Environmental Consequences

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IMPACTS OF IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVE 2 – PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Archeological Resources

Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same impacts on archeological resources as those listed under alternative 1, although provision of more diversified visitor experiences along the Rim Drive corridor, including development of new trails, picnic areas, and improved pullouts, parking areas, and overlooks, could have additional minor, long- term and permanent adverse impacts on archeological sites. Development of the new science learning center in the superintendent’s residence would also result in additional minor, long- term, and permanent adverse impacts on archeological sites.

Cumulative Effects. Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same cumulative effects on archeological resources as those listed under alternative 1, although development projects and improvements along the Rim Drive corridor, as well as development of the new science learning center in the superintendent’s residence, would contribute minor, long- term, and permanent adverse effects to any overall cumulative impact on archeological resources.

Conclusion. Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same impacts on archeological resources as those listed under alternative 1.

There would be no adverse impacts on resources or values whose conservation is (1) necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the national park’s establishing legislation, (2) key to the cultural integrity or opportunities for enjoyment of the national park, or (3) identified as a goal in this General Management Plan or other relevant National Park Service planning documents. Consequently, there would be no impairment of resources or values associated with archeological resources.

Section 106 Summary. For purposes of Section 106, the determination of effect of actions under this alternative on archeological resources would be no adverse effect.

Historic Structures/Buildings

Although implementation of alternative 2 would generally have the same impacts on historic structures/buildings as those listed under alternative 1, rehabilitation and adaptive use of some historic structures/ buildings for new functions would have moderate, long- term, beneficial impacts on those structures/ buildings.

Cumulative Effects. Implementation of this alternative would have the same cumulative effects on historic structures/ buildings as those listed under alternative 1, although rehabilitation and adaptive use of some historic structures/buildings for new functions would contribute moderate, long- term, beneficial effects to any overall cumulative impact on historic structures/ buildings.

Conclusion. Implementation of this alternative would have the same impacts on historic structures/buildings as those listed under alternative 1, although rehabilitation and adaptive use of some historic structures/buildings for new functions would have moderate, long term, beneficial impacts on those structures/ buildings.

There would be no adverse impacts on resources or values whose conservation is (1) necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the national park’s establishing legislation, (2) key to the cultural integrity or opportunities for enjoyment of the national park, or (3) identified as a goal in this General Management Plan or other relevant National Park Service planning documents. Consequently, there would be no impairment of resources or values associated with historic structures/ buildings.

Section 106 Summary. For purposes of Section 106, the determination of effect of actions under this alternative on historic structures/buildings would be no adverse effect.

Cultural Landscapes

Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same impacts on cultural landscapes as those listed under alternative 1. Although development of new trails, picnic areas, and improved pullouts, parking areas, and overlooks in the Rim Drive corridor would have some additional minor, long- term, adverse impacts on the Rim Drive cultural landscape. However, management of parking and road congestion along the road by defining and formalizing existing pullouts, parking areas, and overlooks would be expected to have minor, longterm, beneficial impacts on the Rim Drive cultural landscape because the historic character and general design features of the road corridor would be preserved.

Cumulative Effects. Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same effects on cultural landscapes as those listed under alternative 1. Development projects and improvements along the Rim Drive corridor would contribute minor, long- term, adverse effects to any overall cumulative impact on the Rim Drive cultural landscape. However, improvements along the road to manage parking and road congestion would be expected to contribute minor, long- term, beneficial impacts to preservation of the historic character and general design features of the road corridor.

Conclusion. Implementation of alternative 2 would generally have the same impacts on cultural landscapes as those listed under alternative 1. Although development projects and improvements along the Rim Drive corridor would contribute additional minor, long- term, adverse effects on the Rim Drive cultural landscape, improvement along the road to manage parking and road congestion would be expected to have minor, longterm, beneficial impacts on preservation of the historic character and general design features of the road corridor.

There would be no adverse impacts on resources or values whose conservation is (1) necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the national park’s establishing legislation, (2) key to the cultural integrity or opportunities for enjoyment of the national park, or (3) identified as a goal in this General Management Plan or other relevant National Park Service planning documents. Consequently, there would be no impairment of resources or values associated with cultural landscapes.

Section 106 Summary. For purposes of Section 106, the determination of effect of actions under this alternative on cultural landscapes would be no adverse effect.

Ethnographic Resources

Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same impacts on ethnographic resources as those listed under alternative 1, although emphasis on expanded and diverse recreational and educational opportunities in the national park for visitors would have minor, longterm, adverse impacts on such resources. Although expanded visitor activities could result in intrusion on significant sacred sites or landscapes, important traditional use activity areas, and ceremonial practices, these impacts would be generally slight but noticeable. However, educational opportunities would be provided to park visitors to heighten their awareness of the importance of ethnographic resources and the need to respect tribal access to such sites as well as a group’s ceremonial practices.

Cumulative Effects. Implementation of alternative 2 would have the same cumulative effects on ethnographic resources as those listed under alternative 1. Emphasis on expanded and diverse recreational and educational opportunities for visitors, however, would contribute minor, longterm, adverse effects to any overall cumulative impacts on ethnographic resources.

Conclusion. Implementation of this alternative would generally have the same impacts on ethnographic resources as those listed under alternative 1, although emphasis on expanded recreational opportunities would have minor, longterm, adverse impacts on such resources.

There would no adverse impacts on resources or values whose conservation is (1) necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the national park’s establishing legislation, (2) key to the cultural integrity or opportunities for enjoyment of the national park, or (3) identified as a goal in this General Management Plan or other relevant National Park Service planning documents. Consequently, there would be no impairment of resources or values associated with ethnographic resources.

Section 106 Summary. No Traditional Cultural Properties are affected by actions under this alternative. Thus, Section 106 determinations are unnecessary.

Museum Collections

Implementation of this alternative would have beneficial, minor to moderate, longterm impacts on the park’s museum collections because the increased volume of the collections that would result from expanded park research activities, as well as acquisition of pertinent park- related collection materials not currently owned or managed by the National Park Service, would be stored in both onsite and offsite facilities that meet professional and National Park Service museum standards. Thus, provision for adequate storage and workspace would be provided to improve curation, protection, and access to the collections, and staffing would be upgraded to reduce the cataloging backlog.

Cumulative Effects. Since the national park was established the combination of limited staffing and lack of storage and workspace meeting professional and National Park Service museum standards have hindered endeavors to improve care of and access to the park’s museum collections and address the everincreasing cataloging backlog, thus having minor to moderate, long- term, adverse impacts on such resources. Actions under this alternative, such as expansion of the collections and their storage in both onsite and offsite facilities, would contribute beneficial, minor to moderate, long- term effects to any overall cumulative impacts on the park’s museum collections.

Conclusion. Implementation of alternative 2 would have beneficial minor to moderate long- term impacts on the park’s museum collections.

There would be no adverse impacts on resources or values whose conservation is (1) necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the national park’s establishing legislation, (2) key to the cultural integrity or opportunities for enjoyment of the national park, or (3) identified as a goal in this General Management Plan or other relevant National Park Service planning documents. Consequently, there would be no impairment of resources or values associated with museum collections.