[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