Yosemite National Park News Release
February 9, 2006
For Immediate Release
Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest Announces Public Scoping Comment Period for Hetch Hetchy Communications System Upgrade Project
Currently, microwave radio equipment is used to transmit voice and data communications essential to the operation and security of Hetch Hetchy Water & Power’s (HHW&P) electric and water supply utilities. The existing radio equipment is obsolete and is no longer supported by its manufacturers. Additionally, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule (Section 101.69 et. seq.) is requiring HHW&P to vacate use of their current operating frequencies in the 2 GHz band when an emerging technology licensee needs these frequencies. The proposed project would replace or update components of the communications system throughout Tuolumne County, including potentially adding one new site within Yosemite National Park and another new site within Stanislaus National Forest. A system upgrade would improve radio communications vital to HHW&P, Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest operational activities such as law enforcement, search and rescue, fire management, and dam security.
HHW&P is working collaboratively with the Department of the Interior National Park Service and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the federal lead agencies, and with the City and County of San Francisco Planning Department, the State lead agency, and with the public in the preparation of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA) following the guidelines of the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.
Public scoping for this project will occur from February 21, 2006 through March 27, 2006. Members of the public and interested agencies are asked to comment on the issues to be analyzed and alternatives to be considered in a joint Initial Study/Environmental Assessment, which the federal and state lead agencies plan to issue for public review in early 2007.
Public Open Houses will be held in Yosemite Valley at the Visitor Center Auditorium on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 from 2pm to 6pm and Friday, March 24, 2006 from 2pm to 5pm. Public scoping comments will be accepted at both Open House events.
Written comments to this proposal are invited in order to help us identify significant issues that may be associated with the proposed action. Letters must be postmarked no later than March 27, 2006 and mailed to either one of the following offices:
Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Hetch Hetchy CSU Project
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: 209/379-1294
Email: YOSE_planning@nps.gov
District Ranger, Groveland Ranger District
Attn: Hetch Hetchy CSU Project
24545 Highway 120
Groveland, CA 95321
Fax: 209-962-7412
Email: comments-pacificsouthwest-stanislaus-groveland@fs.fed.us
Additional information can be viewed online at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning or at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus. To request a printed copy use the addresses directly above.
-NPS-
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Re: Scoping Comment Period for Hetch Hetchy Communications System Upgrade
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