[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 66001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27245]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(Pub. L.91-109 section 102(c)) supportive Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations, Department of the Interior and National Park 
Service (NPS) guidance documents, the NPS is terminating an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as noticed in the Federal 
Register, March 13, 2002 (11363) for a special resource study of an 
Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, authorized by Public 
Law 106-470. It was apparent that an EIS was not necessary as there was 
little or no potential for significant impact to the human environment 
of the study area. Coincident with this termination notice, and 
pursuant to the same authorization and guidance, the NPS is hereby 
noticing its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
Upper Housatonic Valley study area which encompasses a watershed 
containing eight municipalities in Litchfield County, Connecticut and 
eighteen municipalities in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The purpose 
of the study and EA is to determine if this area can 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 it as a National Heritage 
Area. The study will identify alternative interpretive theme options 
and partnership arrangements to manage the heritage area. NPS would not 
administer or manage such an 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; as 
well as consider economic and social benefits of public use as the 
principal aspect of potential impact to the human environment within 
and about the study area.
    The National Park Service will hold public meetings in December, 
2002 (Date, Time, and Place to be announced coincident with noticing 
the availability of the study and EA in draft) which will provide 
opportunity for public comment on the study and EA. The purpose of 
these meetings is to obtain both written and verbal comments concerning 
the future use, stewardship and protective management of an Upper 
Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
    Additional information about the study and EA is available from 
James O'Connell, Study 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. 
O'Connell.
    After public and interagency review of the document in draft, 
comments will be considered, the EA portion of the study will be 
accordingly finalized and a NEPA closure document in the form of a 
Finding of No Significant Impact will be prepared, so that the study 
can be finalized in a report to Congress. Should any unresolvable 
controversy arise or significant environmental impacts unknown at this 
time be realized, the steps of closure and study report completion 
could be forestalled by necessity to process a full environmental 
impact statement.

Sandra Corbett,
Superintendent, Boston Support Office.
[FR Doc. 02-27245 Filed 10-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P