[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58792-58794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25253]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Record of Decision; Final General Management Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement; Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Washington

ACTION: Notice of approval of record of decision.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the regulations promulgated by the 
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2), the Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, has prepared a Record of Decision on 
the Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for 
Whitman Mission National Historic Site in Washington.

DATES: The Record of Decision was recommended by the Superintendent of 
Whitman Mission National Historic Site, concurred by the Deputy 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region, and approved by the Acting 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region, on August 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries regarding the Record of Decision or the 
Environmental Impact Statement should be submitted to the 
Superintendent, Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Route 2, Box 
247, Walla Walla, WA 99362; telephone: (509) 522-6360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the Record of Decision follows: 
The Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), has 
prepared this Record of Decision (ROD) on the final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for 
Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Washington. This ROD is a 
statement of the decision made, other alternatives considered, public 
involvement in the decision making process, the basis for the decision, 
the environmentally preferable alternative, and measures to minimize 
environmental harm.

Decision (Selected Action)

    Whitman Mission National Historic Site (NHS) will implement 
Alternative C, identified as the action that best satisfies the Site 
and NPS missions, as well as the Site's long-term management 
objectives. Some actions remain consistent with those presented in the 
draft EIS. Others were modified in the final EIS to respond to public 
comments and concerns. The selected action recognizes both the need to 
protect natural and cultural resources and to provide appropriate 
opportunities for visitors and area residents.
    Specific actions to be implemented under the selected action are 
summarized below:
    The foundations of the original structures on the Mission Grounds 
will be delineated three-dimensionally to enhance visitor experience 
and education. Also on the Mission Grounds, the existing lawn will be 
removed and substituted with native grasses. The overall setting for 
the visitor experience of Memorial Hill and the Great Grave will be 
preserved as memorial and contemplative. Reconstructed wagon ruts and 
the placement of the pioneer wagon on the Oregon Trail will be 
maintained. In addition, NPS will take measures to formally sign the 
trail within the NHS with the official Oregon National Historic Trail 
logo, and will encourage congressional action to designate the Whitman 
Mission Route as an officially recognized branch of the Oregon Trail.
    Native vegetation will be planted and sustained along Doan Creek, 
the oxbow of the Walla Walla River, and irrigation ditch. An integrated 
pest management plan will be prepared and implemented to address the 
plant, animal and insect pests within the NHS. The asphalt riprap 
lining along the bank at Mill Creek within the NHS will be removed and 
the bank will be revegetated.
    The overall interpretation of the Mission Grounds will be enhanced, 
including the connection between the Mission Grounds and the former 
location of the Walla Walla River (river oxbow area). Existing audio 
sound box exhibits located on the Mission Grounds, Memorial Hill, and 
the Great Grave will be removed to address problems of noise 
distractions to visitors and will be replaced with other interpretive 
media. A new interpretive audio-visual program will be developed for 
use in the auditorium to replace both the 1976 movie and the 1978 slide 
program. Public access will be provided to the research library and 
archives for research work, projects, and inquiry about the Whitmans, 
mission life, the Cayuse people, and other topics related to Whitman 
Mission.
    A new unpaved nature loop trail will be developed south of the 
Mission Grounds. This unpaved pedestrian trail will provide 
opportunities for self-guided nature walks with corresponding 
interpretive wayside exhibits and educational materials about the flora 
and fauna of this riparian area and the natural forces of the changing 
Walla Walla River.
    A range of general improvements will be made to the visitor center 
building. The visitor center and museum will be named and signed 
``Waiilatpu Visitor Center'' to reflect its Cayuse name. Various 
remodeling projects will provide needed space for the public. 
Additional restroom space will be constructed adjacent to the existing 
public restroom. Additional exhibit and administrative space will be 
constructed. The selected action also includes a development concept 
plan that includes reconfiguring the main parking lot, adding a group 
shelter to the picnic area, adding several improvements to the visitor 
center entry, and construction of additional administrative space on 
the existing administrative wing. Reconfiguring the pedestrian access 
to the Oregon Trail and the Mission Grounds is also included.
    Acquisition of conservation easements on properties adjacent to the 
national historic site will be encouraged on a voluntary basis by a 
non-profit land trust or other entity.

Other Alternatives Considered

    Alternative A--The no-action alternative represents the 
continuation of existing conditions, including addressing any effects 
of activities impacting cultural resources through the Section 106 
compliance process, in accordance with federal law. The overall scene 
of the NHS for the visitor would continue to be preserved as 
contemplative and reflective, in part due to the ``park-like'' 
treatment of the Mission Grounds. The NHS would be managed to promote 
the historic scene and to continue to allow natural processes to occur 
on land and river environs as long as they do not adversely affect the 
cultural resources and existing public facilities. No change to current 
administrative facilities would be forthcoming.
    Alternative B--This alternative represents a minimum level of 
improvements regarding visitor facilities and interpretation in order 
to make the visitor experience more rewarding and informative. Included 
in Alternative B would be the establishment of native grasses within 
the Mission Grounds to be more historically accurate and to help 
delineate the outline of the original building foundations, removing 
audio sound boxes and enhancing overall interpretation, moving two 
building walls within the visitor center to maximize exhibit space, 
enlarging restrooms, reconfiguring existing administrative space, 
improving access to Memorial Hill for the mobility impaired, expanding 
multi-lingual opportunities, reconfiguring parking space, and 
encouraging protection of the

