[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11363-11364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6041]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Northeast Region; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement and Hold Public Meetings

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(Pub. L. 91-109 Section 102(c)), the National Park Service is preparing 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the resource study of the 
Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, as authorized by Public 
Law 106-470. The Upper Housatonic Valley study area encompasses a 
watershed area with eight municipalities (Litchfield County) in 
Connecticut and eighteen municipalities (Berkshire County) in 
Massachusetts. The purpose of the EIS/study is to determine if this 
region is eligible to become a National Heritage Area. If the National 
Park Service determines that the Upper Housatonic Valley has an 
assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural resources that together 
represent distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy of 
recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, Congress 
could designate the region a National Heritage Area. The study will 
identify alternative management options to interpret and manage the 
heritage area. The alternatives will describe: proposed heritage area 
boundaries; evaluations of significance, suitability, and feasibility; 
characteristics of the proposed management entity; participation of 
State and local governments and private and public organizations; 
anticipated levels of public use; economic and social benefits of 
public use.
    The National Park Service will hold three public meetings in 
September, 2002, that will provide opportunities for public input into 
the scoping for the EIS/study. The purpose of these meetings is to 
obtain both written and verbal comments concerning the future direction 
and development of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
    Additional information about the EIS/study will be available from 
the National Park Service Boston Support Office, James O'Connell, 
Project Manager, National Park Service Boston Support Office, 15 State 
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3572, (617) 223-5222. Those persons 
who wish to comment verbally or in writing, or who require further 
information, should contact Mr. James O'Connell, Project Manager.

[[Page 11364]]

    The draft EIS/study is expected to be completed and available for 
public review in August, 2002. After public and interagency review of 
the draft document, comments will be considered and a final EIS 
followed by a Record of Decision will be prepared.

    Dated: December 11, 2001.
Sandra Corbett,
Superintendent, Boston Support Office.
[FR Doc. 02-6041 Filed 3-12-02; 8:45 am]
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