[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57618-57619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23011]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Environmental Assessment for Proposal To Construct Odor Treatment 
Units for the Potomac Interceptor Sewer and Improvements to a Parking 
Area and Two New Comfort Stations for the C&O Canal National Historical 
Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the proposal 
to construct odor treatment units for the Potomac Interceptor sewer and 
improvements to a parking area and two new comfort stations for the C&O 
Canal National Historical Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and 
National Park Service policy, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of an Environmental Assessment for the construction of 
four odor treatment units for the Potomac Interceptor (PI) sewer and 
improvements to a parking area and two new comfort stations for the C&O 
Canal National Historical Park (CHOH). In public use areas along the 
CHOH and the Clara Barton Parkway (which is administered by the George 
Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP)), odorous air is intermittently 
exhausted from the PI sewer due to several dynamic hydraulic changes in 
the PI. Sewer odors emitted from the PI have resulted in the completion 
of an odor study, the implementation of interim odor controls, and the 
development of the long-term odor abatement program for several areas 
of the PI. This Environmental Assessment examines several alternatives 
for implementing four odor control facilities to control nuisance odors 
along the CHOH and the Clara Barton Parkway, as well as to indicate 
environmental impacts of the proposed construction of two comfort 
stations in CHOH access areas, and to improve the parking area at the 
Anglers Inn C&O Canal access area. The National Park Service is 
soliciting comments on this Environmental Assessment. These comments 
will be considered in evaluating it and making decisions pursuant to 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The Environmental Assessment will remain available for public 
comment on or before October 11, 2002. Written comments should be 
received no later than this date. A public meeting will be scheduled at 
the Glen Echo Community Center during the public comment period to 
provide responses to

[[Page 57619]]

public concerns in an open forum setting.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this Environmental Assessment should be 
submitted in writing to: Mr. Douglas Faris, Superintendent, C&O Canal 
National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, 
Maryland, 21740. The Environmental Assessment will be available for 
public inspection Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the 
Great Falls Tavern, Great Falls Maryland; Georgetown Visitors Center, 
Washington, DC; CHOH Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, 
Hagerstown, MD; Great Falls Park Visitor Center, Great Falls Virginia; 
Clara Barton House, Glen Echo, MD; GWMP Headquarters, Turkey Run Park, 
McLean, VA; and at the following libraries; Little Falls Library, 
Bethesda, MD; Potomac Library, Potomac, MD; Palisades Library, 
Washington, DC; Dolley Madison Library, McLean, VA; Great Falls 
Library, Great Falls, VA; Fairfax City Regional Library, Fairfax, VA; 
Sterling Library, Sterling, VA; and Eastern Loudoun Library, Sterling, 
VA. The Environmental Assessment will also be made available in 
electronic format for downloading at the project Web site, http://www.potomacinterceptor.com/whatsnew.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service proposes to permit 
the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority to construct four 
odor treatment units along the CHOH and the Clara Barton Parkway, and 
to construct two new comfort stations for the CHOH at Fletchers 
Boathouse (Site 1995) and at the Anglers Inn C&O Canal access area 
(Site 27). In addition, the CHOH plans to provide improvements to the 
parking areas at the Anglers Inn C&O Canal access area (Site 27). The 
objectives of the proposed actions include:
    [sbull] Providing long-term control of odors in specific areas of 
the PI by a practical, reliable and effective means;
    [sbull] Maintaining the integrity of the reinforced concrete sewer 
pipes by minimizing interference with the design function of the PI 
vent structures and PI sewer airflow dynamics thereby limiting the 
formation of corrosive conditions;
    [sbull] Protect the public health with the adequate conveyance of 
wastewater in the PI system to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater 
Treatment Plant, by maintaining the satisfactory condition of the PI 
for many decades to come;
    [sbull] Providing safe vehicular access to the Site 27 parking 
area, and to improve the restroom facilities currently located at Site 
27 and 1995 for the benefit of CHOH visitors.
    All interested individuals, agencies, and organizations are urged 
to provide comments on the Environmental Assessment. The National Park 
Service, in making a final decision regarding this matter, will 
consider all comments received by the public comment period closing 
date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Faris, (301) 714-2201.

Douglas D. Faris,
Superintendent, C&O Canal National Historical Park.
[FR Doc. 02-23011 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P