[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12569-12570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5460]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of final supplemental environmental impact 
statement for determination of section 6(f)(3) replacement lands for 
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park (CCLMP), St. Louis County, Missouri.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS), in compliance with Section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq. and 4332, as amended, and with Section 6(f)(3) of 
Title 1 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (L&WCF), 16 U.S.C. 
4601-(8)(f), as amended, announces the availability of a final 
supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) evaluating and 
selecting additional replacement land for land in CCLMP converted from 
outdoor recreation use as a result of the Page Avenue Extension. It is 
determined that a total of 207 acres will be impacted by the proposed 
``Red Route'' of significant magnitude to adversely affect present park 
activities and environment. CCLMP, a county park which has received 
Federal financial assistance from the L&WCF program, must comply with 
the requirements of Section 6(f)(3) of the L&WCF Act as it pertains to 
maintaining outdoor recreation use of all Federally assisted park and 
recreation areas. This FSEIS is a supplement to the final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS) for Page Avenue (Route D) extension, St. Louis 
and St. Charles Counties, Missouri, approved in a Record of Decision on 
January 6, 1993, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
    The FHWA FEIS addressed construction of a 10-lane elevated 
extension of Page Avenue across the southern tip of the park site 
assuming all necessary coordination with other Federal agencies has 
been satisfactorily accomplished. The NPS on December 11, 1992, adopted 
the FEIS for use in the environmental evaluation requirements of 
Section 6(f)(3) of the L&WCF Act.
    The initial proposal of 264.78 acres, revised to 258.48 acres and 
submitted by the State of Missouri to replace the converted 183.4 
acres, revised to 207.0 acres, was determined by the NPS as not 
offering ``reasonably equivalent usefulness'' to the extent necessary 
to reflect appropriately the loss of this unique natural area. 
Secretary Babbitt announced on May 18, 1993, in letters to Senators 
Danforth and Bond, that he did not intend to use his authority under 
section 6(f)(3) to block the construction of this highway project. He 
further stated that ``* * *it is necessary to identify a significant 
amount of additional lands to be included in the mitigation package.''
    The FSEIS identifies eight potential alternative land proposals and 
a ``no action'' alternative for consideration in meeting section 
6(f)(3) requirements of the L&WCF Act. Four alternatives were evaluated 
in detail; three others were eliminated after initial consideration; 
and one proposed alternative, identified by the Howard Bend Levee 
District [[Page 12570]] during the draft supplemental environmental 
impact statement public review period, was evaluated in the FSEIS and 
determined not to be a significant ``new and reasonable'' alternative 
nor was it found to meet the necessary section 6(f)(3) replacement 
requirements.
    It is determined by the NPS and State of Missouri that Alternative 
B (Little Creve Coeur Lake) as the preferred alternative, most closely 
meets the requirements of significant ``additional land'' for 
replacement of converted land at CCLMP. This alternative, 464.8 acres 
declared eligible for section 6(f)(3) consideration, is located to the 
west and south of Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park and consists primarily 
of wetlands presently in agricultural use.
    With the adoption of the above preferred alternative, added to the 
initial replacement package submitted by the State of Missouri, the 
total land replacement for land converted at CCLMP could amount to 
723.28 acres at an estimated value of $3,379,820. The approximate 207 
acres of CCLMP land being converted has been valued at $1,755,098.
    Copies of the FSEIS may be obtained from the responsible official, 
Mr. William Schenk, Regional Director (refer to address below). 
Comments on the FSEIS must be received no later than March 26, 1995 and 
may be responded to in the Record of Decision.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FSEIS should be submitted to: Mr. William W. 
Schenk, Regional Director, Midwest Region, National Park Service, 
Omaha, Nebraska 68102, 402-221-3432.
    Public reading copies of the FSEIS will be available for review at: 
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240, (202) 343-6843.

    Dated: February 10, 1995.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 95-5460 Filed 3-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P