Comment Period for Hetch Hetchy Communication System Upgrade

Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest Announce Public Review and Comment Period for Hetch Hetchy Communication System Upgrade Project Environmental Assessment/Initial Study

Date: September 25, 2007

Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest announce the public comment period for the Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (EA/IS) for the Hetch Hetchy Communication System Upgrade Project. The EA/IS outlines a range of feasible project alternatives, including a no action alternative, and analyzes the environmental effects of each. The public review and comment period for the EA/IS will open from October 2, 2007 to November 2, 2007. Written comments must be postmarked no later than November 2, 2007.

Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (HHW&P), a subsidiary of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), is proposing a communications system upgrade and replacement project. The communications system is used for the operation of HHW&P's water supply and electric utility system, which includes facilities in the upper Tuolumne River watershed of Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest in the Sierra Nevada. The purpose of the proposed project is to replace and upgrade the aging communications system with an improved system, and to provide the foundation infrastructure for housing NPS and USFS communications equipment associated with their individual communications systems. The project proposes upgrades at a total of 32 sites, 29 of which are located at existing facilities, and three are proposed new sites: Cherry Tower Site, Burnout Ridge, and Poopenaut Pass. Public scoping for the project occurred in early 2006.

The EA/IS has been prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The lead agency under CEQA for the proposed project is the San Francisco Planning Department. The NPS and USFS are the co-lead agencies under NEPA, because the proposed action would involve lands under the jurisdiction of both agencies. Two public meetings will take place during the Public Review and Comment Period.

The public meeting schedule will be:

September 26th, 2007, 1pm to 5pm in the Valley Visitor Center Auditorium, Yosemite Valley

October 31st, 2007, 1pm to 5pm in the Valley Visitor Center Auditorium, Yosemite Valley

Park admission fee will be waived for those attending

Comments can be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, email, and through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting system. A link to project information will be posted on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/planning.htm.

To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit written comments:

In person at public meetings

Yosemite National Park

Superintendent
Yosemite National Park
Attn: HHCSUP
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389

Phone: 209/379-1365
Fax: 209/379-1294

e-mail us


Stanislaus National Forest

District Ranger
Groveland Ranger District
Attn: HHCSUP
24545 Highway 120
Groveland, CA 95321

Phone: 209/962-7825
Fax: 209/962-7412

e-mail us

I have a great idea; instead of wasting money on upgrading their communication system, why not just move the darn dam closer to their offices, and the signal won't have to go so far.

Just trying to help...

8^)

---

Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo

GMRS is affordable. Big 5 ads in the Sunday paper pretty much every Sunday.

Yes, but you're "supposed" to get a license for GMRS for $80-90 a person, the last I heard (on a $30-40 set of radios, go figure).

They might be able to get a bunch of volunteers to move the dam for free, or at least take the old one apart...8^)

---

Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo