>Hi-
>
>It is likely that we will soon not be able to climb at the White Rock Y.
>
>I got some more info on the Y land transfer today.  I talked to Tony Ladino
>who works on NEPA (national environmental policy act) issues in ESH-20.
>NEPA is the federal law that requires EIS's for actions related to federal
>facilities. EIS, of course, means environmental impact statement.
>
>Tony said it looks likely that San Ildefonso will acquire all of the property
>along SR 502 near the Y, as things now stand.
>
>The federal law that governs the land transfer names three possible recipients
>for this land: people with homestead claims (related to transfer of land
>for the
>Manhattan Project), county governments, and Pueblos.  Bandelier would like
>to have it, but isn't on the list.
>
>The county, as of now, is apparently only interested in land within the
>current
>county boundaries, which this land is not.  However, it would be possible for
>the county to obtain this land.  Perhaps an angle would be for the county to
>obtain it, and Bandelier to manage it, as now...
>
>One individual at the EIS scoping meetings mentioned access to hiking trails
>as an issue, so this will probably be mentioned in the EIS.
>
>The schedule as I recall it is for a draft EIS to be issued in August,
>followed
>by hearings and written comments.  The final EIS will be issued in November.
>This is a very short time frame.  This differs somewhat from the schedule that
>Doris Garvey outlined (see attached email).
>
>Actions that would have an effect on saving the Y climbing area for public
>access
>are:
>
>1) we should write to Elizabeth Withers, Los Alamos Area Office (DOE) and
>tell her of the value of this resource, how many use it, and concerns
>about keeping
>it accessible to the public.  Ms. Withers is the lead NEPA person at DOE/LAAO
>and would be influenced by receiving either one or numerous letters
>representing
>large numbers of individuals.
>
>2)  we should contact the LA county councilors about the value of this
>land and
>the desirability of preserving it as a recreational resource.  We could, I
>think,
>point out the value of this to the town as a tourist and recreational draw.
>
>Of course we should, like, get organized and actually do something or else we
>will soon be talking about those great climbs like Open Book and Wisconsin
>that we used to be able to do at the Y.
>
>>Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 11:26:57 -0600
>>To: "David B. Rogers" 
>>From: "Doris B. Garvey" 
>>Subject: Re: land transfer
>>
>>The area you are interested in is "being considered" for transfer either to
>>the county or to San Ildefonso.  There is an EIS currently in preparation,
>>analyzing the environmental impacts of alternative future uses of the
>>various tracts (there are 9 altogether).  There were public scoping
>>meetings; a draft EIS is scheduled to be issued to the public in Dec/Jan
>>(more or less); then afinal EIS and then a proposed decision by DOE by
>>about November 1999.  Then San I and the county are supposed to provide an
>>agreement about how they would share whatever ends up as being proposed for
>>transfer.
>>
>>That's a long bureaucratic answer;   but it means that no decisions have
>>been made yet. As a member of the public, you can certainly participate in
>>the EIS process (the period for scoping comments ended June 30).  Assuming
>>you are a resident of LA County, you could certainly contact your county
>>council.
>>
>>One member of the public did made an impassioned plea at the scoping
>>meetings in Los Alamos about assuring the availability of hiking trails.
>>This means that the EIS would probably have to at least look at the impact
>>on public recreation.
>>
>>Hope this helps.
>>Doris
>--
>
>David B. Rogers			office	505-667-0313
>Los Alamos National Laboratory	cellular	505-699-2713
>Water Quality & Hydrology Group	fax	505-665-9344
>ESH-18   MS K497			email	slug@lanl.gov
>Los Alamos, NM 87545
>