[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21802]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

 

General Management Plan Amendment; Presidio of San Francisco, 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Availability of Final General 
Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement

Summary: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final General 
Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (FGMPA/FEIS) 
that describes and analyzes a proposed action and three alternatives 
for the future management and use of the Presidio of San Francisco, 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California. The FGMPA/FEIS is 
being presented in two companion documents--the FGMPA, which describes 
the proposed action in detail; and the FEIS, which presents the 
proposal and three alternatives, along with the analysis of the 
environmental consequences of their respective implementations.
    The draft General Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact 
Statement (DGMPA/DEIS) were released for public review on October 21, 
1993 (58 FR 54372), and the public comment period closed December 21, 
1993. During this period, three informal meetings and five public 
meetings were held; written comments were also received. The FGMPA/FEIS 
contain responses to the comments received and modifications to the 
text as needed in response to the comments.
    The proposed action and alternatives all have been designed to 
protect and preserve exceptional resources and to meet planning 
objectives and goals for the future Presidio. They differ primarily in 
approach to overall management, level and extent of resource 
preservation and enhancement, and diversity and level of visitor 
programs. The proposed action, Alternative A, provides goals for 
creating a park setting where cultural and natural resources are 
preserved and enhanced; and major new programs are established through 
public/private partnerships to provide an understanding of those 
resources, encourage stewardship and cultural awareness, promote 
international exchange, and seek solutions to critical global problems. 
A federally chartered partnership institution would be created through 
congressional legislation to assist in managing park partners, and 
legislation would also be sought to include the former Public Health 
Service Hospital complex within the Presidio. Modifications have been 
made to the proposal based on public comment and clarification of Army 
re-use needs. The changes primarily relate to additional clarification 
regarding the amount and type of new construction, Army reuse, 
remediation of environmental hazards, the preservation of historic 
buildings, building demolition, the jobs/housing balance, addition of 
adjacent Lobos Creek undeveloped lots, tenant management, the type of 
partnership institution assisting with management, dog walking, Crissy 
Field parking and boardsailing access, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and 
Transportation District maintenance facilities, the importance of the 
Presidio's history and potential museum opportunities, affirmative 
action programs, Letterman complex reuse, and the Lobos Creek 
maintenance facility.
    Alternative B, the no action/minimum requirements option, uses 
existing authorities for management, provides fewer visitor programs 
and opportunities, and excludes the former Public Health Service 
Hospital from the park boundaries. Alternative C, the expanded open 
space, restoration and interpretation option, provides a high level of 
overall resource protection similar to Alternative A, but relies on 
existing management authorities, as in Alternative B. As with 
Alternative B, the Public Health Service Hospital is excluded from the 
park boundaries, and in addition, under this option, the Letterman Army 
Hospital and Research Center would be excluded. Alternative D, the 
partial military reuse option, shares Alternative B's lower level of 
overall resource protection and fewer visitor programs and 
opportunities, but is similar to Alternative A with respect to 
inclusion of the former Public Health Service Hospital and the 
necessity of obtaining legislation for new management authorities.
    Major impact topics assessed for the proposed action and 
alternatives include natural and cultural resources; traffic and 
transportation systems; city services; native plant communities; 
regional economy and employment; noise; and air quality.

Supplementary Information: The 30-day no action period will expire on 
September 26, 1994. Requests for information on the FGMPA/FEIS should 
be directed to: Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 
Building 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123. Telephone (415) 556-
3111.
    Copies will be available at the Presidio Project Office: Building 
102, Montgomery Street, Presidio of San Francisco, CA 94129. Additional 
copies will be available for inspection at libraries located in the San 
Francisco Bay area; the Department of Interior Library; the National 
Park Service Public Affairs Office, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 
20240; and at the Western Regional Office, National Park Service, 
Division of Planning, Grants and Environmental Quality, 600 Harrison, 
Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107-1372. In addition, all Federal 
Repository libraries will receive copies.

    Dated: August 25, 1994.
James Stewart,
Acting Associate Director, Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 94-21802 Filed 9-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P