Great Gray Owl threatened/Appeal Update/Upcoming

CONTENTS:

I. YOSEMITE CRANE FLAT Scoping COMMENTS due 11/14/02 -- Great Gray Owl threatened (see completed FoYV Crane Flat Campus comments on FoYV web site)

II. BACKGROUND ON CRANE FLAT CAMPUS AND YOSEMITE INSTITUTE STUDENT HOUSING (see completed FoYV Crane Flat Campus comments on FoYV web site)

III. MERCED RIVER PLAN APPEAL UPDATE

IV. UPCOMING

I. *** GREAT GRAY OWL Threatened ***

YOSEMITE CRANE FLAT CAMPUS Scoping COMMENTS DUE Thurs, 11/14/02 *

(see completed FoYV Crane Flat Campus comments on FoYV web site)

II. BACKGROUND ON CRANE FLAT CAMPUS AND YOSEMITE INSTITUTE STUDENT HOUSING

(see completed FoYV Crane Flat Campus comments on FoYV web site)

III. MERCED RIVER PLAN APPEAL UPDATE
The legal briefing schedule for the Friends of Yosemite Valley and MERG (Mariposans for Environmentally Responsible Growth) has been changed due to a request by the Interior Department solicitor for an extension of time. The Dept. of the Interior and the National Park Service will file their brief in response to our previous filing on Nov 18, 2002. After we turn in our reply to their filing, we will then await a court date for the trial.

IV. UPCOMING

* This appears to be the last round of Yosemite comments until after the New Year.

* In 2003 we expect:

* A Draft Environmental Assessment to be released for Public Comments on the Yosemite Lodge/Camp 4/Northside Drive relocation. (A full EIS should be developed based on a YVP based on a protective MRP.)

* Indian Cultural Center -- an EA (it is not clear whether a draft EA will be submitted to the public for comments or not. NPS web site says final site concept by Miwoks 8/2002 and prelminary site deisgn in 2002. No clue about when an EA or a draft EA will be produced.)

* Curry Village Employee Housing. (It appears that NPS will decide AFTER selecting a final concept plan whether or not to put out any public comment documents. It appears NPS believes that this plan is covered fully by the YVP. We do not agree.)

* El Portal Offices. EA in 2003? (It is not clear whether a draft EA will be put out for public comment or not.)

* Crane Flat Environmental Education Campus Development Program -- Draft EIS Spring/Summer 2003.

* South Fork Bridge Replacement -- draft EA or EA Spring 2003.

FoYV will send out an Alert as or whether public comment periods are opened for these.

* The next FoYV Update will update the Lower Yosemite Falls Area situation, and the Yosemite Indian Coalition Protest.

For more information contact Joyce > or visit our web site at

www.yosemitevalley.org

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