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]

Download as PDF 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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:06 Dec 15, 2009 Jkt 220001 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 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM 16DEN1 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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 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. PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 16DEN1

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]


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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
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