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surrounding historic scene by Walla Walla County.
    Alternative D--This alternative has many of the same general 
actions as Alternative C. In addition, at the Mission Grounds dirt 
paths would be established, the historic fence alignment would be re-
established, and the orchard would be enlarged to be closer to its 
historic size. Archeological research would be conducted to try to 
determine the exact location of the Whitman sawmill site. Cattle would 
again be grazed in the pasture and oxbow area to approximate the 
historic scene. A replicated Cayuse village would be located on the 
Walla Walla River floodplain.
    Adjacent to the maintenance area, a new administrative building 
would be constructed and administrative functions moved out of the 
visitor center creating additional space for interpretive functions, 
association sales area and exhibit space. Finally, to protect the 
foreground viewshed and enable the NPS to acquire and hold conservation 
easements, a boundary adjustment of approximately 450 acres would be 
recommended for congressional authorization.
    Actions common to all alternatives include keeping the required 
occupancy in the existing park residence, providing a photographic 
panoramic of the view from Memorial Hill for mobility-impaired 
visitors, coordinating with the staff of other Oregon Trail sites, 
completing a baseline inventory for the NHS, developing a Whitman 
Mission NHS Friends group, re-establishing Doan Creek, and planting 
native plants at the NHS when non-historic ornamental trees and shrubs 
die.

Basis for Decision

    After careful consideration of public comments throughout the 
planning process, including comments on the draft EIS, the selected 
action best accomplishes the legislated purpose of the Monument and 
balances the statutory mission of the NPS to provide long-term 
protection of the Monument's resources and significance, while allowing 
for appropriate levels of visitor use and appropriate means of visitor 
enjoyment. The selected action also best accomplishes identified 
management goals and desired future conditions, with the fewest 
environmental impacts.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

    The alternative which causes the least damage to the cultural and 
natural environment, and that best protects, preserves, and enhances 
resources is Alternative C.

Measures To Minimize Environmental Harm

    All practicable measures to avoid or minimize environmental impacts 
that could result from implementation of the selected action have been 
identified and incorporated into the selected action. Implementation of 
the selected action would avoid any adverse impacts on wetlands and any 
endangered or threatened species, or that would result in the 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of such 
species.

Public Involvement

    Public comment has been requested, considered, and incorporated 
throughout the planning process in numerous ways. A Notice of Intent to 
prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on September 20, 
1996 (vol. 61, no. 184, page 49481). In early August 1996, NPS produced 
a one-page newsletter that was made available to visitors at the NHS. 
The purpose of the letter was to inform visitors about the upcoming 
planning process and to provide an opportunity for the visitors to get 
on the NHS's mailing list. In October a comprehensive four-page 
newsletter was produced and distributed to 510 individuals on the NHS's 
mailing list. Additional copies were distributed throughout Walla Walla 
at public buildings including colleges, universities, clubs, libraries, 
and civic buildings. The purpose of that newsletter was to explain the 
planning process and encourage public participation in the process.
    In addition, advertisements were published on October 20 and 
October 22 in both the daily Walla Walla Union Bulletin newspaper and 
the weekly Buyline newspaper, informing readers about the planning 
process including the dates, times, and location of the public 
meetings.
    Two public scoping meetings were held in October 1996 in Walla 
Walla, WA, to assist in identifying issues to be addressed in the GMP/
EIS. A total of 9 people attended the two meetings. In December 1996, a 
third meeting was held in Mission, OR. This meeting was with members of 
the Cultural Resources Committee of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Another meeting with the CTUIR was 
held in April 1998, in Mission, OR, for the purpose of briefing the 
committee on a preliminary range of alternatives. The NPS received 6 
written comments during the scoping period.
    More than 250 copies of the draft GMP/EIS were mailed to government 
agencies, organizations and interested individuals in August 1999. In 
addition, the document was posted on the Internet and mailed to local 
libraries in the Walla Walla area. The EPA Notice of Availability was 
published in the Federal Register on September 3, 1999 (vol. 64, no. 
171, pg. 48394). A Notice of Availability was also published by NPS on 
September 3 (vol. 64, no. 171, pg. 48419). In addition, advertisements 
in the Buyline and Union Bulletin in Walla Walla, and in the 
Confederated Umatilla Journal in Mission, OR, announced the release of 
the draft GMP/EIS stating times, location, and dates of the September 
1999 public workshops. A total of 3,000 newsletters were printed that 
included a summary of the draft plan and information on the scheduled 
public workshops. Each newsletter included a postage-paid response form 
for people to use in submitting comments concerning the plan. 
Newsletters were also made available at the NHS visitor center and the 
Chamber of Commerce in Walla Walla.
    Two public workshops were held in Walla Walla, WA, on September 29, 
and in Mission, OR, on September 30, 1999. In addition, a meeting with 
adjacent landowners was held on September 28, in Walla Walla. The 
purpose of the workshops was to offer the public an opportunity to meet 
with the NPS planning staff and discuss the draft GMP/EIS. More than 70 
people attended the workshops.
    The final GMP/EIS was released to the public on May 30, 2000. The 
EPA Notice of Availability of the final GMP/EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on June 16, 2000 (vol. 65, no. 117, pg. 37780); the 
NPS also published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on 
June 20, 2000 (vol. 65, no. 119, pg. 38300) and placed the document on 
the park website.
    Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, Washington State Historic Preservation 
Office, and the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation was 
conducted as part of the planning process.
    The public comment period closed on November 12, 1999, but any 
comments received at the park by November 26 were included. A total of 
28 pieces of written correspondence were received from government 
agencies, businesses, special interest groups and individuals. Of 
these, 16 were letters from individuals and agencies, 7 e-mail 
responses through the Internet, and 5 response forms from the 
newsletter. The final GMP/EIS included a summary of the comments 
received at the public workshops and a summary of the

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comments received from written responses. All 28 pieces of written 
correspondence were included in the final document.

    Dated: September 21, 2000.
Rory D. Westberg,
Superintendent, Columbia Cascades Support Office, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 00-25253 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P