Joshua Tree National Park

• Author: Environmental Law Institute
• Pages: 18-19

18 NEPA Success Stories

is case demonstrated the operation of NEPA as

a process designed to consider competing demands

on the environment and explore the potential for

solutions to demands that might initially seem

irreconcilable.

Joshua Tree National Park (Park) lies at the junction

of three distinct ecosystems in southern California.

e Colorado and Mojave Deserts merge with piñon

and juniper forests of the San Bernardino Mountains

to form a unique landscape about 140 miles east

of densely-populated Los Angeles. Over a million

people visit the Park each year to enjoy the scenery

and one of the clearest night skies in the southern

United States.

For many years, military aircraft followed visual

route (VR) 1257 over the Park en route from mili-

tary installations in California and Arizona. Howev-

er, eight of the Park’s nine campgrounds, the visitor

center, many picnic grounds, and the Park’s main

road were directly below the military aircraft’s VR

1257. Visitors and Park sta frequently complained

about the extreme noise created by military ghter

aircraft that ew low altitude training missions. Mili-

tary leaders agreed to maintain a minimum altitude

of 1,500 feet over the Park, which sub-optimized

their training, but they were reluc-

tant to make any other changes.

A proposal to locate a new type

of aircraft at Lemoore Naval Air

Station in the mid-1990’s prompt-

ed the U.S Navy to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement,

which provided a formal opportu-

nity for the National Park Service

to submit comments. A Record

of Decision was signed without

addressing the Park’s concerns

regarding noise from VR 1257

or addressing the limitations on

the military training. e Deputy

Superintendent of the Park and a military environ-

mental manager undertook the preparation of an

80-page draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that

analyzed where VR 1257 should be located. e EA

developed and analyzed alternatives and formulated

a workable solution for the ight route for consider-

ation by military and National Park Service decision

makers. Both the Park visitor experience and the

military training opportunities beneted from public

comment.

In addition to public comment, extensive data in the

Park’s geographic information system was used to

map sensitive areas and nd a new location for VR

1257 within the boundaries of the Park. Desert tor-

toise and Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard habitat,

archeological sites, picnic areas, campgrounds, and

recreation areas were also taken into consideration.

e end result was that a suitable location was found

in an area of the Park where impacts to visitors and

natural and cultural resources were either eliminated

or drastically reduced. Because a portion of the route

oor was returned to 200 feet above ground level,

the pilots were also able to receive enhanced train-

ing opportunities as a result of the change. Lastly, a

wayside exhibit was erected near the area of the Park

where the overights are most visible, to inform the

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

NEPA HELPS IMPROVE MILITARY TRAINING AND PARK VISITORS’ EXPERIENCE