National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

National Trails Intermountain Region New Mexico

Abbreviated Final Feasibility Study EnvironEnvironmentalmental Impact Statement LONG WALK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

Abbreviated Final Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact Statement Long Walk National Historic Trail Arizona and New Mexico ______The Draft Long Walk National Historic Trail would be established. Interpretation and Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact education would emphasize the distinctive tribal Statement evaluated the suitability and feasibility and individual removal histories. The secretary of designating the routes known as the “Long of the interior would administer the trails Walk” of the Mescalero Apache and the Navajo through partnerships with private and federal people (1862-1868) as a national historic trail landowners, state and local governments, and under the study provisions of the National Trails others on a strictly voluntary basis. Primary System Act (Public Law 90-543). The study partners would be the Mescalero Apache Tribe provided necessary information for evaluating and the Navajo Nation. Under alternative C the national significance of the Long Walk, one national historic trail would be designated, which refers to the U.S. Army’s removal of the emphasizing the removal experiences common Mescalero Apache and Navajo people from their to both tribes. An auto tour route would be homelands to the Bosque Redondo Reservation established. Interpretation and education would in eastern New Mexico, and for potential emphasize overviews of the Long Walk events. designation of a national historic trail. The secretary of the interior would administer the trail through partnerships, primarily with the The three criteria for national historic trails, as Mescalero Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation. defined in the National Trails System Act, were Under alternative D Congress would provide a applied and were met for the proposed Long grant program to the tribes focusing on Walk National Historic Trail. The trail routes interpretation and education projects and have a high degree of integrity and significant resource protection on tribal lands. All decisions potential for historical interest based on historic about strategy, level of protection, etc., would be interpretation and appreciation. The trail routes made by the tribes. A national historic trail were established by historic use and are would not be designated. The study identifies nationally significant as a result of that use alternative C as the environmentally preferred during the period of removal, escape, and return alternative. to tribal homelands, 1862-1868. On January 13, 2006, the National Park System Advisory Board The Draft Long Walk National Historic Trail concurred with the study team’s determination Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact of national significance to U.S. history. Statement was distributed to other agencies, tribal members, and interested organizations Four alternatives and their respective and individuals for their review and comment. environmental consequences were presented in This Abbreviated Final Feasibility Study / the study. Under alternative A, the no- action Environmental Impact Statement presents the alternative, current practices and policies would comments and agency responses and a continue. A national historic trail would not be correction (errata) sheet that shows the minor designated, and interpretation and protection of changes that need to be made to the draft. The Long Walk-related events and resources would draft and the abbreviated final constitute a full not be coordinated. Alternatives B, C, and D final document. Because these changes were explore different methods of achieving the goals minor, the National Park Service has permission of this study’s authorizing legislation (Public to print this abbreviated document. Law 107-214). Under alternative B Congress would designate two national historic trails (dual For further information, please contact the designations) to emphasize the unique removal superintendent, National Trails Intermountain experiences of each tribe. An auto tour route Region, PO Box 728, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0728.

U.S. Department of the Interior • National Park Service

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 2 PUBLIC REVIEW 2 COMMENTS AND RESPONSES 3 DRAFT FEASIBILITY STUDY / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CORRECTIONS 4 AGENCY AND ORGANIZATION LETTERS 17

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INTRODUCTION

This is an Abbreviated Final Feasibility Study / Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Statement, its alternatives, associated Walk National Historic Trail. The material environmental impacts, and comments that included here is to be combined with the have been received and evaluated and Draft Long Walk National Historic Trail responses to them. Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact Statement, which was distributed for public Following the announced release of this review April 17, 2009. The 60-day public Abbreviated Final Long Walk National Historic review period ended June 22, 2009, and was Trail Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact extended until July 1, 2009. The abbreviated Statement in the Federal Register, there will be format has been used because the changes to a 30-day no-action period. A “Record of the draft document are relatively minor and Decision” of the approved final plan will then do not modify the analysis provided in the be signed by the regional director, Draft Feasibility Study / Environmental Impact Intermountain Region, National Park Service Statement. (NPS), and copies will be made available to the public. Use of this format is in compliance with the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act For further information, please contact the regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations or superintendent, National Trails CFR 1503.4 (c)). The draft and abbreviated Intermountain Region, PO Box 728, Santa Fe, final documents together present the full Final NM 87504-0728.

