[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 184 (Friday, September 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 49481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24202]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for 
Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Washington

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service will prepare a General Management 
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Whitman Mission 
National Historic Site.
    A General Management Plan sets forth the basic management 
philosophy for a unit of the National Park System and provides the 
strategies for addressing issues and achieving identified management 
objectives for that unit. In the GMP/EIS and its accompanying public 
review process, the National Park Service will formulate and evaluate 
the environmental impacts of a range of alternatives to address 
distinct management strategies for the park, including resource 
protection and visitor use. The plan will guide the management of 
natural and cultural resources and visitor use of those resources for 
the next 15 years. Development concept plans for selected facilities 
may be included with the GMP.
    Scoping is the term given to the process by which the scope of 
issues to be addressed in the GMP/EIS is identified. Representatives of 
Federal, State and local agencies, American Indian tribes, private 
organizations and individuals from the general public who may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed GMP/EIS are invited to 
participate in the scoping process by responding to this Notice with 
written comments. All comments received will become part of the public 
record and copies of comments, including any names, addresses and 
telephone numbers provided by respondents, may be released for public 
inspection.
    Among the major issues likely to be addressed in the Whitman 
Mission GMP/EIS are (1) a clarification of what is to be memorialized 
at the Site and how that is to be accomplished; (2) the effects of 
adjacent land uses on park resources; (3) the staffing levels needed to 
adequately manage resources and visitor use; (4) future interpretive 
treatment of the Mission grounds; and (5) infrastructure concerns such 
as internal road circulation and suitability of existing storage 
facilities. A full range of alternatives, including ``no action'' and 
``minimum requirements'' alternatives, will be considered in the GMP/
EIS to address these and other issues that may emerge during the 
planning process.
    The draft GMP/EIS is expected to be available for public review by 
the summer of 1997 with the final version of the GMP/EIS and the Record 
of Decision to be completed by May 1998.
    Because the responsibility for approving the GMP/EIS has been 
delegated to the National Park Service, the EIS is a ``delegated'' EIS. 
The responsible official is Stanley T. Albright, Field Director, 
Pacific West Area, National Park Service.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held Monday, 21 October 1996, 
7:00-9:00 p.m. at the park's Visitor Center, located seven miles west 
of Walla Walla, Washington, and Wednesday, 23 October 1996, 7:00-9:00 
p.m. in the Administration Building Dining Room, Walla Walla Community 
College, 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, Washington. Written comments on 
the scope of the issues and alternatives to be analyzed in the GMP/EIS 
should be received no later than 31 December 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the GMP/EIS should be sent to 
the Superintendent, Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Route 2, 
Box 247, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Whitman Mission 
National Historic Site, at the above address or at telephone number 
(509) 522-6360.

    Dated: September 9, 1996.
William C. Walters,
Deputy Field Director, Pacific West Area, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24202 Filed 9-19-96; 8:45 am]
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