[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63408-63409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30240]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of Record of Decision for the General Management 
Plan for Cane River Creole National Historical Park, LA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision for the Final 
General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, Cane River 
Creole National Historical Park, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service 
signed a Record of Decision (March 29, 2001) on a General Management 
Plan for Cane River Creole National Historical Park.
    The National Park Service will implement Alternative 1, the 
preferred alternative, as described in the Final General Management 
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. Cane River Creole National 
Historical Park will persevere and rehabilitate the cultural 
landscapes, historic structures, and artifacts of the two park units, 
Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, to reflect the continuum of history 
up to about 1960. This will result in few changes to the current 
configuration of plantation structures or the general appearance of the 
landscape.
    The long history of the plantations and the major cultural, social, 
and economic stories of Louisiana plantation lifeways and agriculture 
that they represent will be told (interpreted) to

[[Page 63409]]

the public. Based on research and documentation, accounts of the lives 
and lifestyles of the people who lived and worked at the plantations 
will be shared through media and programs.
    The park will provide access, parking, trails, and basic visitor 
services at each unit. Development at Oakland Plantation will include 
an access road and parking area for cars and buses. Visitors will be 
able to explore the site using an accessible trail system. An outdoor 
pavilion-style shelter will be constructed and serve as an entry portal 
for that site, providing visitor information and restrooms. Eventually 
a park maintenance facility will be constructed either offsite near 
Oakland or, if an offsite location cannot be found or is infeasible, 
then a facility will be constructed onsite in the development 
management area. Development at Magnolia Plantation will include 
parking for cars and buses, with the goal of limiting bus parking 
onsite and establishing additional offsite bus parking near Magnolia. 
An accessible trail system will be developed and will link the major 
resources of the site.
    The parks's historic features will be interpreted, with several 
structures being adapted either to provide visitors interior access and 
services or to accommodate park management needs. At Oakland 
Plantation, the main plantation hours will be furnished, staffed, and 
interpreted. The plantation store will include a cooperating 
association sales outlet and interpretive exhibits. Visitors will also 
be able to access the interior of the mule barn, overseer's house, and 
quarters. Park offices will be located in the doctor's house and the 
seed house will be adapted initially for maintenance activities, to be 
converted later to educational space for groups. At Magnolia, the 
plantation store will be staffed and provide visitor information and 
restrooms. Controlled access to the gin barn's main floor will be 
provided. The interiors of two of the quarters will be restored for 
visitor access and interpretation and visitors will also have access to 
the interior of the overseer's house/slave hospital.
    To provide the knowledge base needed to fully implement the plan, 
the park will engage in additional study, data collection and resource 
monitoring, especially of archeological and ethnographic resources, 
historic structures and furnishings, cultural landscapes, and visitor 
uses. The National Park Service will work in partnership with the Cane 
River National Heritage Area Commission and others to develop a joint 
regional visitor center and headquarters in the Natchitoches/Cane River 
area, outside the downtown Natchitoches historic landmark district. 
This facility will be important for orienting the public to the area's 
resources and will provide a variety of interpretive and educational 
opportunities. Also, park managers will pursue the possibility of 
developing a joint curatorial facility, possibly as part of the joint 
visitor center complex. The park will work collaboratively with a 
variety of public and private entities to encourage and fund research, 
education, and preservation projects and heritage events.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Soulliere, Superintendent, Cane 
River Creole National Historical Park; 400 Rapides Drive; Natchitoches, 
LA 71457. Telephone: (318) 352-0383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The complete Record of Decision is available 
on the NPS planning website at http://www.nps.gov/planning.

    Dated: November 30, 2001.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 01-30240 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M