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Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement, Timbisha Shoshone Homeland, Death Valley National Park; Notice of Availability

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

 [Federal Register: January 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 18)]
[Notices]
[Page 7933]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja01-61]

[[Page 7933]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement, Timbisha
Shoshone Homeland, Death Valley National Park; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)c of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), at the
request of the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service,
in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a Final Legislative
Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) identifying and evaluating
alternatives for a Timbisha Shoshone Homeland within and around Death
Valley National Park, California. Potential impacts and appropriate
mitigation strategies are identified and assessed for each alternative.
    On July 19, 2000 the United States Senate passed the Timbisha
Shoshone Homeland Act. A similar version of the Act was passed on
October 17, 2000 by the House of Representatives, and on November 1,
2000 the Act was signed by the President. The plan will guide
management actions in the transfer of lands and the development of
cooperative agreements.
    Proposal: The proposed Timbisha Shoshone Homeland (Alternative A-
Preferred) would transfer approximately 7,500 acres of federal lands
(identified as ``multiple use'' and managed by Death Valley National
Park and the Bureau of Land Management in California and Nevada) into
trust with the Department of the Interior for the creation of a tribal
homeland. Permission would be sought for acquisition of two parcels
(approximately 120 acres of former Indian allotted lands) in Saline
Valley, California, and approximately 2,430 acres near Lida, Nevada,
from private owners, as willing sellers. Also, water rights (either
appurtenant or separately held) could be obtained from willing sellers.
Cooperative activities at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge would
also be undertaken. Some portions of lands previously designated by
Congress as ``wilderness'' would be also recognized as Timbisha
Shoshone Natural and Cultural Preservation Area, but ownership would
not be transferred.
    Alternatives: Alternative B maintains the status quo, as described
in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed Action, No Action, and
Alternatives Considered But Not Brought Forward For Analysis. It
provides a baseline from which to compare and evaluate the magnitude of
proposed changes, and to measure the foreseeable environmental effects
of those changes. This no-action concept follows the guidance of the
Council on Environmental Quality, which describes the no-action
alternative as no change from the current management direction or level
of management intensity.
    Background: Although initial scoping is not required for the
preparation of a LEIS, an understanding of public concerns was desired.
Accordingly, a notice was published in the Federal Register on April
19, 1999 announcing to the public the opportunity of commenting on a
Draft Secretarial Report regarding the Homeland initiative. In
addition, six public meetings were conducted (attended by 79 persons),
and five informational meetings were held at the request of state
congressional delegations and county commissioners and supervisors.
Over 550 letters were received during the public scoping period. In
October 1999, a copy of the 11-page Scoping Summary Document was mailed
to everyone who attended the public meetings or commented during the
process.
    In October, 1999 the Department of the Interior determined that the
NPS would serve as the lead agency for this conservation planning and
environmental impact analysis process. As noticed in the Federal
Register on May 12, 2000, a draft Timbisha Shoshone Homeland LEIS was
prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, and
distributed by mail and libraries for a formal public review period
ending August 21, 2000. In addition, the document was available via the
internet at http//www3.iwvisp.com/blm/report. Five public meetings were
conducted (attended by 100 persons), and 238 letters were received.
    Availability: The Final Timbisha Shoshone Homeland LEIS was sent
directly to the project mailing list. Copies are also available at park
headquarters at Furnace Creek, field offices of BLM Ridgecrest,
California and Tonopah, Nevada. Also, the Final LEIS will be posted on
the internet at http://www.nps.gov/deva. Inquiries should be addressed
to the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, Death
Valley, California 92328.
    All comments received throughout the conservation planning and
environmental impact analysis process are archived and will be
available for public review in the park's library. If individuals
submitting comments requested 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 may also be circumstances wherein the
NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As
always, the NPS will make available for 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.
    Recommendation Process: A notice of final recommendations will be
published in the Federal Register not sooner than thirty (30) days
after the final document is distributed. This is expected to occur
early in 2001. The National Park Service officials responsible for
implementation will be the Superintendent, Death Valley National Park
and the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; as well as the State
Directors, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada and California; the
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Central California Agency.

    Dated: January 9, 2001.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-2340 Filed 1-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P

 
 

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