Furnace Creek Water Management Plan, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

Resumo

Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190) and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)), the National Park Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a water management plan for the Furnace Creek area in Death Valley National Park. The overall purpose of the plan is to provide for maintaining a sustainable water source meeting appropriate human use needs in the Furnace Creek area, while also protecting unique natural resource values in the area. Upgrading the water supply system is necessary because the existing system is subject to water quality problems. In addition, due to fluctuations in water volumes delivered by the current system, it does not provide a reliable supply of water. Background: The objectives of the Furnace Creek Water Management Plan include developing a water collection strategy which will: (i) Serve the potable and non-potable Furnace Creek area human use water needs, including the NPS, the AmFac Inn and Ranch Resort, and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe; (ii) provide for protecting existing biological resource values in the Travertine-Texas Springs area, as well as facil