[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8423-8424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2642]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Proposed World War II Memorial; Notice to the Public of the 
Secretary of the Interior's Response to Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation Comments, and Notice of the Availability of the Record

AGENCY: National Capital Region, National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to the public of the Secretary of the Interior's 
response to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation comments, and 
notice of the availability of the record.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.7(c)(4)(iii) (1999), the public is 
notified that on September 13, 2000, the Secretary of the Interior (the 
Secretary) responded to the September 5, 2000, comments of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation (Advisory Council), about the proposed 
World War II Memorial. The Secretary advised the Advisory Council, in 
accordance with 36 CFR 800.7(c)(4)(i) (1999), that its comments have 
been taken into account pursuant to Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act and attached the detailed response of the 
National Park Service.
    The Advisory Council is concerned primarily with two issues. First, 
it is concerned with the approach taken by the Department of the 
Interior/National Park Service (the NPS), to Section 106 and what it 
sees as the limited nature of public involvement in the site and design 
selection process. Second, the Advisory Council believes the current 
design does not achieve the strict standard of compatibility with the 
historic setting of the National Mall.
    The Secretary and the NPS believe the requirements of Section 106 
have been met. In February 1996, the NPS contacted the Advisory Council 
and the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Officer (DCHPO) 
about the proposed Memorial. In 1997 the NPS submitted the original 
design concept to the Advisory Council and DCHPO and invited the 
Advisory Council to consult. In 1998, the NPS began consultation with 
the Advisory Council on the revised design. This process continued 
until July 2000 and resulted in a Memorandum of Agreement between the 
NPS, the DCHPO, and the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). 
The Advisory Council, however, did not sign this agreement, choosing 
instead to provide comments pursuant to Section 800.7 of the Advisory 
Council regulations (36 CFR 800.7 (1999)).
    The Secretary and the NPS believe that the publication of notices 
about actions taken on this Memorial (and invitations for public 
comments) in the Federal Register, and numerous meetings about the 
Memorial to which the public was invited, provided extensive 
opportunities for public participation in the site and design selection 
process. The NPS is, however, seriously evaluating the Advisory 
Council's suggestion to further expand the public discussion on 
national memorials and expects to engage in discussions with the 
Advisory Council in this regard.
    In its September 5, 2000, comments, the Advisory Council expressed 
concern with three aspects of the current design: (1) Its scale and 
impact on vistas, (2) the lighting plan, and (3) the proposed 
sculptural element.
    Following initial consideration of the Advisory Council's September 
5, 2000, comments and its corresponding response to the Advisory 
Council, the Secretary and the NPS have continued to consider the 
Advisory Council's comments on those occasions this Fall

[[Page 8424]]

when the Memorial was before the Commission of Fine Arts and the 
National Capital Planning Commission, and prior to the NPS' issuance of 
a construction permit for the Memorial.
    It is the view of the NPS that the scale of the Memorial is 
appropriate and that it will maintain the transparency of the historic 
landscape without blocking vistas. The NPS also understands the 
Advisory Council's concerns about lighting. Based on its experience 
with other commemorative works, the NPS believes the correct intensity 
of lighting can best be determined after completion of the Memorial. 
The NPS will act in concert with the Commission of Fine Arts and the 
National Capital Planning Commission to resolve any lighting concerns. 
Concerning the third point, there has been no final decision as to 
whether a sculptural element will be included in the Rainbow Pool. If 
such an element is included it will be subject to design parameters 
that will ensure that it does not intrude on any vistas and the design 
concept will be considered by all relevant approval bodies at the 
appropriate time.
    The Secretary and the NPS believe the process for this 
commemorative work has complied with Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, the Commemorative Works Act, and other 
applicable laws, and has taken the Advisory Council's comments into 
account. The NPS nevertheless is committed to working with the Advisory 
Council to address the Counsel's interest in further modifying the 
Section 106 process in the context of future proposed commemorative 
works.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The record for this decision is available 
for public inspection at the Office of Lands, Resources and Planning, 
National Capital Region, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., 
Room 220, Washington, DC 20242. Copies of the response to the Advisory 
Council are also available upon request from Mr. John G. Parsons, 
Associate Regional Director for Lands, Resources and Planning. 
Individuals requiring further information should contact Mr. John G. 
Parsons, Associate Regional Director for Lands, Resources and Planning, 
National Capital Region, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., 
Room 220, Washington, DC 20242.

    Dated: January 17, 2001.
Terry R. Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 01-2642 Filed 1-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M