1 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

This section summarizes the agency, that a digital copy of the document was organization, and public comments received available for viewing on the NPS Planning, on the Draft Feasibility Study/ Environmental Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Impact Statement. These comments allow website. interested parties (including NPS decision- makers) to review and assess how other Seven open houses were held. On May 20, agencies, organizations, and individuals have 2009, an open house was held from 6:00 p.m. responded to the proposed actions and to 8:00 p.m. at the Fort Sumner State Monu- alternatives and their potential impacts. The ment in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. On May National Park Service provides responses to 21, an open house was held from 6:30 p.m. to those comments that are considered 8:30 p.m. at the Carrizo Community Center in substantive or when responses are helpful for Mescalero, New Mexico. On June 2, 2009, an clarification or other purposes. open house was held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Old Santa Fe Trail Building in Substantive comments are those that (1) Santa Fe, New Mexico. On June 16, 2009, an question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy open house was held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 of information in the environmental impact p.m. at the Crownpoint Chapter House statement, (2) question, with reasonable basis, (Navajo Nation) in Crownpoint, New the adequacy of environmental analysis, (3) Mexico. On June 17, 2009, an open house was present reasonable alternatives other than held at the Navajo Nation Museum in those presented in the environmental impact Window Rock, Arizona. On June 18, 2009, an statement, or (4) cause changes or revisions in open house was held at the Chinle Chapter the proposal. House (Navajo Nation) in Chinle, Arizona. On June 19, 2009, an open house was held at the To’Nanees’Dizi Local Government PUBLIC REVIEW (Navajo Nation) in Tuba City, Arizona. About 100 individuals attended the open houses. The A notice of availability of the Draft Feasibility availability of the document and information Study/ Environmental Impact Statement was about the open houses was announced in local published in the Federal Register (Environ- newspapers. mental Protection Agency notice) on April 17, 2009. The official review and comment period About 25 written and electronic comments began on April 17, 2009, and ended July 1, were received. The public did not present any 2009. new alternatives, and public comment analysis did not result in any modifications to the About 220 hard copies of the document and current alternatives. Letters from tribal, 100 copies of a CD-ROM version were mailed federal, state, and local governments and to various entities within Arizona and New organizations are reproduced on the following Mexico, as well as Washington, D.C. They pages, as required. These entities identified include individuals, academic institutions; support for a specific alternative, supported national and state parks; government agencies; national historic trail designation generally, or members of Congress; city, county and state had no comment. The Environmental libraries; pueblos and Indian tribes, and the Protection Agency had a “Lack of Objections” New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. to the Environmentally Preferred Alternative. A letter, dated April 3, 2009, was included with each hard copy document that was mailed. An The public’s comments have been considered additional letter, dated April 15, 2009, was by the National Park Service in preparing this sent to about 790 individuals notifying them Abbreviated Final Feasibility Study / 2 Environmental Impact Statement, consistent alternatives B, C, and D on federally listed with the requirements of 40 CFR 1503. The species. The agency commented that following section summarizes substantive “Migratory birds use the Project Area and may comments and contains the NPS response. be impacted by various proposed construction The National Park Service responses make activities,” and recommended that “presence/ factual changes, clarify or provide new absence surveys and nest occupancy be information, or explain why the public conducted prior to construction during the comments do not warrant further agency breeding season. If construction extends into response. the following breeding season, an additional migratory bird nest survey should be Presentations were made to Mescalero completed.” The agency also recommended Apache Tribe and the Navajo Nation, that “The NPS should develop and implement subsequent to public review of the Draft measures in consultation with the Service to Feasibility Study/ Environmental Impact ensure that federally listed species would be Statement through formal tribal consultation. managed in compliance with the Endangered Responses will be documented in the “Record Species Act.” (Two letters are reproduced in of Decision.” this document.)

NPS Response: If Congress designates a COMMENTS AND RESPONSES national historic trail or develops a grant program, and if small-scale construction Comment: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, projects occur, the National Park Service New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, would follow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife had comments and recommendations Service’s recommendations. concerning the effects of implementing

3 DRAFT FEASIBILITY STUDY / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CORRECTIONS

This section contains those changes that Pages 41-42 — Map segment 5 of 5: This map should be made to the Draft Feasibility Study / has been revised. “Fort Stanton” has been Environmental Impact Statement. Some of changed to “Fort Stanton State these changes are a result of public comments, Monument.” Route 70, Route 54, and and others are editorial in nature. Please make Route 380 identifiers have also been added. the following changes: Please insert the new map provided.

Pages 31-32 — The Long Walk Routes: This Page 105 — The length of the trail(s) should map has been revised. The name of Route be changed from 300-400 miles to 1,350- 360 has been changed to Route 380. The 1,400 miles. These two paragraphs would Bosque Redondo Memorial and Fort now read as follows. Stanton State Monument have been added. Please insert the new map provided. The effects of alternative B on visitor use and experience along the entire 1,350- to Pages 33-34 — Map segment 1 of 5: This map 1,400-mile-long route would be has been included for the reader’s beneficial, long term, direct and indirect, convenience; no changes were made. and of moderate intensity.

Pages 35-36 — Map segment 2 of 5: This map Alternative C would provide has been revised. “Coronado State Park” opportunities for learning about and has been changed to “Coronado State appreciating the Long Walk in a historical Monument.” Please insert the new map context. Visitors also would have the provided. opportunity to better understand the event through the overall histories that Pages 37-38 — Map segment 3 of 5: This map would be part of the trail’s interpretation. has been revised. “Jemez State Monument” The auto tour route would enable visitors has been added between Jemez Indian to “discover” the trail incidentally to their Reservation and Bandelier National visit to other attractions in the region, Monument. Please insert the new map including other national park system provided. units, and would help visitors understand the length of the trail and the hardship of Pages 39-40 — Map segment 4 of 5: This map the experience. Compared to alternative has been revised. The name for Fort A, this would result in beneficial, long- Sumner State Monument has been term, direct and indirect impacts of changed to Fort Sumner State moderate intensity throughout the 1,350- Monument/Bosque Redondo Memorial. to 1,400-mile-long route. Please insert the new map provided.

