[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 13194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6609]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Valley Forge National Historical Park General Management Plan, 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Valley Forge National Historical Park General Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, 
the National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Valley Forge National Historical Park General 
Management Plan. This Environmental Impact Statement will be approved 
by the Northeast Regional Director.
    Valley Forge National Historical Park was authorized by Congress, 
Public Law 94-337, on July 4, 1976. As required, a General Management 
Plan was prepared and released in September 1982. NPS policy requires 
that such plans be prepared every 15-20 years. The 1982 plan has 
numerous deficiencies and left the park without appropriate management 
tools for resources and recreational use.
    The park lies at the center of the wealthiest and most urbanized 
region of Pennsylvania, just beyond Philadelphia. Its visitation is 
mostly regional, and it is treasured more as an outstanding 
recreational and open space resource than as a cultural resource. Its 
3400 acres lie in two counties and five municipalities; each 
jurisdiction has a distinct governance, planning, and zoning structure. 
The GMP process will begin in FY 02. It will address the following:
     The public's lack of understanding and appreciation for 
the cultural resources and values of the park, and of the park's 
mission;
     The need for consensus on defining and managing 
recreational use in the park;
     A strategic approach to management of the park's cultural 
resources, including landscapes, earthworks and structures:
     Mitigation of pressures on the park resources resulting 
from rapid residential and commercial development of areas surrounding 
the park; and
     Strategies for appropriate partnership opportunities that 
can enhance the park's visitor services.
    A scoping meeting will be scheduled, and notice will be made of the 
meeting through a broad public mailing and publication of meeting 
notices in local newspapers. A newsletter introducing the project to 
the public will be done. Copies of the newsletter will be available by 
request to the Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park at 
the phone number below or by email to [email protected].

For further information, Contact: Contact Superintendent, Valley Forge 
National Historical Park, 610-783-1000 or at 
[email protected].

    Dated: January 11, 2002.
Marie Rust,
Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 02-6609 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
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