[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9596-9597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3266]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
General Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement,
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park, VA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for General Management Plan, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove
National Historical Park.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the
availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the
General Management Plan (Final GMP/EIS) for Cedar Creek and Belle Grove
National Historical Park, Virginia. When approved, the plan will
provide guidance to park management for administration, development,
and interpretation of park resources over the next 20 years.
The Final GMP/EIS responds to, and incorporates, agency and public
comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS, which was available for public
and agency review from November 28, 2008 through February 26, 2009.
Copies of the Draft EIS/GMP were available at the park office, by
request, and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web
site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cebegmp). Public meetings were held
on January 28 and 29 and February 4, 2009. Agency and public comments
with NPS responses are provided as Appendix E and F, respectively of
the Final GMP/EIS.
DATES: The NPS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of
the Notice of Availability of the Final GMP/EIS in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: The document will be available for public review and comment
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cebegmp. Requests for a hard copy
or an electronic copy on CD may be made by contacting the park at (540)
868-9176.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diann Jacox, Superintendent, Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, 7718\1/2\; Main Street,
Middletown, Virginia 22645, (540) 868-9176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with Federal laws, regulations,
and National Park Service policies, the Final GMP/EIS describes and
analyzes the environmental impact of four alternatives (A-D) to guide
the development and future management of the National Historical Park.
Alternative A (Continuation of Current Management) focuses on sites
owned, managed, and interpreted by Key Partners, with the NPS providing
technical assistance and national visibility. This alternative provides
a baseline evaluation of the existing resource conditions, facilities,
and management at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park.
Under Alternative B, visitors would experience the park at sites
owned by the Key Partners and through electronic media and NPS ranger
led tours and programs. Visitors would access the park via auto-touring
routes, and a few non-motorized trails located primarily on Key Partner
properties. The primary role NPS would be to provide interpretive
programs and technical assistance. The Key Partners would have the
primary responsibility for land and resource protection. There would be
increased coordination among the NPS and Key Partners, with the NPS
serving as a coordinator for land and resource protection.
Under Alternative C, visitors would experience the park at a NPS-
developed and managed visitor center and at visitor focal areas owned
and managed by the NPS and the Key Partners. The NPS and the Key
Partners would coordinate interpretive programs at these sites.
Visitors would access the
[[Page 9597]]
park via auto-touring routes and a system of non-motorized trails that
provides opportunities for interpretation. The NPS and the Key Partners
would develop a coordinated land protection plan focused on protection
of key historic sites that would become focal areas. The NPS and the
Key Partners would develop formal agreements to undertake special
projects and general park management.
Alternative D is the NPS preferred alternative. Under this
alternative, visitors would experience the park at a NPS-developed and
managed visitor center and at visitor focal areas owned and managed by
the NPS and the Key Partners. The NPS and the Key Partners would
coordinate interpretive programs at these sites. Visitors would access
the park via auto-touring routes and an extensive system of non-
motorized trails that provides opportunities for interpretation and
recreation, that connect focal areas, and tie to communities and
resources outside the park. The NPS and the Key Partners would develop
a coordinated land protection plan focused on protection of cultural
landscapes, sensitive natural resource areas, and lands providing
connections between NPS and Key Partner properties.
Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3266 Filed 2-17-11; 8:45 am]
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