Final Environmental Impact Statement and General Management Plan; San Juan Island National Historical Park, San Juan County, WA; Notice of Availability, 65395-65397 [E8-26128]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 213 / Monday, November 3, 2008 / Notices
installations will be painted to blend in
and reduce their visibility. GNP will not
permit the use of explosives for
avalanche hazard reduction within the
park except during emergency
extenuating circumstances after all other
options, including railroad delays, have
been exercised. GNP recommends that
BNSF build snowsheds in areas of the
John Stevens Canyon that currently do
not have them. GNP also recommends
that BNSF lengthen existing snowsheds
that do not provide sufficient protection
from avalanche activity. In the event
that BNSF constructs snowsheds, GNP
recommends that wildlife crossings be
incorporated into the structures where
appropriate. Wildlife specialists from
GNP, FNF and the USFWS will work
closely with BNSF to assist with this
effort. GNP also recommends that BNSF
design historically compatible
extensions on the existing historic
snowsheds. Cultural Resource
Specialists from both GNP and FNF will
assist with this effort. Other alternatives
analyzed were: (1) No Action—BNSF
would continue to use avalanche
forecasting, travel restrictions, and
delays to protect employees, freight,
equipment and Amtrak passengers; (2)
Alternative C–GNP would permit
explosive use for up to ten years for
avalanche hazard reduction after a
commitment from BNSF to build
snowsheds and fund a 15 year resource
monitoring program; and (3) Alternative
D–GNP would permit BNSF to conduct
a permanent explosive avalanche hazard
reduction program using military
artillery in the park. Construction of less
than one mile of snowsheds offers the
best avalanche protection for Amtrak
passengers, BNSF employees,
equipment, and freight. Explosive
avalanche hazard reduction is an
inappropriate use of park lands and may
have unacceptable impacts on park
resources and values, as defined in the
2006 NPS Management Policies. GNP
along with Waterton Lakes National
Park is the world’s first International
Peace Park, an International Biosphere
Reserve, and a World Heritage Site.
Three comments were received on the
Final EIS supporting the preferred
alternative. Over 13,000 comments were
received on the Draft EIS in addition to
1,100 comments received during
scoping.
The public as well as other agencies
and tribes were overwhelmingly in
support of the preferred alternative. The
Record of Decision includes a
description of the decision, key actions
and mitigation measures, a synopsis of
other alternatives considered, the basis
for the decision, findings on
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impairment, unacceptable impacts and
appropriate use of park resources and
values, a description of the
environmentally preferable alternative,
and an overview of public and agency
involvement in the decision-making
process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Riddle, Glacier National Park,
West Glacier, Montana 59936,
mary_riddle@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of
the Record of Decision may be obtained
from the contact listed above or online
at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/glac.
Dated: October 24, 2008.
Anthony J. Schetzsle,
Deputy Director, Intermountain Region,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E8–26122 Filed 10–31–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–94–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement
and General Management Plan; San
Juan Island National Historical Park,
San Juan County, WA; Notice of
Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, as
amended), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR Part 1500–1508), the National Park
Service (NPS), Department of the
Interior, has prepared a final
environmental impact statement (FEIS)
for updating the General Management
Plan (GMP) for San Juan Island National
Historical Park located in San Juan
County, Washington. The current GMP
was prepared in 1979. This FEIS
describes and analyzes three GMP
alternatives that respond to both NPS
planning requirements and to the
public’s concerns and issues, identified
during the scoping and public
involvement process. Each alternative
presents management strategies for
resource protection and preservation,
education and interpretation, visitor use
and facilities, land protection and
boundaries, and long-term operations
and management of the park. The
potential environmental consequences
of all the alternatives, and mitigation
strategies, are identified and analyzed in
the FEIS. In addition to a ‘‘no-action’’
alternative, an ‘‘environmentally
preferred’’ alternative is identified.
Proposed Plan and Alternatives:
Alternative A constitutes the ‘‘noaction’’ alternative and assumes a
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65395
continuation of existing management
and trends at San Juan Island National
Historical Park. The primary emphasis
in current management is placed on the
protection and preservation of cultural
resources. Since 1966, the park has been
listed in the National Register of
Historic Places and is a National
Historic Landmark. The management of
cultural landscapes around the
immediate encampment areas at
American Camp and English Camp
would continue to emphasize cultural
landscape management while respecting
the natural environment and natural
processes. No new construction would
be authorized.
