Consultation and Coordination

	Consultation and Coordination
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	Scoping History The National Park Service published a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register on August 23, 1999 (V64-N162-P45979). The Merced River Plan/FEIS has been developed pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190) and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1508.22). The intent of this planning process is to prepare a comprehensive management plan that encompasses protection and enhancement of the values for which the Merced River was designated as a Wild and Scenic River (16 USC 1271-1287). During this planning process, management alternatives have been developed which address resource protection, development of lands or facilities, user capacities, and various stewardship practices necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as amended (16 USC 1274(d)). Through scoping and the public comment review process on the Draft Merced River Plan/EIS, the planning process is being conducted in consultation with affected federal agencies, State and local governments, tribal groups, and interested organizations and individuals. The National Park Service invited American Indian tribes to participate in the formal scoping process, and held formal consultation meetings with the North Fork Mono Rancheria, the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc. (Southern Sierra Miwok), and the Mono Lake Indian Community. These tribes are associated with lands and resources along the main stem and South Fork of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. The Draft Merced River Plan/EIS was prepared by the National Park Service pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The National Park Service completed the scoping phase through a concerted public involvement effort, including the following activities. An invitation letter initiating scoping and announcing four public meetings was mailed to over 8,500 individuals, organizations, agencies, and other entities during the week of June 7, 1999. On June 11, 1999 the National Park Service formally published the Merced River Plan scoping period in the Federal Register (V64-N112-P31605), accepting comments through July 14, 1999. In deference to public interest, the National Park Service on July 13, 1999 via direct mailing and news release issued a two-week extension of the scoping period through July 30, 1999. Formal notice of the extension appeared in the Federal Register on July 23, 1999 (V64-N141-P40037). Altogether six public meetings were held in the following locations: San Francisco (June 22), Modesto (June 23), Mariposa (June 24), Yosemite Valley (June 28), Wawona (July 7), and El Portal (July 12). In addition to direct mailing and the Internet posting, all meetings were publicized via news releases sent to over 110 media contacts on June 3 and July 1, 1999. Results of Scoping As a result of the scoping effort, which elicited over 300 responses, it was determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (not an Environmental Assessment) would be prepared. All comments received during June 11-July 30 in response to the scoping and extension notices have been duly considered, and will remain in the administrative record throughout this planning process. A summary and full report on the analysis of the public scoping comments are available to the public; these can be obtained via the contact information below. As a direct result of the public responses received, the following issues will be considered: recreational use; riparian habitat protection; private property in Wawona; the river boundaries; development in Yosemite Valley within the corridor; and air, water, and noise pollution, among others. Public Comment Period A Federal Register notice and media announcements initiate the beginning of a formal public comment period on the draft plan and its environmental impact statement. All interested agencies, groups and individuals were invited to review the document and submit comments. Public meetings on the draft plan were held in various locations throughout the state during the early weeks of the public comment period. The date, time, and location of each meeting were announced in the Federal Register, and through the regional/local media. The comment period for the Draft Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan/EIS officially closed on March 24. Over 2,500 comments were received by mail, e-mail, fax, and at the 12 public hearings held throughout the state in February. The National Park Service received a spectrum of valuable comments from individuals throughout the nation, local residents, long-time Yosemite visitors, government agencies, and interested organizations. Now that the comment period is closed, the Merced River planning team has reviewed and incorporated comments into this final Merced River Plan/FEIS. The Content Analysis Enterprise Team (CAET), a division of the U.S. Forest Service, assisted in the sorting and analysis of these comments. A broad range of issues surfaced during the public comment period. Some responses addressed concerns regarding the proposed boundaries, classifications, Outstandingly Remarkable Values, and the River Protection Overlay. Other public comments included suggestions for changes to the management zones to respond to camping, parking, boating, and other river management-related issues. Respondents also requested that the National Park Service provide more specific research and monitoring guidelines in the Merced River Plan. Coordination U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531 et seq.) requires all federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by the agency does not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or critical habitat. A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on August 20, 1999. On September 9, 1999, project staff met with a representative from the Sacramento office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a draft letter listing species of concern, based on USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles that encompass the immediate project area, as well as a summary list. A final, augmented list was provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a week later (USFWS 1999) and included all of the lands potentially affected by the proposed action. Staff wildlife and vegetation specialists used this list as a foundation for endangered species analysis summarized in this plan. The National Park Service prepared a Biological Assessment in accordance with Section 7 of the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and implementing regulations (19 USC 1536[c], 50 CFR 402.14[c]), National Environmental Policy Act requirements (USC 4332[2][c]), and direction provided in the 1988 National Park Service Management Policies (4:11). The Biological Assessment was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for official review and comment in January 2000. A Final Biological Assessment based on the final Merced River Plan/FEIS was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June 2000. Copies of the Biological Assessment are on file at Yosemite National Park. An overriding assumption of the Biological Assessment was that each site-specific action that