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 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

• Mail:
  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

• Mail:
  District Ranger
  Groveland Ranger District
  Attn: HHCSUP
  24545 Highway 120
  Groveland, CA 95321
• Phone: 209/962-7825
• Fax: 209/962-7412
• Email: e-mail us