opening and reading of
identified on the map included as part to this sale are set forth below.
the bids for Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244 of this notice, ‘‘Final Notice of Sale, Primary Term: The primary term will
will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Cook Inlet Planning Area, OCS Oil Gas be 10 years.
June 21, 2017, in the Denali Room at the Lease Sale 244.’’ The BOEM Official
Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) and Economic Conditions
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska
State Office, Anchorage Federal Office Supplemental Official OCS Block Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25
Building, 222 West Seventh Avenue, Diagrams are available online at http:// per hectare or fraction thereof for all
Anchorage, Alaska. The venue will not www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy- blocks. BOEM will not accept a bonus
be open to the general public, media, or Program/Mapping-and-Data/ bid unless it provides for a cash bonus
industry. Instead, the bid opening and Alaska.aspx. in the amount equal to, or exceeding,
reading will be available for public All of these blocks are shown on the the specified minimum bonus bid of $25
viewing on BOEM’s Web site via video following OPDs: per hectare or fraction thereof for all
live-streaming at www.boem.gov. The • Iliamna (OPD NO 05–01) blocks.
use of live-streaming will provide • Seldovia (OPD NO 05–02) Rental Rates: An annual rental rate for
greater access to a wider national and • Kenai (OPD NP 05–08) all blocks of $13 per hectare or fraction
international audience. BOEM will also The available Federal area of each thereof, until the start of year eight of
post the results on its Web site after bid whole and partial block in this lease the primary term or a discovery of oil
opening and reading are completed. All sale are shown in the document ‘‘List of and gas, whichever occurs first; then at
times referred to in this document are Blocks Available for Leasing’’ included an annual rate of $20 per hectare or
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Alaska time, unless otherwise specified. in the Final NOS Package. Some of these fraction thereof.
Bid Submission Deadline: BOEM blocks, known as ‘‘partial blocks,’’ may Royalty Rates: 12.5%.
must receive all sealed bids during be transected by administrative lines, Minimum Royalty: $20 per hectare or
normal business hours, between 8:00 such as the Federal/State jurisdictional fraction thereof per year. No royalty
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., through June 19, line. A bid on a block must include all relief will be offered as part of any lease
2017, and from 8:00 a.m. to the bid of the available Federal area of that that may be issued as a result of Cook
submission deadline of 10:00 a.m. on block. Inlet Sale 244.
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Document Created: 2018-11-08 08:50:51
Document Modified: 2018-11-08 08:50:51
| 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 no sooner than 30 days after the date of publication of the Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. | |
| Contact | Mr. Russell Galipeau, Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001; [email protected]; (805) 658-5702. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 23290 |
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