could occur under the proposed action would be analyzed as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act and that all federal laws would be complied with during implementation. Since the decision made under this EIS is programmatic, no specific commitment of resources is made by the decision. Therefore, a Biological Evaluation and/or Biological Assessment would be made for all site-specific projects, as warranted. Some site-specific projects have the potential to adversely affect threatened or endangered species. Therefore, site/project-specific assessments and determinations, in accordance with the provisions of the Endangered Species Act and in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, could be required for future actions. California State Historic Preservation Officer The National Park Service conducted consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. This consultation, which was done according to the National Park Service’s 1999 Programmatic Agreement for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, includes letters dated October 19, 1999, February 7, 2000, and March 20,2000 to the California State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that provide the determination by the National Park Service that the selection of a Merced River Plan would have no effect on properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The California State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with this determination on March 29, 2000. Future Information In mid-June, the final Merced River Plan/FEIS will be released, presenting a range of alternatives revised from the original draft plan. Following a 30-day required period of "no action," the Pacific West Regional Director of the National Park Service will select an alternative that will be signed as a Record of Decision (ROD). Updated information about various aspects of the Merced River planning process will be periodically distributed via newsletters, mailings, the Yosemite National Park web site (www.nps.gov/yose/planning), and regional and local news media. To request placement on the planning mailing list or to receive a copy of the Merced River Plan, leave a name and address on the voice mail telephone at 209/372-0261. Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies may also respond to: Superintendent Attn: Merced River Plan P.O. Box 577 Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 Or e-mail Yose_Planning@nps.gov List of Agencies, Organizations, Businesses, and Individuals that Received the Draft Merced River Plan/EIS Federal Agencies Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Boise Interagency Fire Center Inyo National Forest Missoula Fire Science Lab Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station Sierra National Forest Stanislaus National Forest Toiyabe National Forest Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Folsom, California Office Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento Office U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Regional Office Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Sacramento U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco Regional Office U.S. Postal Service, Yosemite National Park Members of Congress Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Diane Feinstein Representative George Radanovich Representative John T. Doolittle Representative George Miller State Agencies Office of Planning and Research, State Clearing House Department of Fish and Game Department of Justice, Attorney General Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation Resources Agency of California American Indian Heritage Commission California Department of Transportation American Indian Tribes American Indian Council, Mariposa County Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony Coarsegold Chuckchansi Mono Lake Indian Community North Fork Mono Indian Museum North Fork Mono Rancheria Tuolumne Mewuk Rancheria County and Local Governments Madera County Board of Supervisors Planning Director Air Pollution Control District Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Planning Department Air Pollution Control District Sheriff Housing and Community Development Unified School District Mariposa Chamber of Commerce Mono County Board of Supervisors Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Planning Commission Community Development Department Air Pollution Control District Sheriff Visitor Bureau- Groveland Merced County Association of Governments Board of Supervisors Planning Commission Organizations and Businesses Access Fund American Whitewater The Ansel Adams Gallery California Trout California Wilderness Coalition Central Sierra Planning Council Chapman Associates El Portal Chevron El Portal Market Earth Island Institute Environmental Defense Fund Environment Now Friends of the Earth Friends of the River Friends of Yosemite Highway 120 Association Leigh, Scott, and Cleary Mariposans for Environmentally Responsible Growth Mendocino Environmental Association National Audubon Society National Parks and Conservation Association National Office National Trust for Historic Preservation, California Office Southwest and California Region Offices Natural Resources Defense Council National Tour Association Planning and Conservation League Save-the-Redwoods League Service Employee International Union, Local 752 Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Merced Group National Office Tehipite Chapter Tuolumne Group Yosemite Task Force Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund Sierra Recreation Association Southern Yosemite Visitor’s Bureau Trust for Public Land Tuolumne River Preservation Trust VIA Adventures Wawona Area Properties Owners Association The Wilderness Society California/Nevada Region National Office Yosemite Action Yosemite Area Audubon Yosemite Association Yosemite Bug Hostel Yosemite Concession Services Yosemite Fund Yosemite Institute Yosemite Medical Group Yosemite National Park Society Yosemite Restoration Trust Yosemite Valley Railroad Company Yosemite West Libraries Alameda County, Main Brach Contra Costa County, Concord Branch Groveland Los Angeles City, Central Branch Marin County, Main Branch Mariposa, including El Portal Branch Oakhurst Sacramento County, Central Branch San Bernardino County, Main Branch San Diego City, Main Branch San Francisco City, Main Branch San Jose City, Main Branch San Mateo County, References Section University of California at Berkeley, Main Library University of California at Davis, Shields Library University of California at Los Angeles, University Research Library Yosemite National Park Research Library Newspapers Associated Press Bakersfield Californian Contra Costa Times Fresno Bee Los Angeles Times Mariposa Gazette Merced Sun-Star Oakland Tribune San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Examiner San Jose Mercury News Sierra Star The Modesto Bee The Sacramento Bee Radio KCBS AM – San Francisco KFBK – Sacramento KFIV – Modesto KGO AM – San Francisco KMJ – Fresno KMPH – Fresno KQED – San Francisco Plus local radio stations Television KRON – San Francisco KTVU – Oakland KXTV – Sacramento NBC Network News – Los Angeles The names of individuals receiving the draft document are available upon request.
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