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Furnace Creek Water Management Plan, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: November 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 69786-69787]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20no00-91]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Furnace Creek Water Management Plan, Death Valley National Park,
Inyo County, California; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190) and Council on Environmental
Quality regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)), the National Park Service
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a water
management plan for the Furnace Creek area in Death Valley National
Park. The overall purpose of the plan is to provide for maintaining a
sustainable water source meeting appropriate human use needs in the
Furnace Creek area, while also protecting unique natural resource
values in the area. Upgrading the water supply system is necessary
because the existing system is subject to water quality problems. In
addition, due to fluctuations in water volumes delivered by the current
system, it does not provide a reliable supply of water.
    Background: The objectives of the Furnace Creek Water Management
Plan include developing a water collection strategy which will: (i)
Serve the potable and non-potable Furnace Creek area human use water
needs, including the NPS, the AmFac Inn and Ranch Resort, and the
Timbisha Shoshone Tribe; (ii) provide for protecting existing
biological resource values in the Travertine-Texas Springs area, as
well as facilitating potential restoration of riparian and aquatic
habitats, in a manner compatible with addressing existing governmental
obligations to provide water according to extant amounts.
    The current Furnace Creek water collection system was built in the
mid-1970's and is nearing the end of its useful life span. The need for
replacing this collection system now arises because the current
infrastructure undergoes unpredictable fluctuations in the volume of
water available for human use, and produces a quality of water that
occasionally makes it difficult to achieve state water drinking
standards. Since the facilities were originally constructed,
inventories of water-dependent plants and animals and the discovery of
several new endemic species in the local springs have created greater
awareness of the biological value of local wetland and riparian
habitats. In addition, completion of this EIS process is consistent
with both the existing and draft revision of the park General
Management Plan, as well as legislation regarding the Timbisha Shoshone
Homeland.
    Planning and Public Involvement: During the forthcoming
conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process,
alternatives and any requisite mitigation measures will be developed
that will identify a reasonable range of options for providing a
reliable and safe water supply system for Furnace Creek. The process
will be conducted in consultation with State and local governments,
organizations, Tribes, and interested members of the public. The
Furnace Creek Water Management Plan will be prepared by the NPS; its
anticipated that cooperating agencies for preparation of the EIS will
be identified within 60 days of publication of this Notice in the
Federal Register. The public will be invited to participate from the
outset of the scoping process through completion of the draft and final
EIS. To initiate this collaboration, three scoping meetings will be
held during winter, 2001 as follows: January 30 (Pahrump), January 31
(Death Valley National Park), and February 1

[[Page 69787]]

(Independence). The exact locations and times of the meetings (or
scheduling of any additional meetings) will be announced via regional
and local news media.
    Future Information: Information about development and status of the
Furnace Creek Water Management Plan will be distributed via mailings,
the Death Valley National Park Webpage (http://www.nps.gov/deva/
planning), and regional and local news media. To request being added to
the mailing list, please leave your name and address on the voice mail
telephone at (760) 786-3256 or write to the address below. Interested
individuals, organizations, and agencies wishing to provide any written
comments on new issues or concerns should respond to: Superintendent,
Attn: Furnace Creek Water Management Plan, Death Valley National Park,
CA 92328. All such comments must be postmarked on or before March 14,
2001. If individuals submitting comments request that their name or/and
address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to the
extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently in
the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein
the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As
always: NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions
from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and
businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision Process: Availability of the Draft EIS for review and
comment will be announced by formal Notice in the Federal Register,
through local and regional news media, the Park's Webpage, and direct
mailing. At this time the Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for
public review and comment in autumn 2001. Comments on the Draft EIS
will be fully considered as an aid in preparing a Final EIS as
appropriate. At this time it is anticipated that the Final EIS will be
completed in summer 2002. It is anticipated that notice of an approved
Record of Decision will be published in the Federal Register in winter
2002. The official responsible for the decision is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service; the official
responsible for implementation is the Superintendent, Death Valley
National Park.

    Dated: November 7, 2000.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 00-29553 Filed 11-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P

 
 

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