[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55138-55139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27469]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Comprehensive Plan Fort 
Baker Site at Golden Gate National Recreation Area Marin County, 
California; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft 
Environmental Impact

[[Page 55139]]

Statement (DEIS) identifying and evaluating potential impacts of a 
proposed Comprehensive Plan for Fort Baker, a developed site in Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). When approved, this 
Comprehensive Plan will guide implementation of future building uses, 
site improvements, visitor services, and cultural and natural resource 
management actions.

Proposal

    The Proposed Action would create a conference and retreat center in 
a combination of historic buildings, non-historic buildings and new 
construction. It would provide space for meetings, dining and 
accommodations. Existing tenants, the Bay Area Discovery Museum 
(Museum) and the U.S. Coast Guard Golden Gate Station (Station), would 
be retained and their facilities and programs expanded.
    Public services and short-term boat moorings would be provided in 
the historic boat shop and marina. The waterfront landscape would be 
improved, the beach restored, and natural and cultural resources of the 
site preserved and maintained. Approximately 40 acres of native 
habitats (including habitat for the endangered mission blue butterfly) 
would be restored. Some roads and trails on the site would be improved.

Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action, three alternatives are 
identified and evaluated. The 1980 General Management Plan Alternative 
would implement the 1980 GGNRA General Management Plan (GMP) 
development concept to create a conference center, artist-in-residence 
program and hostel in the historic buildings with no new construction; 
remove non-historic residences to construct a 700 car shuttle staging 
parking lot and NPS maintenance facility; restore the beach; convert 
the boat shop and marina to a public facility with visitor services and 
short term boat mooring; improve the waterfront with a more urban 
landscape treatment; and create a ferry landing at the historic pier. 
Roads and trails would be improved.
    The Office and Cultural Center Alternative would use the historic 
buildings for meeting, program, restaurant, performance and program 
space needs for private and non-profit groups. Non-historic residences 
would be retained and some removed to provide parking for the center. 
The marina would continue to provide long-term boat mooring and some 
public boat mooring and visitor services. Other treatments would be the 
same as the Proposed Action.
    The No Action Alternative would lease or permit residential 
buildings in the historic parade ground area and adjacent non-historic 
area as residences. Non-residential structures would be stabilized for 
preservation with no new use. There would be minimal changes to the 
waterfront to provide for visitor safety, and no expansion of the 
Museum or Station. The marina would be closed, the slips and docks 
removed, and the boat shop would be stabilized for preservation with no 
new use. Minimal preservation treatment of natural and cultural 
resources would be carried out to meet legislative requirements and to 
complete currently underway restoration efforts.

Comments

    Printed or CD-ROM copies of the DEIS are available at park 
headquarters, Building 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco, as well as at 
libraries in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The documents are 
also available on the Internet at ``www.nps.gov/goga/ftbaker/
ftbaker.htm''.
    Written comments must be postmarked not later than December 7, 
1998, pursuant to the notice of filing in the Federal Register by the 
Environmental Protection Agency. Comments should be sent to the 
Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 201, 
Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123. The Fort Baker telephone number is 
(415) 561-4844.
    In addition, comments will be accepted during the November 18 
regular meeting of the GGNRA Advisory Commission (Building 201, Fort 
Mason, San Francisco, CA; meetings convene at 7:30 pm). NPS managers 
and planning officials will provide an overview of the DEIS and 
Comprehensive Plan, answer questions, and listen to comments. Written 
copies of comments would be helpful, however it is not required as all 
comments will be recorded in full and considered as part of the DEIS 
administrative record.

Decision

    Following the formal DEIS review period, all comments received will 
be considered in preparing a final EIS (FEIS). The FEIS is anticipated 
to be completed during winter, 1999. Its availability will be similarly 
announced in the Federal Register. Subsequently, a Record of Decision 
would be approved by the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, no 
sooner than 30 days after release of the FEIS. The responsible 
officials are the Regional Director, Pacific West Region and the 
Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

    Dated: September 29, 1998.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 98-27469 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P