[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11360-11361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6039]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a General Management Plan, Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 
National Historic Site, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a final Environmental Impact Statement and General 
Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 
National Historic Site, Washington, DC.

DATES: The Draft EIS/GMP was on public review from August 3, 2001 
through October 15, 2001. Responses to public comment are addressed in 
the FEIS/GMP. A 30-day no-action period will follow the Environmental 
Protection Agency's Notice of Availability of the FEIS/GMP. After the 
30-day period, a Record of Decision will be signed that will document 
NPS approval of the final EIS/GMP and

[[Page 11361]]

identify the selected alternative for implementation.

ADDRESSES: The final EIS/GMP will be mailed to agencies, organizations, 
and individuals requesting the document. Copies of the document are 
available from Terri Urbanowski, PSD, National Park Service, P.O. Box 
25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287 or requests may be mailed to: 
[email protected]. Public reading copies of the document will also be 
available for review at the following locations:
     Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, 
1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20020.
     National Capital Parks East, 1900 Anacostia Drive, SE, 
Washington, DC 20020.
     National Capital Region Office of Lands, Resources and 
Planning Attention: Gail Cain, 1100 Ohio Drive, NW, Washington, DC 
20242.
     Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Visitor Center, 
1411 W Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020.
     In addition the document will be posted on the National 
Park Service Planning site under Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 
Site, http://www.nps.gov/mamc/pphtml/facts.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with the park's purpose, 
significance, and mission goals, 4 alternatives were evaluated for 
guiding the management of the park over the next 15 to 20 years. The 
alternatives incorporate various management provisions to ensure 
resource protection and quality visitor experience conditions. The 
environmental consequences anticipated from implementation of the 
various alternatives are addressed in the document. Impact topics 
include cultural resources, visitor use and experience, socioeconomic 
environment, and site administration and facilities. The following 
management alternatives were evaluated in the EIS/GMP:
    Alternative 1, the no-action alternative, would maintain current 
management direction. The Council House would continue to operate as a 
visitor center and administrative office area; archival collections and 
archive staff offices would remain in the carriage house. Conflicts 
would continue to occur between visitor and administrative functions in 
the limited space of the Council House resulting in a less than 
desirable visitor experience and operational inefficiency. Storage 
space for archival collections would remain inadequate.
    Alternative 2, the preferred action, would place dual emphasis on 
the Council House, which would be used as a museum, and on the 
archives. Under this alternative new space would be acquired to 
accommodate some visitor services and most administrative offices. The 
visitor experience would be enhanced with adequate space to provide 
broad and comprehensive interpretative opportunities and exhibits in 
the Council House. The primary storage for archival collections would 
be in an offsite state-of-the-art facility that would provide enhanced 
preservation and protection of stored items. The carriage house would 
be renovated and would house a research room, offices for archival 
staff, an area for some processing of collections, and space for 
frequently accessed collections.
    Alternative 3 would commemorate the site through the establishment 
of the Bethune Center for Human Rights. The Council House would be used 
for interpretation and also would provide a place for groups to meet 
and engage in activities, workshops and programs. Materials related to 
social justice and human rights would be emphasized in the archival 
collections. Additional property would be leased or acquired for 
administrative offices and would be the primary space for meetings and 
workshops. This space would be the main contact point for visitors, and 
access and programmatic interpretation would be provided for visitors 
with mobility disabilities at this site. Offsite interpretation would 
be expanded with traveling exhibits. The carriage house would be 
renovated and expanded to include the archival collections, archival 
staff offices, and research space.
    Under alternative 4, the Council House would be used as a 
traditional National Park Service museum commemorating the life and 
times of Mary McLeod Bethune. The Council House would have expanded 
exhibit space and an orientation area for visitors. Period furnishings 
would be in the Council House and archival collections would illustrate 
the highlights of Dr. Bethune's life and activities. Educational 
materials would focus on the life contributions and legacy of Dr. 
Bethune. Space would be leased offsite to accommodate current archival 
collections that would be managed through a contract with others. The 
carriage house would be torn down and replaced with a new building that 
would house a bookstore, visitor restrooms and administrative offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Site Manager Diann Jacox, Mary McLeod 
Bethune National Historic Site, 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20005, (202) 673-2402; FAX (202) 673-2414; e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: January 23, 2002.
Terry R. Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6039 Filed 3-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P