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County s o c Harding P e Fort Sumner State Monument/ Bosque Redondo Memorial BOSQUE REDONDO Eddy County 40 County Chaves County San Miguel County De Baca Fort Sumner Fort County 70 Colfax Guadalupe Santa Rosa FORT UNION FORT NATIONAL MONUMENT Fort Fort Union/ 82 54 THE LONG WALK ROUTES THE LONG WALK United States Department of the Interior National Park Service DSC • T15 20001A September 2009 LONG WALK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL NATIONAL LONG WALK FEASIBILITY STUDY Las Vegas Fort Stanton State Monument County Lincoln PECOS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK Pecos/ Taos County

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M t s. Shiprock k a u s C h Fort Fort Defiance/ Canby County Apache CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT 40 N PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK Chinlee Wash De Chelly Canyon HUBBELL TRADING POST NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

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Window Rock N LONG WALK ROUTE SECTION 1 OF 5 LONG WALK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY REMOVAL ROUTES HISTORIC TOWN / FORT United States Department of the Interior 0 5 10 15 20 25 Miles National Park Service NAVAJO RETURN ROUTE NONHISTORIC TOWN DSC • T15 • 20002 • July 2008 M C K I N L E Y

JEMEZ BANDELIER NATIONAL INDIAN Jemez State MONUMENT RESERVATION Monument SANTAS A FE NATIONALONA FORESTR Fort Defiance/ CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK Canby JEMEZ INDIAN RES.

JEMEZ COCHITI PUEBLO M c K i n l e y INDIAN RESERVATION INDIAN SANTO RESERVATIONDOMINGO IND. RES. C o u n t y ZIA IND.RES. Church Rock J E M E Z R I V E R SANTO SANTA ANA DOMINGO Gallup R I O G R A N D E S a n d o v a l IND. RES. INDIAN Fort RESERVATION Wingate II C o u n t y ZIA San INDIAN Felipe Thoreau RESERVATION Pueblo T SANS N RES FELIPEE 40 FO SantaSaS IND.RES.S. RosaRRo Algodones Lupton AL PeaksPPeaPe S a n t a Fe M o u n t a i n s NAL CIBOLA Coronado NAVAJO TIO State NAN Monument INDIAN M o u n t a i n s LAA N RESERVATION OLA Bluewater CIB INDIANIN N SANDIA Mt. Taylororr RES.RE INDIAN NATIONAL RES.

R I O P U E R C O Seboyeta

N Alameda CIBC OLAA O I T Z u n i M o u n t a i n s PETROGLYPH A NNAATIONAL V Grants S a n M a t e o NATIONAL R E CANONCITOC MONUMENT S E FORESTT R FOREST

Cubero A Albuquerque Fort N R ON EL MORRO INDIAN RESERVATION Wingate I IAN NATIONAL IND MONUMENT McCarty’s

A R I Z O N A I UN Z Laguna

N E W M E X I C O B e r n a l i l l o ZUNI INDIAN RESERVATION C o u n t y INDIAN RESERVATION RAMAH EL MALPAIS ISLETA NATIONAL ACOMA INDIAN RESERVATION INDIAN MONUMENT INDIAN RESERVATION

AREA Los Pinos (Bosque Farms) C i b o l a C o u n t y LAGUNA INDIAN RESERVATION V a l e n c i a C o u n t y

Gallup M a n z a n o M o u n t a i n s Albuquerque

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OSCURA MOUNTAINS Capitan 48 70 REMOVAL ROUTES HISTORIC TOWN / FORT Fort Stanton NAVAJO RETURN ROUTE NONHISTORIC TOWN Fort Stanton State Monument N LONG WALK ROUTE SECTION 4 OF 5 LONG WALK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL MESCALERO 0 5 10 15 20 25 Miles FEASIBILITY STUDY ESCAPE ROUTES United States Department of the Interior National Park Service DSC • T15 • 20005A • September 2009

Two Rivers Two Reservoir

. S N T LONG WALK ROUTE SECTION 5 OF LONG WALK United States Department of the Interior National Park Service LONG WALK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL NATIONAL LONG WALK FEASIBILITY STUDY M DSC • T15 20006A September 2009

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Rio Hondo Chimney Peak

C A P I T A N M O U N T A I N S Fort Stanton Fort Stanton State Monument 70 O t e r o C o u n t y

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A I Z O N N O Z I A R A A N O REMOVAL ROUTES REMOVAL RETURN ROUTE NAVAJO MESCALERO ESCAPE ROUTES Caballo Lake State Park RIZ A ARIZONA

AGENCY AND ORGANIZATION LETTERS

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As the nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering sound use of our land and water resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and biological diversity; preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places; and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure that their development is in the best interests of all our people by encouraging stewardship and citizen participation in their care. The department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S. administration.

NPS T15/100292 October 2009 / Printed on recycled paper.