Alternative B would increase visitor
opportunities and outreach at both
English Camp and American Camp, as
well as in the town of Friday Harbor
through additional visitor facilities,
recreational opportunities, programs,
and services. Natural and cultural
resources interpretation would be
enhanced through more extensive
facilities and programs. At English
Camp, the road system would be
reconfigured as a one-way loop road by
connecting a road segment
approximately one-fifth mile long from
the entrance road to the administrative
road. The road would follow the
existing historic road alignment where
possible. The Crook house would be
rehabilitated as a visitor contact facility
on the ground floor and for
administrative use on the second floor.
At American Camp, the 1979 doublewide trailer that serves as the temporary
visitor center at American Camp would
be removed, the site restored to natural
conditions, and a new enlarged visitor
center would be constructed north of
the redoubt. The new visitor center
would include space for a collections
study room for natural and cultural
resource items, including a portion of
the military-era collections. The existing
road to the redoubt off Pickett’s Lane
would be removed and converted to a
trail. The cultural landscapes would be
enhanced to aid visitor understanding
and interpretation through a variety of
techniques. The prairie would be
restored to native plant species. Offisland interpretation would be
enhanced through partnerships. The
park would propose boundary
adjustments at both sites to include
important natural and cultural resources
related to the purpose of the park.
Alternative C is the agency-preferred
alternative as it would broaden the
scope of resource management and
interpretation programs to emphasize
connections and interrelationships
between the park’s natural and cultural
resources. New facilities, trails and
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65396
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 213 / Monday, November 3, 2008 / Notices
programs provide opportunities for
visitors to understand the importance of
the park’s natural resources in defining
the cultural landscapes and influencing
the settlement and historic events of San
Juan Island. At English Camp, the Crook
house would be retained, stabilized, and
used as an exterior exhibit while the
hospital would be rehabilitated and
opened to the public for interpretation.
The 1979 double-wide trailer that serves
as the temporary visitor center at
American Camp would be removed and
replaced with a permanent, enlarged
visitor center at the existing site,
allowing for improved exhibits and staff
space. A collections study room for
natural and cultural resource items,
including a portion of the military-era
collections would be relocated to the
park. Additional buildings would be
open to the public for interpretation as
well as research and academic study. As
in Alternative B, the existing road to the
redoubt would be removed and
converted to a trail and the prairie
would be restored to native plant
species. Historic buildings from the
encampment period still existing on the
island would be repatriated back to their
original locations within the camps. Offisland interpretation would be
enhanced through partnerships. Finally,
the park would also propose adjusting
the boundary at both sites to include
important natural and cultural resources
related to the purpose of the park.
Alternative C is deemed to be the
‘‘environmentally preferred’’ alternative.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice
of Intent announcing preparation of the
DEIS and general management plan was
published in the Federal Register on
February 5, 2003. The public scoping
phase formally began in March 2003
when the NPS produced and distributed
an initial newsletter announcing onset
of the planning process and soliciting
feedback on issues to be addressed in
the plan. The newsletter was directly
mailed to the park’s 216 person mailing
list. In addition, 4,000 copies of the
newsletter were inserted into The
Journal of the San Juan Islands
newspaper, which reaches
approximately 3,000 island residents
and approximately 1,000 residents offisland. An additional 2,500 copies were
distributed to area libraries, civic
buildings, business, churches,
museums, universities, communities,
dignitaries and elected officials. The
newsletter was also placed on the park’s
Web site to reach a wider audience.
Three public workshops were held in
April 2003, with two in Friday Harbor,
Washington and one in Seattle,
Washington. Presentations about the
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mission of the National Park Service
and purpose and significance of San
Juan Island National Historical Park
were followed by small group work
sessions that allowed people to present
and discuss issues, experiences, and
ideas for the park. Approximately thirtynine people attended the San Juan
Island workshops, and an additional
four participated in the Seattle
workshop. Eighteen written responses
were also collected during the scoping
period.
A second newsletter was produced in
November 2003 summarizing the
comments received, written and oral,
during the scoping period. The
comments covered a broad range of
issues, concerns, personal experiences,
and recommendations for the park.
When compiled, over 224 different
comments or ideas were represented.
