East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan - Chapter 6 Consultation and Coordination

Chapter 6
Consultation and Coordination
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As described in Chapter I, the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan is tiered off of the Yosemite Valley Plan. The National Park Service developed the Yosemite Valley Plan to implement the goals of the General Management Plan in Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Valley Plan is designed to meet the resource preservation and visitor experience goals in Yosemite Valley and calls out specific actions to meet these goals. The Yosemite Valley Plan recognized that utility systems in the Valley would need to be relocated and upgraded to implement the actions called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan.

Project Scoping History

The purpose of scoping is to identify issues and concerns related to the planning process and to determine the range of issues that will be addressed in the environmental analysis. The National Park Service initiated public scoping for the Yosemite Valley Integrated Utility Master Plan, now called the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan, by issuing a press release on January 8, 2003. (The name of the project was changed to more accurately reflect the scope of the project, which looks at major utility improvements in the east Valley, from the Yosemite Creek Lift Station to the park water storage tank near Happy Isles.) The press release stated that scoping comments could be submitted through February 26, 2003. On February 25, the public scoping period was extended until March 14, 2003. A National Park Service public open house was held on February 26, 2003 to provide information to the public about the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan and other Yosemite National Park projects currently underway. Information on the project purpose and need, as well as potential alternatives to be evaluated, was presented at the open house. In addition, the National Park Service has posted a project fact sheet and project planning updates on the park’s web site. The public was encouraged to submit scoping comments identifying key issues and potential alternatives that should be addressed in the environmental review for this project. Public scoping comments were received from one individual and from one tribal organization. The comments were reviewed and analyzed to determine public concerns.

Based on internal and public scoping comments and applicable federal law, regulations, and executive orders, the National Park Service determined that an environmental assessment (not an environmental impact statement) would be the appropriate level of compliance for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan. Public scoping comments and issues raised by National Park Service staff were used in the alternatives development process and the analysis presented in this environmental assessment.

Agency Consultation

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The National Park Service is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding wetland permitting for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan. A project briefing and site visit with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff was conducted in March 2003. The National Park Service will submit a Section 404 wetland fill permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan, and this permit would be in place prior to project implementation.

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

The National Park Service is currently coordinating with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to obtain a water quality certification for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan. Yosemite National Park is currently under a Cleanup and Abatement Order from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to implement improvements to the wastewater collection system to prevent future unplanned discharges from the system.

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. The National Park Service requested a list of federally listed endangered and threatened species that may be present in the Yosemite Valley area in January 2003. The species list was received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on February 23, 2003, and was used as the basis for the special-status analysis in this environmental assessment (see Appendix G, Special Status Species Evaluation). Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue, as defined by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as environmental compliance for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan is finalized.

California State Historic Preservation Officer/Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation

A Programmatic Agreement among the National Park Service at Yosemite, the California State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding Planning, Design, Construction, Operations and Maintenance, Yosemite National Park, California was developed in consultation with Native American tribes having cultural association with Yosemite National Park and was executed in October 1999. Pursuant to Article VI of the Programmatic Agreement, the review process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, is being conducted in conjunction with this NEPA review process. The National Park Service has provided notice to the California State Historic Preservation Officer regarding this project and will continue consultation with them regarding avoidance and minimization of adverse effects to historic properties.

American Indian Consultation

National Park Service consultation with American Indian groups occurred throughout the development of the Yosemite Valley Plan. Yosemite National Park is consulting with American Indian tribes having cultural association with Yosemite Valley, including the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc. (Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation), the Tuolumne Me-wuk Tribal Council, and the Mono Lake Indian Community on proposed actions under the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan. Information sharing and project planning has included face to face consultation sessions with the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation on February 27 and April 24, and May 29, 2003. Consultation and partnering will continue with the Native American Indian tribes throughout the planning and implementation of the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan.

Future Information

Updated information about various aspects of the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan will be periodically distributed via newsletters, mailings, the Yosemite National Park web site (www.nps.gov/yose/planning), and regional and local news media. There will be a 30-day public comment period on this environmental assessment.

Written comments regarding this document should be directed to:

Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
ATTN: East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, California 95389

Fax: 209-379-1294

Email: Yose_Planning@nps.gov

This document can be reviewed online at www.nps.gov/yose/planning. To request a printed copy, refer to the information directly above or call 209-379-1365.