[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56310-56311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22375]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Record of Decision Final General Management Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National 
Historic Site, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service has prepared a Final General 
Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Mary 
McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site. Four alternatives 
were evaluated for guiding the management of the site 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/
experience, socioeconomic environment, and site administration and 
operations.
    The purpose of this Record of Decision (ROD) is to document the 
National Park Service (NPS) selection of the proposed action for the 
final GMP/EIS. The ROD contains a statement of the decision made, other 
alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the 
environmentally preferable alternative, measures to minimize 
environmental harm, finding of no impairment of park resources and 
values, and public involvement.
    The NPS will implement the proposed action as described under 
Alternative 2 in the final GMP/EIS. The primary intent of this 
alternative is to place a dual emphasis on the Council House, which 
would be used as a museum, and on the archival collection of African-
American women's history. Both the museum and the archives would be 
expanded and linked by using the archival materials in changing 
interpretive exhibits and programs. Interpretation would provide a 
broad and balanced program and in-depth treatment of Dr. Mary McLeod 
Bethune's role as a public figure and organizer.
    In March 2002, NPS distributed the final GMP/EIS to agencies, 
organizations and individuals on the park's mailing list. Copies of the 
document were also made available at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 
National Historic Site and other NPS sites in addition to the Council 
House website. The Department of the Interior, National Park Service's 
notice of availability of the final GMP/EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on March 22, 2002. The 30-day no-action period has 
ended permitting the issuance of this record of decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The final Record of Decision can be 
obtained in the following ways:
     An electronic version can be found at the following Web 
site: www.nps.gov/mamc/ or
     By writing: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House Site 
Manager, 1318

[[Page 56311]]

Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

    Dated: June 27, 2002.
Terry Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-22375 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M