[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 6267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3247]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Final General Management Plans/Environmental Impact Statements, 
Manhattan Sites, New York; Notice of Availability of Final Plans and 
Environmental Impact Statements

    Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and 
National Park Service policy, the National Park Service (NPS) announces 
the release of the Final General Management Plans/Environmental Impact 
Statements, Manhattan Sites, New York. The National Park Service, 
Manhattan Sites, New York, has prepared the Final General Management 
Plans/Environmental Impact Statements for the park unit. These plans 
provide the analysis necessary to determine the alternatives for future 
management and use of each of the sites including Castle Clinton 
National Monument, Federal Hall and General Grant National Memorials, 
and Saint Paul's Church and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National 
Historic Sites, New York and Westchester Counties, New York. In 
accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, the National Park Service is required to prepare an 
environmental impact statement to assess the impacts of the proposed 
action(s). The National Park Service is the responsible federal agency.
    The 45-day no-action period following the Environmental Protection 
Agency notice of availability of the final Environmental Impact 
Statement will end March 31, 1997. At that time, a Record of Decision 
will be prepared, and released soon thereafter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Joseph T. Avery, 
Manhattan Sites, National Park Service, 26 Wall Street, New York, NY 
10005 (212-825-6990).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alternatives for future management and use 
of each of the sites listed (Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal 
Hall and General Grant National Memorials, and Saint Paul's Church and 
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Sites, New York and 
Westchester Counties, New York) are presented and analyzed in the final 
document. Under each site there is a ``no-action'' alternative that 
presents a continuation of existing trends and management, meets the 
minimum requirements, and provides a basis to evaluate the other 
alternatives. Three alternatives are proposed for Castle Clinton 
National Monument which range from continuing existing conditions, 
provisions for a new Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ticketing sales 
structure outside of the fort, and one alternative analyzing 
preservation of the old fort walls while providing for an auditorium 
and seating for the performing arts at the site. At Federal Hall, three 
alternatives are proposed which range from continuing existing 
management, to preserving and restoring the structure and installing a 
visitor information center, to converting the use of Federal Hall 
exclusively to the public and for collection storage, with a state-of-
the-art visitor information center and the relocation of offices to 
another facility. The proposals for General Grant National Memorial 
include three alternatives which ranged from providing for the 
rehabilitation, security, and maintenance of the structure and site, to 
restoring the structure and site to the original design intent of the 
architect and continuing interpretation through handbooks and 
occasional living history programs, to preserving the tomb and site as 
they are and building a visitor center in the pavilion across Riverside 
Drive. At Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site, two alternatives 
are proposed which range from continuing the interpretive programs and 
existing site management through the cooperators, to changing park 
management to the National Park Service with assistance from the 
cooperating association and renting a facility for curatorial storage 
and preservation. Three alternatives are proposed for Theodore 
Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site which include the 
continuation of interpretive and site/resource preservation, to 
installing a central air-conditioning system and a closet elevator from 
the third to fourth floor.
    For copies of the Final General Management Plans/Final 
Environmental Impact Statements for the Manhattan Sites, New York, 
please contact the Superintendent at the above address.

    Dated: February 4, 1997.
Joseph T. Avery,
Superintendent, Manhattan Sites.
[FR Doc. 97-3247 Filed 2-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P