[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24395-24396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12083]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Public Scoping for Proposed Construction of a Two-Unit Vault 
Toilet Comfort Station To Replace the Existing Portable Chemical 
Toilets at Gravelly Point, a Unit of the George Washington Memorial 
Parkway (GWMP)

AGENCY: National Park Service Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the proposal for the construction of a two-unit 
vault toilet comfort station to replace the existing portable chemical 
toilets at Gravelly Point.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and 
National Park Service policy, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a proposal for the construction of a two-unit vault 
toilet comfort station to replace the existing portable chemical 
toilets at Gravelly Point within the George Washington Memorial Parkway 
(GWMP). The proposal is examining several alternatives for the specific 
location of the temporary vault toilet unit. The National Park Service 
is soliciting comments on this proposal. These comments will be 
considered in preparing the Environmental Assessment pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The proposal will remain available for public comment on or 
before June 13, 2001. Written comments should be post marked no later 
than this date.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this Environmental Assessment should be 
submitted in writing to: Ms. Audrey F. Calhoun, Superintendent, George 
Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 22101. 
The Environmental Assessment will be available for public inspection 
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. at GWMP Headquarters, 
Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA, on the National Park Service Website 
www.nps.gov/gwmp and at various libraries in the City of Alexandria and 
Arlington County, Virginia.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service proposes to 
construct a two-unit vault toilet comfort station to replace the 
existing 2-4 portable chemical toilets at Gravelly Point within the 
GWMP and the possible relocation of an area designated as Governors 
Grove. An estimated 1 million visitors per year use the Gravelly Point 
area, which is accessible from the northbound GWMP as well as

[[Page 24396]]

the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT). Since there is no water or sewer 
available at Gravelly Point, the National Park Service currently 
provides 4 portable toilets between April and November and 2 portable 
toilets December through March on a rental basis. The NPS would like to 
replace these rental units with an alternative that is less likely to 
cause environmental concern from being tipped over, that is fully 
accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and 
that have a larger holding capacity than the portable toilets. This 
would reduce the number of portable toilets needed and the frequency of 
pumping them. The intent of the proposed two-unit vault toilet comfort 
station is to provide an environmentally sound and fully accessible 
comfort station for visitors to this site that will better serve the 
public until a more permanent solution is found such as water and sewer 
eventually being brought to Gravelly Point. The overall goal is to meet 
this visitor need while preserving the viewshed from the GWMP, a 
property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, protecting 
the integrity of cultural landscape features such as Governors Grove 
and preventing interference with ground radar at National Airport 
(height restrictions). The proposed action is based on observations by 
National Park Service staff that existing conditions are in need of 
improvement at this location.
    All interested individuals, agencies, and organizations are urged 
to provide comments on the proposal. The National Park Service, in 
preparing an EA regarding this matter, will consider all comments 
received by the closing date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dan Sealy (703) 289-2531.

Dottie Marshall,
Acting Superintendent, George Washington Memorial Parkway.
[FR Doc. 01-12083 Filed 5-11-01; 8:45 am]
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