Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan Amendment (FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 66671-66672 [E9-29853]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 16, 2009 / Notices
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
• Fort Stanwix National Monument
staff enjoys healthy and safe working
conditions.
Collaboration and Partnership Goal
• Formal partnerships and informal
associations with other agencies and
organizations assist with the
preservation and public enjoyment of
the Fort Stanwix National Monument.
These partnerships and other
collaborative projects support the NPS
and Fort Stanwix National Monument
missions.
• Fort Stanwix National Monument
increases programmatic coordination
and offering technical assistance to
partners in the Northern Frontier and
Mohawk valley regions.
After careful consideration and
review of the purpose and significance
of Fort Stanwix National Monument and
its establishing laws and policies, as
well as input received from other
agencies and the public during the
planning process, Alternative 2 was
chosen by NPS as the alternative to be
implemented. The selected alternative
best fulfills the mandates of the
founding legislation, the purpose and
significance, and the other laws and
policies guiding the NPS and the
National Monument. The selected
alternative, which builds upon key
aspects of the 1967 Master Plan but also
recognizes current historical scholarship
and cultural resource management
practices, best supports the park’s
purpose, significance and goals, while
also providing management direction
that best protects resources, offers highquality visitor experiences, and takes
advantage of partnership opportunities.
The environmental consequences of
the selected alternative are fully
documented in the Draft GMP/EIS and
the Final GMP/EIS. All practicable
means to avoid or minimize
environmental harm that could result
from the implementation of the selected
alternative have been identified and
incorporated. After a review of the
potential environmental effects, the
alternative selected for implementation
will not impair park resources of values
and will not violate the NPS Organic
Act.
This decision is the result of a public
planning process that began in 1997. A
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Fort Stanwix GMP was published in the
Federal Register in 1999. Throughout
the planning process, extensive research
and consultation was conducted with
many subject matter experts, local
community representatives, and
institutions. A public scoping meeting
was held on October 23, 2008, at the
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17:06 Dec 15, 2009
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Rome, New York City Hall, and 12
members of the public were in
attendance. Two studies were
undertaken to examine areas that are
geographically and thematically
relevant to Fort Stanwix National
Monument—Oriskany Battlefield State
Historic Site in Whitestown, NY, and
the Northern Frontier encompassing a
ten-county area of central New York.
The Oriskany Battlefield study found it
to be nationally significant and suitable
to be added to the national park system;
however, the study did not find it
feasible at the time to include in the
national park system because of New
York State’s interest in continuing to
manage the battlefield site. The park
will continue to explore with New York
State officials the feasibility of a future
boundary adjustment and agreements to
manage the site cooperatively or include
the site in the national park system. The
Northern Frontier study addressed the
possible definition and designation of a
national heritage area but did not
recommend establishment of a new
national park system unit or a new
national heritage area. The
recommendations focused on broader
outreach efforts by Fort Stanwix
National Monument to better integrate
and affiliate with Northern Frontier
interpretive themes and related sites.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft
GMP/EIS was published on September
26, 2008 and the Draft GMP/EIS was
made available for public review
through December 1, 2008. A public
meeting was held on October 23, 2008
at the City Hall in Rome, NY, to solicit
public comments. Fourteen (14)
comments were received during the
comment period. The consensus of the
public comments received was that the
NPS was pursuing the correct path for
the park in Alternative 2, the Preferred
Action. Slight modifications to the
preferred alternative were made in
response to comments on the Draft
GMP/EIS. A Notice of Availability of the
Final GMP/EIS was published in the
Federal Register on July 31, 2009. The
Final GMP/EIS presents the modified
preferred alternative and includes
letters from governmental agencies,
substantive comments on the Draft
GMP/EIS, and NPS responses to those
comments. The no-action period on the
Final GMP/EIS ended on August 31,
2009.
The official primarily responsible for
implementing the updated General
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66671
Management Plan is the Superintendent
of Fort Stanwix National Monument.
Richard L. Harris,
Acting Regional Director Northeast Region,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9–29852 Filed 12–15–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of a Record of
Decision (ROD) for the Final
Environmental Impact Statement/
General Management Plan Amendment
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of Availability of a
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final
Environmental Impact Statement/
General Management Plan Amendment
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 332(2)(C), the National Park
Service (NPS) announces the
availability of the ROD for the FEIS/
GMPA for the Elkmont Historic District
in the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, Tennessee.
On June 30, 2009, the Regional
Director, NPS, Southeast Region,
approved the ROD for the project. As
soon as practicable, the NPS will begin
to implement the FEIS/GMPA,
described as the selected action (the
preferred Alternative C) contained in
the FEIS/GMPA issued on May 1, 2009.
