[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]
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