[Federal Register: June 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 114)]
[Notices]
[Page 34301-34302]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jn06-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest, CA;
Moonridge Animal Park Relocation
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The San Bernardino National Forest is seeking public input and
comment on a proposed animal park, which would be located near the Big
Bear Discovery Center. The project is called the Moonridge Animal Park
Relocation. The proposed action will be defined in the Special Use
Permit application and draft Master Plan to be developed by Big Bear
Valley Recreation and Parks District. A proposed Joint Venture
Management Plan is a guiding document for the permit and the operating
plan. The proposed concept design would occupy about 35 acres more or
less of National Forest System (NFS) land. New facilities would include
zoological and botanical gardens with habitat, education center,
classrooms, animal exhibits, animal hospital and rehabilitation center,
restrooms, retail and concession
[[Page 34302]]
buildings, support buildings, and paved parking for approximately 250
cars.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by (30 days from the date of the NOI) July 14, 2006. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected December, 2006 and the final
environmental impact statement is expected April, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Paul W. Bennett, Recreation
Officer, Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest,
P.O. Box 290, Fawnskin, CA 92333. For further information, mail
correspondence to: Paul W. Bennett, Recreation Officer, Mountaintop
Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest, P.O. Box 290,
Fawnskin, CA 92333. Or e-mail to pwbennett@fs.fed.us. Or telephone
(909) 382-2819.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. Thornburgh, Environmental
Coordinator, San Bernardino National Forest Service, 602 S. Tippecanoe,
San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-2642.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for action
The purpose and need for action is for the San Bernardino National
Forest to respond to a request from the Big Bear Valley Recreation and
Parks District, a Special District of San Bernardino County, for a
special use permit to occupy National Forest Service lands to operate a
wild animal park and associated facilities. The Recreation and Parks
District is proposing to relocate the animal park to the North Shore of
Big Bear Lake adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center on the
Mountaintop Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The
project would occupy approximately 35 acres of National Forest lands,
and not more than 40 acres. No new groundwater extraction would be
allowed in connection with this project, in order to protect nearby
meadow habitats. The type of use requested is consistent with the
Forest Plan direction. The action is needed now because the Moonridge
Animal Park's current lease expires in February 2009 and all facilities
must be removed from that site by then. Alternate sites were evaluated
and no other feasible site was found. Additionally, there is a joint-
venture opportunity for environmental education objectives with the
Forest Service's Big Bear Discovery Center.
Proposed Action
The Moonridge Animal Park is currently located on private land in
the Moonridge area of Big Bear Valley. The Recreation and Park
District's lease expires in February 2009. The District looked at
several potential locations for the animal park, and determined that
the area adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center best met their
needs. The Recreation and Parks District has applied for a special use
permit to build and maintain the new animal park and associated
facilities on approximately 35 acres. If approved, the permit would be
issued for a 20-30 year term.
New facilities would include zoological and botanical gardens,
education center and classrooms, animal exhibits, animal hospital and
rehabilitation center, restrooms, retail and concession buildings,
support buildings, and paved parking for visitors and staff. Water and
sewer would be connected to the community systems. The Big Bear
Department of Water and Power water line would be extended from the
Municipal Water District East Launch Ramp to the site. No additional
water wells would be drilled in connection with this project. Night
lighting would be provided for security purposes. A perimeter fence
would be installed around the entire animal park.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The San Bernardino National Forest is the lead agency this
analysis. San Bernardino County is a cooperating agency.
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
To approve in whole, or in part, or a modified special use
application for the relocation of the Moonridge Animal Park to national
forest system lands.
Scoping Process
A scoping letter is being mailed to known potentially interested or
affected parties. A legal notice announcing this project is being
published in the San Bernardino Sun which is the Forest's newspaper of
record. A scoping meeting will be held on June 17, 2006 from 1 p.m. to
4 p.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin, California.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal
Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 30 day comment period for initial
scoping and 45 days on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedure provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: June 8, 2006.
Jeanne Wade Evans,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-5397 Filed 6-13-06; 8:45 am]
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