[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 11038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5554]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment of
Proposed Wireless Telecommunications Facilities, Maintenance Yard &
Tennis Center Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.
ACTION: Notice of the availability of a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) and an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed
wireless telecommunications facilities in Rock Creek Park, Washington,
D.C.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council of Environmental Quality regulations
and National Park Service policy, NPS has completed a FONSI and an EA
which have evaluated the potential impacts of two monopole-mounted
antennas and supporting infrastructure proposed to be located in Rock
Creek Park to provide acceptable wireless telecommunication coverage
within Rock Creek Park south of Military Road. The NPS has determined
that the implementation of the preferred alternatives at the tennis
center and the maintenance yard will cause no derogation of park
resources and would not constitute a major Federal action that would
have significant impact on the quality of the human environment within
the meaning of Section 102(2c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969. Accordingly, the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement is not required. The NPS is making the FONSI and EA available
for public review. The NPS will take no final action on these wireless
telecommunications facilities until the comments from the public have
been considered.
DATES: There will be a 30-day public review period for comment on this
document. Comments on the FONSI and EA should be received no later than
March 31, 1999. Additionally, the NPS will hold a public meeting on
March 24, 1999, to receive public comment on this issue. The meeting
will be held at the Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road,
Washington, D.C. at 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Comment on the FONSI and EA should be submitted to: Ms.
Adrienne Coleman, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park, 3545 Williamsburg
Lane, NW., Washington, D.C. 20008. Public reading copies of the FONSI
and EA will be available for review at Rock Creek Park Headquarters,
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., and at the Rock Creek Park web page at
www.nps.gov/rocr.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Adrienne Coleman, Rock
Creek Park, 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., Washington, D.C. 20008,
Telephone: (202) 282-1063.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Congress and the President have
established a Federal interest in promoting the efficient
implementation of new telecommunications policy. The NPS is concerned
about the safety of visitors to its parks and will consider public
safety as a factor when reviewing telecommunications antenna proposals.
The NPS will cooperate with such proposals to enhance visitor safety as
long as those proposals do not result in a derogation of park resources
or conflict with the current or planned use of park property.
On May 26, 1998, Bell Atlantic Mobile submitted two completed
applications for installation of wireless telecommunications facilities
in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C. The proposed facility sites are
the Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium and the park's maintenance yard. This EA
analyzed the overall impacts of both proposed facilities on the
resources of Rock Creek Park because the sites are engineered to
operate interdependently. Due to steep topography and forest cover on
both sides of the valley, antennas on both sides of the valley are
necessary to achieve acceptable wireless telecommunications coverage
since one site is not capable of providing the level of communications
coverage necessary for enhanced telephonic access to emergency law
enforcement and public safety services within the Rock Creek valley
south of Military Road.
This EA analyzed two alternative sites for locating a wireless
communications facility at the tennis center and four alternatives for
a facility at the maintenance yard. It examined their physical and
visual impact on park resources, operations, and visitor services,
including mitigation of any potential impacts. Additionally, this EA
addressed whether these wireless telecommunications facilities would
enhance public safety.
The NPS published a notice in the Federal Register on May 26, 1998,
inviting public comment on the Bell Atlantic Mobile applications and as
a result received over 40 comments on the proposed wireless
telecommunications facilities.
Dated: March 2, 1999.
Terry R. Garlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 99-5554 Filed 3-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M