ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

The Proposed General Management Plan

Regional Economic Implications- The project would serve from 230,000-290,000 visitors per year by 2010. Some of these visitors would be drawn to the region specifically by the Manzanar NHS, although most would visit the site as part of a broader itinerary. These additional visitors, and the additional time spent in the region would result in additional spending and contributions to the regional economy.

Cultural Resources- This alternative provides protection to historic and prehistoric cultural resources by establishing a law enforcement presence to prevent theft and vandalism, by controlling erosion to prevent damage to resources, and by providing a regular program of maintenance and curation for important features and artifacts.

The cultural landscape would be enhanced by actions taken to prevent soil deposition and vegetative growth from obscuring the camp's gridwork.

Features proposed in this alternative would have a beneficial effect on the historic scene.

Visual quality- The natural appearance of portions of the area would decline to some extent as vegetation is removed and road widths are restored to display the camp gridwork. The natural character of the area would also be diminished by adding a barracks structure and a watchtower structure in areas that are currently relatively open and natural.

Vegetation and Wildlife- Vegetation within the camp area, both natural and alien, would be slightly reduced under this alternative, leading to some loss of habitat value. Vegetation in riparian areas would not be affected by the project, and all vegetative clearing would be preceded by surveys to ensure that no threatened, endangered, or candidate species of plants or animals are affected.

Water Resources- The proposed water supply agreement with LADWP would ensure a continuous water supply of 10,000,000 gallons annually for current and anticipated park needs. Water would be pumped from wells in the area to serve the 230,000 annual visitors, and some additional water would be pumped to irrigate selected orchards and landscaped areas. Some of this water would evaporate or be transpired- most would be returned to groundwater after onsite treatment. Septic tanks and leach fields would be used to treat project wastewater. All wastewater treatment facilities and operations would be in accordance with applicable laws.

No facilities would be placed in known regulatory floodplains and there would be no impact on areas adjacent to Bairs Creek that may eventually be classified as wetlands. The Bairs Creek corridor would be managed as a natural area.

Erosion and sediment inflow to watercourses from the project area should be reduced in the long term. Very little new ground will be disturbed as a result of the project, e.g. the large parking lots at the auditorium and cemetery areas will be located on already-disturbed ground, and cooperative planning with LADWP for surface water management should reduce overland flow in the project area. In addition, elimination of grazing and off-road vehicle driving should enable vegetation in some disturbed areas to recover and better hold the soil.

Air Quality- A complete and detailed evaluation of the potential environmental consequences on air quality is present in Appendix 6. The following is a brief summary.

Dust generation sources are a major concern in the Owens Valley because this area has a long history of non-attainment of federal and state standards for inhalable particulates. Overall it is not expected that the project will contribute to the particulate problem. While some minor clearing, and subsequent exposure of soils will occur with the project, dust palliatives will be used to limit dust production. Also, the elimination of grazing and off-road vehicle activities from the site will allow some exposed areas to recover and revegetate. The analysis presented in Appendix 6 shows essentially the worst case particulate production scenario for the project, which is well below the established "de minimis" values, rendering the project exempt under the Clean Air Act. In fact, the elimination of grazing and OHV use may result in a net improvement in particulate production at the site in the long run.

The project would stimulate some minor additional motor vehicle travel to and within the Owens Valley area, leading to production of air pollution components generated by internal combustion engines. However, most visitors to Manzanar would be travelling to other destinations in the eastern Sierra area and the incremental impact would be very minor.

Visitor use- Visitor use would be significantly expanded by this alternative. Plan features are expected to serve 230,000-290,000 visitors per year by 2010, providing a quality historic interpretation experience.

Environmental Justice- Under Executive Order #12898, issued by President William Clinton on February 11, 1994, agency compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act is to include analysis of the environmental, social, and economic effects on minority and low-income communities. The final plan is not expected to create any adverse impacts on minority or low-income communities, but rather would expand recreational and educational opportunities for those communities as well as for the general population.

Short Term Uses and Long Term Productivity- This alternative would discontinue those minor existing uses that are leading to the decline of the nationally significant cultural resources, and provide for the long-term productivity of the site as a locus for historic interpretation and understanding.

Irreversible Commitments of Resources- The only irreversible commitment of resources in this alternative is the labor and capital employed in development of facilities and operation and maintenance of the site as an historic site.

Cumulative Impacts- Implementation of this alternative, with its planned cooperative and partnership arrangements, would be expected to stimulate and encourage protection of related historic resources on adjacent lands, resulting in beneficial cumulative impacts to cultural resources.

Alternative A: No Action

Regional Economic Implications- Manzanar would continue to represent a casual roadside attraction to persons traveling on Highway 395. Visitors would stop only for a few minutes. No new visitors would be attracted into the Owens Valley area.

Cultural Resources- The extant cultural resources, both historic and prehistoric, would continue to decline as a result of uncontrolled vandalism, personal collection of artifacts, erosion and unmediated weathering.

The camp's defining cultural landscape features, e.g. the road grid, would continue to diminish as a result of the continued spread of black locust and other alien tree species, and due to the desert reclaiming the camp and covering it with a blanket of soil and typical Great Basin desert vegetation.

Visual Quality- The appearance of the area would become more natural over time and more compatible with the surrounding area. By most standards the visual quality would improve, inasmuch as the camp itself represented a harsh and visually dissonant scar on the desert landscape.

Vegetation and Wildlife- Desert Vegetation would reassert itself over time and native wildlife should be benefited by this change.

Water Resources- The project would not result in any additional water withdrawal and use. Periodic flooding during spring runoff would continue to cause erosion in the study area.

Air Quality- No significant impacts would occur in this area. Some marginal improvement in wind-blown particulates could occur as native vegetation is further established and as the black locust groves spread and provide windbreaks.

Visitor Use- No impact on visitor use would occur.

Environmental Justice- Same as proposed plan.

Short Term Uses and Long Term Productivity- This alternative permits existing activities such as grazing, vandalism and personal collecting to continue, thereby leading to losses to long term productivity since the site becomes less capable of providing a meaningful experience to future potential park visitors.

Irreversible Commitments of Resources- Irreversible and irretrievable commitments would accrue to this alternative in terms of losses of historic and prehistoric artifacts and fabric to vandalism, theft, and erosion. The choice of this alternative would sacrifice a part of a nationally significant cultural resource.

Cumulative Impacts- This alternative involves a decision not to take steps to protect the site's cultural resources. This action, combined with the long history of theft, intentional destruction, and deterioration through weathering, would contribute to significant cumulative adverse impacts on cultural resources.

Alternative B: Minimum Requirements

Regional Economic Implications- Regional implications would be similar to the proposed plan.

Cultural Resources- Similar to the proposed plan, except that a smaller area would be included and formally protected.

Visual Quality- Similar to the proposed plan, except with slightly less impact on natural appearance since reconstruction would not be included.

Vegetation and Wildlife- Similar to the proposed plan.

Water Resources- Same as the proposed plan.

Air Quality- Same as the proposed plan.

Visitor Use- Similar to the proposed plan, but provide a somewhat lower quality visitor experience.

Environmental Justice- Same as proposed plan.

Short Term Uses and Long Term Productivity- Same as the proposed plan.

Irreversible Commitments of Resources- Same as the proposed plan.

Cumulative Impacts- Same as the proposed plan.