[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79389-79390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31904]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[1790-ROVA-409]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the General
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Roosevelt-
Vanderbilt National Historic Sites
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Record of Decision.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended [42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)], the National
Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision
for the General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/
EIS) for the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites (NHS), in
Hyde Park, New York. The Regional Director, Northeast Region, approved
the Record of Decision for the GMP/EIS. The Record of Decision includes
a statement of the decision made, a synopsis of other alternatives
considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the
environmentally preferable alternative, a finding on impairment of park
resources and values, a listing of measures to minimize environmental
harm, and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making
process. The approved General Management Plan will guide long-term
management of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, which is comprised of three
(3) units of the national park system: The Home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt NHS; Eleanor Roosevelt NHS (also known as Val-Kill); and
Vanderbilt Mansion NHS. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to
implement the selected alternative, which is Action Alternative Two,
the NPS preferred alternative, as described in the Abbreviated Final
GMP/EIS issued on August 6, 2010.
[[Page 79390]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt
National Historic Sites, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538;
(845) 229-9116 ext. 33; [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary function of a general management
plan is to clearly define a park's purpose and management direction
over the long term, typically 15 to 20 years into the future. The plan
describes the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to
be achieved and maintained. The clarification of what must be achieved
according to law and policy is based on a review of the park's purpose,
significance, and mission. The NPS seeks to have all parks operate
under approved general management plans to ensure that park managers
carry out as effectively and efficiently as possible the mission of the
NPS.
Hyde Park, New York, is home to three national historic sites
established by separate legislation: The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Historic Site; Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (also
known as Val-Kill); and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.
The sites are combined into a single administrative unit, Roosevelt-
Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, under one superintendent and
operated by one staff. Together the parks include over 1,100 acres of
Federally owned land along the east bank of the Hudson River. The GMP/
EIS was created over several years under the guidance of an
interdisciplinary planning team including the Superintendent, senior
park staff, NPS regional office staff, and consultants. At the outset,
the planning team recognized that, although a general management plan
was needed for each of the three Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic
Sites, a single unifying plan was not only the most expeditious
approach, but was also essential for continued coordinated management.
The planning process for the GMP/EIS was conducted with extensive
public and agency involvement. During 2005 and 2006, the planning team
held meetings with and/or contacted key stakeholders, agencies, Tribes,
resource experts, and members of the public. Planning newsletters were
distributed in 2006 and 2007 with updates on the planning process,
draft statements of purpose and significance, preliminary planning
issues, and describing three preliminary alternatives, and also
included a mail-back card inviting comment. Over the course of the next
two years, the planning team continued to brief and receive input from
stakeholders.
The Draft GMP/EIS was released for public review and comment from
December, 24, 2009, through February 28, 2010. The Draft GMP/EIS
presented and evaluated three alternatives: The No-Action Alternative;
Action Alternative One; and Action Alternative Two. Action Alternative
Two was identified as the NPS Preferred Alternative. Copies of the
Draft GMP/EIS were sent to individuals, agencies, Tribes, and
organizations, and were made available at park visitor centers, local
library, and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment
(PEPC) Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova). Public open houses
were held on January 28 and 29, 2010.
The comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS required only minor
responses and editorial corrections; thus, an abbreviated format was
used for the Final GMP/EIS. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS was issued on
August 6, 2010. It included an analysis of agency and public comments
received on the Draft GMP/EIS with NPS responses, errata sheets
detailing editorial corrections to the Draft GMP/EIS, and copies of
agency and substantive public comments. No changes were made to the
alternatives or to the impact analysis presented in the Draft GMP/EIS.
Therefore, Action Alternative Two remained the NPS Preferred
Alternative.
The NPS has selected Action Alternative Two because it best
fulfills the purposes of the parks and conveys the greatest number of
beneficial results in comparison with the other alternatives. The
selected action seeks to make the parks relevant to more audiences by
encouraging greater civic participation in park activities, while
significantly enhancing the historic character of park resources.
Resource management efforts will focus on the landscape and be aimed at
rehabilitating existing features, but will follow contemporary best
practices for land management within select areas. A learning center
will be established to expand the scope and magnitude of the
educational programs. The selected action calls for a significant
expansion of partnership activities in the operation of the sites and
opens up greater potential for new approaches to generating revenue to
help sustain and improve operations.
The Record of Decision is available online at the NPS Planning,
Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova). A printed copy may be obtained by
contacting the park at the address shown above.
Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31904 Filed 12-17-10; 8:45 am]
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