[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35523-35524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17191]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Draft General Management Plan/
Development Concept Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Stones River National Battlefield, 
Tennessee.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Draft General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/DCP/EIS) describes three 
alternatives for cultural and natural resource management, visitor use, 
and interpretation, and related facility development in Stones River 
National Battlefield. Alternative 1 (the National Park Service's (NPS) 
proposed action) would improve interpretation and the ability of the 
visitor to experience a ``sense of place'' within the battlefield; and 
it would also preserve a larger area of the battlefield that has 
retained historic landscape integrity. This would be accomplished by 
protection of more resources through boundary expansion, new exhibits 
in the visitor center, establishment of a new automobile tour route 
within the expanded park boundary, and new interpretive wayside 
exhibits. Alternative 2 would improve interpretation and the visitor 
experience within the authorized boundary of the park.
    This would be accomplished by providing new exhibits in the visitor 
center, establishing a new automobile tour route within the park, and 
providing new wayside exhibits. Alternative 3 (continuation of existing 
conditions) would represent no significant change in interpretation and 
the way the park is being managed and no change in the authorized park 
boundary. Under all alternatives, there would be an emphasis on working 
with local agencies, groups, and landowners to preserve and protect 
lands that retain historic landscape integrity within the original 
battlefield, but outside the park boundary. Environmental impacts that

[[Page 35524]]

would result from implementation of the alternatives are addressed in 
the document. Impact topics include cultural and natural resources, 
interpretation and visitor use, socioeconomic environment, and NPS 
operations.

DATES: The Draft GMP/DCP/EA will be available for review from June 11, 
1997, until August 12, 1997. Written comments must be received by the 
Superintendent at the following address or postmarked no later than 
August 12, 1997. Public meetings will be held on the following dates 
and times:

June 25, 1997 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Stones River National Battlefield 
Visitor Center
June 26, 1997 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Chamber of 
Commerce, 501 Memorial Boulevard, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

ADDRESSES: A limited number of copies are available from the 
Superintendent at the following address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Superintendent, Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville 
Highway, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129, Telephone (615) 893-5901.

    Dated: June 16, 1997.
Jerry Belson,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 97-17191 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M