Under the selected alternative, the NPS
will preserve a representative collection
of 19 historic buildings in the District of
the park. The District is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP). Within the District, the core of
the former Appalachian Club resort
community known as ‘‘Daisy Town’’
will be preserved including the
Appalachian Clubhouse and a cluster of
16 cabins. Fifteen of these cabins are
identified as contributing to the
significance of the District. An
additional non-contributing cabin will
be preserved to maintain the visual
continuity of the Daisy Town
streetscape. The exteriors of these
buildings will be restored to
approximate the appearance of this
portion of the District during its early
20th century period of significance. The
Appalachian Clubhouse interior will be
rehabilitated for public rental and day
use activities. The 16 cabins will be
retained for interpretive purposes.
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
66672
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 16, 2009 / Notices
In addition to the Daisy Town
buildings, the exterior of the Chapman
cabin in the ‘‘Society Hill’’ portion of
the District will be restored to the early
20th century period of significance and
retained for interpretive purposes, the
exterior of the Spence cabin in
‘‘Millionaire’s Row’’ will also be
restored and its interior rehabilitated for
public rental and day use. The gravel
pathway from the Appalachian
Clubhouse to Jakes Creek Cemetery will
be restored. Historic plantings that are
not invasive would be retained
throughout the District. To provide
access and circulation, existing parking
areas will be reconfigured and
resurfaced, and a new day use parking
area will be constructed.
Altogether, 30 buildings identified as
contributing to the District’s
significance will be removed. Buildings
slated for removal include the
Wonderland Hotel Annex, 26 cabins,
and 3 garages. The remains of the
structurally failed Wonderland Hotel
were removed in December 2006.
The preserved buildings and cultural
landscape features, along with wayside
exhibits and other interpretive media,
will be used to enhance visitor
understanding of the history and
development of the Elkmont vacation
community, its architecture, and the
area’s important cultural and natural
resources.
To increase species diversity, improve
and increase wildlife habitat, and
provide soil stabilization within the
District, the NPS will restore native
plant communities in suitable areas,
including the sites where buildings have
been removed. Removal of buildings
within the Little River floodplain would
allow for gradual succession to native
communities.
The selected alternative will not
generate wastewater discharge above the
permitted allowable level from the
sewage treatment plant or contribute
nonpoint runoff into the Little River or
its tributaries. No additional structures
or activities within the 100-year
floodplain are proposed.
The approved plan enhances
opportunities for visitors to interact
with and appreciate the historic
district’s resources while providing for
the preservation or adaptive use of the
park’s resources when implemented.
The Record of Decision includes a
description of the project’s background,
a statement of the decision made,
synopses of other alternatives
considered, the basis for the decision,
findings on impairment of park
resources and values, a description of
the environmentally preferred
alternative, a listing of measures to
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16:18 Dec 15, 2009
Jkt 220001
minimize environmental harm, and an
overview of public involvement in the
decision-making process.
DATES: The ROD was signed by the
Regional Director, NPS, Southeast
Region, on June 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are
available from the Superintendent,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
107 Park Headquarters Road,
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738; telephone:
865–436–1201.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS
evaluated six other alternatives for the
treatment and management of the
District in the GMPA/EIS. These
alternatives are described in full in the
FEIS/GMPA. Among the alternatives
considered, the selected alternative best
protects the diversity of park resources
while also maintaining a range of
quality visitor experiences, meets NPS
purposes and goals for the Elkmont
Historic District of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, and meets
National Environmental Policy Act
goals. The selected alternative will not
result in the impairment of park
resources and will allow the NPS to
conserve park resources and provide for
their enjoyment by visitors.
Authority: The authority for publishing
this notice is 40 CFR 1506.6 (b).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact the Superintendent, Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, at the
address and telephone number shown
above. An electronic copy of the
document is available on the Internet at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.
The responsible official for this FEIS
is the Regional Director, Southeast
Region, National Park Service, 100
Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: October 5, 2009.
David Vela,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9–29853 Filed 12–15–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–70–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–R–2009–N186; 40136–1265–0000–
S3]
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National
Wildlife Refuge, Charleston, Beaufort,
Colleton, and Hampton Counties, SC
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final
comprehensive conservation plan and
finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and finding of
no significant impact (FONSI) for the
environmental assessment for Ernest F.
Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife
Refuge (ACE Basin NWR). In the final
CCP, we describe how we will manage
this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of
the CCP by writing to: Mr. Van Fischer,
Refuge Planner, South Carolina
Lowcountry Refuge Complex, 5801
Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC
29429. You may also access and
download the document from the
Service’s Web site: https://
southeast.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Van Fischer; telephone: 843/928–3264;
E-mail: van_fischer@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for ACE Basin NWR. We started
this process through a notice in the
Federal Register on January 3, 2007 (72
FR 141). For more about the process, see
that notice. ACE Basin NWR was
established on September 20, 1990, and
was renamed the Ernest F. Hollings ACE
Basin National Wildlife Refuge on May
16, 2005. The refuge is a partner in the
ACE Basin Task Force, a coalition
consisting of the Service, the South
Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, Ducks Unlimited, The
Nature Conservancy, The Low Country
Open Land Trust, Mead Westvaco, and
private landowners of the ACE Basin
system. The refuge’s two separate units
(Edisto and Combahee) are further
broken down into subunits, with the
Edisto Unit containing the Barrelville,
Grove, and Jehossee subunits; and the
Combahee Unit containing the Bonny
Hall, Combahee Fields, and Yemassee
subunits. The refuge is divided into 9
management units or compartments,
ranging in size from 350 to 3,355 acres.