The comments can be broadly organized
in the following topics: Resource
preservation and management; visitor
experience and services; park facilities,
operations, management and
maintenance; and park administration
and planning. Though many new
actions and ideas were suggested by the
public during this comment period, no
new issues were identified.
On January 14, 2008, the NPS mailed
315 copies of the draft GMP/EIS to
agencies, governmental representatives,
organizations, and interested
individuals. Copies of the draft GMP/
EIS were placed in the Friday Harbor
and Anacortes public libraries for public
review. The draft GMP/EIS was also
placed on the park’s Planning,
Environment, and Public Comment
webpage, and linked to the park’s home
page, allowing people to access the
document and comment electronically.
The park’s Notice of Availability was
published in the Federal Register on
January 28, 2008, providing details of
the release of the draft GMP/EIS for
public review; the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) notice of
filing appeared on January 18, 2008. All
comments received through March 24,
2008, were included in the official
record.
A total of 2,000 newsletters were
printed containing a summary of the
draft GMP noting the public meetings
and how individuals could obtain a full
copy of the draft GMP/EIS. Each
newsletter included a postage-paid
return form for public comments.
Newsletters were distributed to
libraries, civic buildings, businesses,
churches, museums, universities,
communities, nonprofit organizations,
and elected officials. The newsletter was
also placed on the park’s Web site and
on the Planning, Environment, and
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Public Comment Web Site. An
electronic public comment form was
provided through this Web site.
Nine press releases were distributed
and four newspapers—the Journal of the
San Juan Islands, the Anacortes
American, the Skagit Valley Herald, and
the Bellingham Herald—placed
advances in their papers and their
online Web sites announcing the
locations, times, and dates for the public
workshops. The San Juan Islander, an
online newspaper, also announced the
public workshops.
In February 2008, the NPS planning
team held three open houses in
Anacortes, Washington and Friday
Harbor, Washington. The purpose of the
meetings was to provide an opportunity
for the public to meet with the NPS
planning team to discuss the draft GMP/
EIS, clarify information, ask questions,
and provide comments. Approximately
95 people attended the meetings and
over one hundred comments were
recorded during the sessions.
At the close of the public comment
period, the NPS received a total of 30
pieces of written correspondence,
including letters from agencies,
organizations and individuals; ‘‘return
forms’’ from the draft summary
newsletter; electronic Web site
comments and e-mails to the park.
Comments were grouped into eleven
broad categories, and of those
categories, four major areas of emphasis
emerged from the comments:
alternative, resource preservation,
visitor experience, and land protection/
boundary. In addition, the EPA
expressed environmental concerns
about potential impacts to air and water
quality, and requested additional data
on current water and air quality within
the park and mitigation strategies for air
and water quality impacts. The FEIS has
been updated with additional
information to address EPA concerns,
and contains responses to all
substantive comments received from the
public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested persons and organizations
may obtain the Final EIS/GMP or
request further information by
contacting Peter Dederich,
Superintendent, San Juan Island
National Historical Park, 650 Mullis
Street, Suite 100, Friday Harbor,
Washington 98250; or via telephone at
(360) 378–2240. A limited number of
additional hard copies of this report are
available from the mailing address
above. In addition, the final GMP/EIS is
available in hard copy at the public
library in Friday Harbor, Washington
and electronically at the Planning,
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 213 / Monday, November 3, 2008 / Notices
Environment, and Public Comment Web
site https://parkplanning.nps.gov/sajh.
Decision Process: Following the
release of the Final GMP/EIS, a Record
of Decision will be prepared and
approved not sooner than 30 days after
the EPA has published its notice of
filing of the document in the Federal
Register. A notice of the approved GMP
would be subsequently published. As a
delegated EIS, the official responsible
for the final decision is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region;
subsequently the official responsible for
implementation will be the
Superintendent, San Juan Island
National Historical Park.
Dated: July 27, 2008.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8–26128 Filed 10–31–08; 8:45 am]
comments and ask questions on any
park activity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
A. Latschar, Superintendent Gettysburg
National Military Park, 97 Taneytown
Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting will be open to the public. Any
member of the public may file with the
Commission a written statement
concerning agenda items. The statement
should be addressed to the Gettysburg
National Military Park Advisory
Commission, 1195 Baltimore Pike,
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Dated: October 15, 2008.
John A. Latschar,
Superintendent, Gettysburg NMP/Eisenhower
NHS.
