Grand Canyon National Park Seeks Public Comment On Environmental Assessment On Proposal For Improvements At Desert View

July 29, 2002 (NPS): Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joseph F. Alston today announced the release of an Environmental Assessment (EA) entitled Environmental Assessment for Desert View Improvements, Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County Arizona.

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to redevelop Desert View into a transportation hub on the East Rim with orientation and transit facilities. Proposed activities would occur at the Desert View area, and along Desert View Drive and the south entrance road within Grand Canyon National Park.

Proposed activities would implement a portion of the park's 1995 General Management Plan (GMP) that outlined A New Way to Visit through public transportation and enhanced educational and recreational opportunities. These proposed activities are part of a comprehensive effort to accommodate present and anticipated future visitation at Desert View. Existing facilities at Desert View do not adequately accommodate existing use during the peak summer months and contribute to resource degradation and a degraded visitor experience.

The EA analyzes three alternatives; a No Action Alternative and two action alternatives - Alternative B, the GMP Alternative and Alternative C, the Proposed Action. Proposed changes that are applicable to both action alternatives include, but are not limited to:

• Relocation of Desert View Drive (previously referred to in the GMP as East Rim Drive), moving the roadway away from the visitor area of the rim;
• road rehabilitation that would include three sections of Desert View Drive from milepost 247 to 253 and one section of the south entrance road;
• construction of a parking lot to accommodate 450 private vehicles (including RVs) and 15 buses;
• relocation of the existing Desert View Entrance Station;
• construction of a shuttle bus loop and transit pavilion near the east end of the existing parking lot;
• construction of an orientation facility;
• conversion of the existing visitor contact station to a visitor services/management support building with changes that would include modification for accessibility and upgrade of utilities, mechanical systems and interior/exterior finishes;
• conversion of an historic house to a bike rental facility;
• construction of picnic and pedestrian areas;
• relocation of the existing gift/deli shop.

The proposed action was designed as a refinement of the plans outlined in the GMP. For a complete description of the alternatives outlining the proposed changes at Desert View, please refer to the EA. Copies of the EA can be obtained by writing to the Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023, Attn: Sara White, Compliance Officer or by calling Ms. White at (928) 638-7956. The EA will also be available in the near future online at www.nps.gov/grca/compliance. Comments will be accepted for a period of 30 days and should be sent to Sara White at the above address by Monday, August 27, 2002. For questions or additional information, contact Mark Johnston, Project Manager at (928) 638-7906. The GMP is currently available online at www.nps.gov/grca/gmp.

Fire Managers At Grand Canyon National Park Plan To Conduct Prescribed Fires

July 19, 2002 (NPS): Fire managers at Grand Canyon National Park will be conducting prescribed fires within the next few months, as conditions allow. These will be in the Hance and Watson Burn Units on the park's South Rim (south of Grandview Point), and in the Bright Angel Burn Unit, adjacent to the North Rim developed area. In addition, some lightning-caused, "Wildland Fire Use" fires may be permitted to burn for resource benefit. Closures may be implemented to ensure public safety; however, no specific closures are planned at this time. Smoke will be visible, but every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts.

The park's General Management Plan, Resource Management Plan and Fire Management Plan call for fire to be restored to the park's ecosystems to reduce excess fuels and promote forest health. Fire managers seek to strike a balance between suppressing fires that threaten lives or property, and allowing fire to be used as a tool to promote forest health, when conditions are favorable.

Prescribed Fires are designed to use fire as a tool to promote ecosystem health and reduce excessive forest fuels. Burn plans are written and executed with specific objectives in mind, such as fuel reduction or wildlife habitat improvement. If a prescribed fire demonstrates behavior that contradicts resource management objectives, suppression actions are taken.

Wildland Fire Use Fires are lightning-caused fires that are allowed to burn within an identified, undeveloped management area. They are monitored and evaluated on a daily basis. Suppression actions are taken if these fires demonstrate behavior that contradicts resource management objectives or if the fire approaches its predetermined boundary.

Fire Restrictions To Be Lifted At Grand Canyon National Park

July 17, 2002 (NPS): Recent rains within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park have reduced the threat of wildland fires significantly. Fuel moisture levels, monitored at various locations throughout the park since early spring, have increased substantially. Fire danger indices, which indicate the severity of wildland fire danger, have decreased. Long-range weather forecasts call for the monsoon pattern to continue. Based on these criteria, Park Superintendent Joseph Alston has made a decision to lift all fire-related closures and restrictions.