Compartment boundaries are
established along geographic features
that can be easily identified on the
ground (i.e., rivers, roads, and trails).
We announce our decision and the
availability of the final CCP and FONSI
for ACE Basin NWR in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)]
requirements. We completed a thorough
analysis of impacts on the human
environment, which we included in the
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment (Draft
CCP/EA). The CCP will guide us in
managing and administering ACE Basin
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66671-66672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29853]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the
Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan Amendment
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National
Park
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the
Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan Amendment
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National
Park.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the
availability of the ROD for the FEIS/GMPA for the Elkmont Historic
District in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
On June 30, 2009, the Regional Director, NPS, Southeast Region,
approved the ROD for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will
begin to implement the FEIS/GMPA, described as the selected action (the
preferred Alternative C) contained in the FEIS/GMPA issued on May 1,
2009. Under the selected alternative, the NPS will preserve a
representative collection of 19 historic buildings in the District of
the park. The District is listed in the National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP). Within the District, the core of the former Appalachian
Club resort community known as ``Daisy Town'' will be preserved
including the Appalachian Clubhouse and a cluster of 16 cabins. Fifteen
of these cabins are identified as contributing to the significance of
the District. An additional non-contributing cabin will be preserved to
maintain the visual continuity of the Daisy Town streetscape. The
exteriors of these buildings will be restored to approximate the
appearance of this portion of the District during its early 20th
century period of significance. The Appalachian Clubhouse interior will
be rehabilitated for public rental and day use activities. The 16
cabins will be retained for interpretive purposes.
[[Page 66672]]
In addition to the Daisy Town buildings, the exterior of the
Chapman cabin in the ``Society Hill'' portion of the District will be
restored to the early 20th century period of significance and retained
for interpretive purposes, the exterior of the Spence cabin in
``Millionaire's Row'' will also be restored and its interior
rehabilitated for public rental and day use. The gravel pathway from
the Appalachian Clubhouse to Jakes Creek Cemetery will be restored.
Historic plantings that are not invasive would be retained throughout
the District. To provide access and circulation, existing parking areas
will be reconfigured and resurfaced, and a new day use parking area
will be constructed.
Altogether, 30 buildings identified as contributing to the
District's significance will be removed. Buildings slated for removal
include the Wonderland Hotel Annex, 26 cabins, and 3 garages. The
remains of the structurally failed Wonderland Hotel were removed in
December 2006.
The preserved buildings and cultural landscape features, along with
wayside exhibits and other interpretive media, will be used to enhance
visitor understanding of the history and development of the Elkmont
vacation community, its architecture, and the area's important cultural
and natural resources.
To increase species diversity, improve and increase wildlife
habitat, and provide soil stabilization within the District, the NPS
will restore native plant communities in suitable areas, including the
sites where buildings have been removed. Removal of buildings within
the Little River floodplain would allow for gradual succession to
native communities.
The selected alternative will not generate wastewater discharge
above the permitted allowable level from the sewage treatment plant or
contribute nonpoint runoff into the Little River or its tributaries. No
additional structures or activities within the 100-year floodplain are
proposed.
The approved plan enhances opportunities for visitors to interact
with and appreciate the historic district's resources while providing
for the preservation or adaptive use of the park's resources when
implemented. The Record of Decision includes a description of the
project's background, a statement of the decision made, synopses of
other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, findings on
impairment of park resources and values, a description of the
environmentally preferred alternative, a listing of measures to
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in
the decision-making process.
DATES: The ROD was signed by the Regional Director, NPS, Southeast
Region, on June 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available from the Superintendent,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road,
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738; telephone: 865-436-1201.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS evaluated six other alternatives for
the treatment and management of the District in the GMPA/EIS. These
alternatives are described in full in the FEIS/GMPA. Among the
alternatives considered, the selected alternative best protects the
diversity of park resources while also maintaining a range of quality
visitor experiences, meets NPS purposes and goals for the Elkmont
Historic District of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and meets
National Environmental Policy Act goals. The selected alternative will
not result in the impairment of park resources and will allow the NPS
to conserve park resources and provide for their enjoyment by visitors.
Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR
1506.6 (b).
For Further Information CONTACT: Contact the Superintendent, Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, at the address and telephone number
shown above. An electronic copy of the document is available on the
Internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.
The responsible official for this FEIS is the Regional Director,
Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924
Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: October 5, 2009.
David Vela,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9-29853 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P