[FR Doc. E8–26130 Filed 10–31–08; 8:45 am]
65397
St., on the N., N. Cuyler Ave., on the E.,
Lake St., on the S. and N. Harlem Ave on
the W., Oak Park, 08001096
Lindemann and Hoverson Company
Showroom and Warehouse, 2620 W.
Washington Blvd., Chicago, 08001095
Otis Elevator Company Factory Building,
1435 W. 15th St. and 1501 S. Laflin St.,
Chicago, 08001097
Du Page County
Robbins Park Historic District, Bounded by
Chicago Ave., 8th St., County Line Rd., and
Garfield St., Hinsdale, 08001098
IOWA
Jones County
Stone City Historic District, 12828–12573
Stone City Rd., 12392–12340 Dearborn Rd.,
12381–12551 County Rd. X28, Anamosa,
08001099
Wapello County
BILLING CODE 4310–JT–M
BILLING CODE 4310–46–P
Burlington Depot, 210 W. Main St., Ottumwa,
08001100
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
MARYLAND
National Park Service
National Park Service
Anne Arundel County
Gettysburg National Military Park
Advisory Commission
National Register of Historic Places;
Notification of Pending Nominations
and Related Actions
National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of two meetings to be
held on March 19, 2009 and September
10, 2009.
Nominations for the following
properties being considered for listing
or related actions in the National
Register were received by the National
Park Service before October 18, 2008.
Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR Part
60 written comments concerning the
significance of these properties under
the National Register criteria for
evaluation may be forwarded by United
States Postal Service, to the National
Register of Historic Places, National
Park Service, 1849 C St., NW., 2280,
Washington, DC 20240; by all other
carriers, National Register of Historic
Places, National Park Service,1201 Eye
St., NW., 8th floor, Washington DC
20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written
or faxed comments should be submitted
by November 18, 2008.
Ingham County
Erika Martin-Seibert,
Acting Chief, National Register of Historic
Places/National Historic Landmarks Program.
Midtown Woodward Historic District, 2951–
3424 Woodward, 14 Charlotte, 10 and 25
Peterboro, Detroit, 08001106
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MONTANA
District of Columbia
Strand Theater, 5129–5131 Nannie Helen
Burroughs Ave., NE., Washington, DC,
08001093
Third Baptist Church, 1546 5th St., NW.,
Washington, DC, 08001094
Missoula County
ILLINOIS
Old Schoolhouse, 35 Brainerd St., Mount
Holly, 08001108
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
dates of March 19, 2009 and September
10, 2009 of the Gettysburg National
Military Park Advisory Commission.
DATES: The public meetings will be held
on March 19, 2009 and September 10,
2009 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: The meetings will be held at
the Ford Education Center, 1195
Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania 17325
Agenda: The March 19, 2009 and
September 10, 2009 meetings will
consist of the Sub-Committee Reports
from the Historical, Executive, and
Interpretive Committees; Federal
Consistency Reports Within the
Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District;
Operational Updates on Park Activities,
which consists of an update on the
Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum
Foundation and National Park Service
activities related to the new Visitor
Center/Museum Complex, updates on
the Wills House and Train Station;
Transportation which consists of the
National Park Service and the
Gettysburg Borough working on the
Shuttle System; Update on Land
Acquisition within the park boundary or
in the historic district; and the Citizens
Open Forum where the public can make
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SUMMARY:
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Cook County
Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of
Architecture Historic District (Boundary
Increase), Roughly bounded by Division
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Universal Lodge No. 14, 64 Clay St.,
Annapolis, 08001101
MICHIGAN
Ottawa Street Power Station, 217 E. Ottawa
St., Lansing, 08001103
Kent County
Alten, Mathias, House and Studio, 1593 E.
