>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 >