Beginning at 8:00 AM on Saturday, July 20, 2002, all fire-related closures, smoking, and campfire restrictions will be rescinded. The public is advised to use continued caution with these activities. Potential for fire activity still exists even though the fire danger has decreased.

Unprecedented drought and extreme fire danger conditions existed statewide this year. Fire restrictions were first implemented in May to reduce the threat of human-caused wildland fires. The public responded with a great deal of support and cooperation. Since May, only one human-caused fire occurred in the park. Superintendent Alston extended his appreciation to all visitors, employees, and residents at Grand Canyon National Park, for their extraordinary cooperation throughout the fire season.

For additional information about backcountry travel, please call the Backcountry Office at 928-638-7875, from 1:00-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For additional fire information, please call 928-638-7819 (recorded message).

Xanterra Parks And Resorts Is Awarded New Concessions Contract At Grand Canyon National Park

July 11, 2002 (NPS): Grand Canyon, AZ Xanterra Parks and Resorts, L.L.C., (formally known as Amfac Parks and Resorts, L.L.C.) is now operating under a renewed contract for hospitality services on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service, signed the new contract for hospitality services on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on July 1, 2002.

With this renewal, Xanterra will continue to provide lodging, food services, gift shops, mule rides, bus tours, and a variety of other services for park visitors.

"We look forward to continued excellent service to the public by Xanterra, and an ongoing partnership with Xanterra staff as valued members of our local community," said Park Superintendent Joe Alston.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts, L.L.C., is the new name of Amfac Parks and Resorts, L.L.C., which held the former contract for thirty-three years, beginning January 1, 1969.

This company, which employs approximately 1200 staff at Grand Canyon National Park during peak season and grosses an average of $70 million annually, was the sole bidder for this contract. The selection process for this 10-year contract for services at Grand Canyon National Park began on April 5, 2001, when the National Park Service issued a prospectus seeking offers under the new National Park Service Concession Management Improvement Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391). A panel of technical experts in concessions management evaluated the offer, which emphasized a strong approach to environmental management issues, and found that it was responsive to the requirements of the prospectus.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts, L.L.C. and its sister company, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Inc., also provide commercial services at National Park Service sites on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Zion, Bryce, Everglades, Death Valley and Mount Rushmore.

On January 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt reserved land in the Grand Canyon of Arizona as the Grand Canyon National Monument. On February 26, 1919, Congress set apart Grand Canyon National Park "as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Grand Canyon National Park has visitation approaching 5 million visitors annually.

For more information, contact Laura Shearin, Concessions Contracting Analyst, at 928/226-0169.

NPS Announces Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact on Proposed Tamarisk Management and Tributary Restoration Project

July 10, 2002 (NPS): Grand Canyon, AZ The National Park Service has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Tamarisk Management and Tributary Restoration Project. Intermountain Regional Director Karen Wade approved the FONSI based on the environmental assessment/assessment of effect (EA/AEF) recommended by Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joseph F. Alston. With the EA/AEF completed, the project should begin in fall 2002.

Tamarisk, commonly known as salt cedar, is an aggressive competitor, and once established in an area, it typically spreads and persists. The prolific nonnative shrubs or trees displace native vegetation and animals, alter soil salinity, and increase fire frequency. The overall purpose of the Tamarisk Management and Tributary Restoration project is to restore more natural conditions and to prevent any further loss or degradation of the existing native animal and plant life.

Two alternatives were considered in the EA/AEF: A no action alternative and an environmentally preferred alternative. The EA/AEF for the project evaluated the impacts to natural, cultural and wilderness resources. The beneficial and/or adverse impacts of this project were determined to be of minor to moderate intensity and of short-term and long-term duration. The approved action (the environmentally preferred alternative) includes the control of tamarisk in side canyons, tributaries, developed areas and springs above the pre-dam water level of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. Tamarisk will be controlled through a combination of mechanical, chemical, and cultural (i.e. seeding) methods. Methods that would be used include: manual removal; Garlon lance injection; hack and squirt method; cut stump method; basal bark application and native plant restoration (a brief description of each method can be found in the FONSI). The method selected would be site specific and determined by the restoration biologist or project leader. Follow up removal and monitoring of treated locations will help ensure the reestablishment of native vegetation.

The first phase of the project is funded by the Arizona Water Protection fund and includes 63 side canyons and tributaries. The work will be completed in partnership with the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council and should be completed in 2004. The second phase includes 100 side canyons and tributaries and the third phase includes nine tributaries (refer to Appendix A in the EA/AEF for complete list of canyons in each phase).

For more information about this project or to obtain a copy of the FONSI, contact Lori Makarick, Project Leader at (928) 638-7964 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/grca/compliance.

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