Fulton St., Grand Rapids, 08001102
Montcalm County
Greenville Downtown Historic District,
Lafayette between Montcalm and Benton
and adjacent block of Montcalm, Grove,
Cass, and Washington on either side,
Greenville, 08001104
MICHIGAN
Oakland County
McCoy, Kittie C., House, 1455 Benstein Rd.,
Commerce, 08001105
Wayne County
Maclean Cabin, 6014 Boyscout Rd., Seeley
Lake, 08001107
NEW JERSEY
Burlington County
Somerset County
Baker-Dauderstadt Farm, 30 DuBois Rd.,
Warren, 08001109
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
03NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 213 (Monday, November 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65395-65397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26128]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement and General Management Plan;
San Juan Island National Historical Park, San Juan County, WA; Notice
of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508), the National
Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a final
environmental impact statement (FEIS) for updating the General
Management Plan (GMP) for San Juan Island National Historical Park
located in San Juan County, Washington. The current GMP was prepared in
1979. This FEIS describes and analyzes three GMP alternatives that
respond to both NPS planning requirements and to the public's concerns
and issues, identified during the scoping and public involvement
process. Each alternative presents management strategies for resource
protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use
and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term
operations and management of the park. The potential environmental
consequences of all the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are
identified and analyzed in the FEIS. In addition to a ``no-action''
alternative, an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative is
identified.
Proposed Plan and Alternatives: Alternative A constitutes the ``no-
action'' alternative and assumes a continuation of existing management
and trends at San Juan Island National Historical Park. The primary
emphasis in current management is placed on the protection and
preservation of cultural resources. Since 1966, the park has been
listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a National
Historic Landmark. The management of cultural landscapes around the
immediate encampment areas at American Camp and English Camp would
continue to emphasize cultural landscape management while respecting
the natural environment and natural processes. No new construction
would be authorized.
Alternative B would increase visitor opportunities and outreach at
both English Camp and American Camp, as well as in the town of Friday
Harbor through additional visitor facilities, recreational
opportunities, programs, and services. Natural and cultural resources
interpretation would be enhanced through more extensive facilities and
programs. At English Camp, the road system would be reconfigured as a
one-way loop road by connecting a road segment approximately one-fifth
mile long from the entrance road to the administrative road. The road
would follow the existing historic road alignment where possible. The
Crook house would be rehabilitated as a visitor contact facility on the
ground floor and for administrative use on the second floor. At
American Camp, the 1979 double-wide trailer that serves as the
temporary visitor center at American Camp would be removed, the site
restored to natural conditions, and a new enlarged visitor center would
be constructed north of the redoubt. The new visitor center would
include space for a collections study room for natural and cultural
resource items, including a portion of the military-era collections.
The existing road to the redoubt off Pickett's Lane would be removed
and converted to a trail. The cultural landscapes would be enhanced to
aid visitor understanding and interpretation through a variety of
techniques. The prairie would be restored to native plant species. Off-
island interpretation would be enhanced through partnerships. The park
would propose boundary adjustments at both sites to include important
natural and cultural resources related to the purpose of the park.
Alternative C is the agency-preferred alternative as it would
broaden the scope of resource management and interpretation programs to
emphasize connections and interrelationships between the park's natural
and cultural resources. New facilities, trails and
[[Page 65396]]
programs provide opportunities for visitors to understand the
importance of the park's natural resources in defining the cultural
landscapes and influencing the settlement and historic events of San
Juan Island. At English Camp, the Crook house would be retained,
stabilized, and used as an exterior exhibit while the hospital would be
rehabilitated and opened to the public for interpretation. The 1979
double-wide trailer that serves as the temporary visitor center at
American Camp would be removed and replaced with a permanent, enlarged
visitor center at the existing site, allowing for improved exhibits and
staff space. A collections study room for natural and cultural resource
items, including a portion of the military-era collections would be
relocated to the park. Additional buildings would be open to the public
for interpretation as well as research and academic study. As in
Alternative B, the existing road to the redoubt would be removed and
converted to a trail and the prairie would be restored to native plant
species. Historic buildings from the encampment period still existing
on the island would be repatriated back to their original locations
within the camps. Off-island interpretation would be enhanced through
partnerships. Finally, the park would also propose adjusting the
boundary at both sites to include important natural and cultural
resources related to the purpose of the park. Alternative C is deemed
to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent announcing preparation of
the DEIS and general management plan was published in the Federal
Register on February 5, 2003. The public scoping phase formally began
in March 2003 when the NPS produced and distributed an initial
newsletter announcing onset of the planning process and soliciting
feedback on issues to be addressed in the plan. The newsletter was
directly mailed to the park's 216 person mailing list. In addition,
4,000 copies of the newsletter were inserted into The Journal of the
San Juan Islands newspaper, which reaches approximately 3,000 island
residents and approximately 1,000 residents off-island. An additional
2,500 copies were distributed to area libraries, civic buildings,
business, churches, museums, universities, communities, dignitaries and
elected officials. The newsletter was also placed on the park's Web
site to reach a wider audience.
Three public workshops were held in April 2003, with two in Friday
Harbor, Washington and one in Seattle, Washington. Presentations about
the mission of the National Park Service and purpose and significance
of San Juan Island National Historical Park were followed by small
group work sessions that allowed people to present and discuss issues,
experiences, and ideas for the park. Approximately thirty-nine people
attended the San Juan Island workshops, and an additional four
participated in the Seattle workshop. Eighteen written responses were
also collected during the scoping period.
A second newsletter was produced in November 2003 summarizing the
comments received, written and oral, during the scoping period. The
comments covered a broad range of issues, concerns, personal
experiences, and recommendations for the park. When compiled, over 224
different comments or ideas were represented. The comments can be
broadly organized in the following topics: Resource preservation and
management; visitor experience and services; park facilities,
operations, management and maintenance; and park administration and
planning. Though many new actions and ideas were suggested by the
public during this comment period, no new issues were identified.
On January 14, 2008, the NPS mailed 315 copies of the draft GMP/EIS
to agencies, governmental representatives, organizations, and
interested individuals. Copies of the draft GMP/EIS were placed in the
Friday Harbor and Anacortes public libraries for public review. The
draft GMP/EIS was also placed on the park's Planning, Environment, and
Public Comment webpage, and linked to the park's home page, allowing
people to access the document and comment electronically. The park's
Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on January
28, 2008, providing details of the release of the draft GMP/EIS for
public review; the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) notice of
filing appeared on January 18, 2008. All comments received through
March 24, 2008, were included in the official record.
A total of 2,000 newsletters were printed containing a summary of
the draft GMP noting the public meetings and how individuals could
obtain a full copy of the draft GMP/EIS. Each newsletter included a
postage-paid return form for public comments. Newsletters were
distributed to libraries, civic buildings, businesses, churches,
museums, universities, communities, nonprofit organizations, and
elected officials. The newsletter was also placed on the park's Web
site and on the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web Site. An
electronic public comment form was provided through this Web site.
Nine press releases were distributed and four newspapers--the
Journal of the San Juan Islands, the Anacortes American, the Skagit
Valley Herald, and the Bellingham Herald--placed advances in their
papers and their online Web sites announcing the locations, times, and
dates for the public workshops. The San Juan Islander, an online
newspaper, also announced the public workshops.
In February 2008, the NPS planning team held three open houses in
Anacortes, Washington and Friday Harbor, Washington. The purpose of the
meetings was to provide an opportunity for the public to meet with the
NPS planning team to discuss the draft GMP/EIS, clarify information,
ask questions, and provide comments. Approximately 95 people attended
the meetings and over one hundred comments were recorded during the
sessions.
At the close of the public comment period, the NPS received a total
of 30 pieces of written correspondence, including letters from
agencies, organizations and individuals; ``return forms'' from the
draft summary newsletter; electronic Web site comments and e-mails to
the park. Comments were grouped into eleven broad categories, and of
those categories, four major areas of emphasis emerged from the
comments: alternative, resource preservation, visitor experience, and
land protection/boundary. In addition, the EPA expressed environmental
concerns about potential impacts to air and water quality, and
requested additional data on current water and air quality within the
park and mitigation strategies for air and water quality impacts. The
FEIS has been updated with additional information to address EPA
concerns, and contains responses to all substantive comments received
from the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested persons and organizations
may obtain the Final EIS/GMP or request further information by
contacting Peter Dederich, Superintendent, San Juan Island National
Historical Park, 650 Mullis Street, Suite 100, Friday Harbor,
Washington 98250; or via telephone at (360) 378-2240. A limited number
of additional hard copies of this report are available from the mailing
address above. In addition, the final GMP/EIS is available in hard copy
at the public library in Friday Harbor, Washington and electronically
at the Planning,
[[Page 65397]]
Environment, and Public Comment Web site https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
sajh.
Decision Process: Following the release of the Final GMP/EIS, a
Record of Decision will be prepared and approved not sooner than 30
days after the EPA has published its notice of filing of the document
in the Federal Register. A notice of the approved GMP would be
subsequently published. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible
for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region;
subsequently the official responsible for implementation will be the
Superintendent, San Juan Island National Historical Park.
Dated: July 27, 2008.
George J. Turnbull,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-26128 Filed 10-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-46-P
