[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71984-71985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30486]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment and 
Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Park Service, Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA) (Pub. L. 91-109 section 102(c)) and pursuant to a court 
order, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) regarding two privately owned and operated cellular 
communications towers located within Rock Creek Park pursuant to an NPS 
permit.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1998, pursuant to the Telecommunications 
Act of 1996, Bell Atlantic filed applications for permits to locate two 
cellular towers along with their associated equipment shelters within 
Rock Creek Park. In 1999, pursuant to NEPA, NPS prepared an EA that 
considered the environmental impacts of siting the two towers inside 
the park. After completing the EA, NPS concluded that the towers would 
not have a significant impact to the quality of the human environment, 
and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Subsequently NPS 
issued the permits necessary for Bell Atlantic to construct and operate 
within Rock Creek Park one 100-foot monopole at the

[[Page 71985]]

Tennis Center, and one 130-foot monopole in the Maintenance Yard. Both 
towers have since been built and are currently in use. In 2000, suit 
was filed opposing these cellular towers, and on July 2, 2002 the 
Federal district court for the District of Columbia, in Audubon 
Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States v. NPS and Bell 
Atlantic Mobile, ordered the NPS to prepare this new EA.
    Meeting and Public Scoping Information: To facilitate this process, 
during December 2002, NPS will hold a public meeting that will provide 
an opportunity for public input into the scoping for the EA. The date, 
time, and location of this meeting will be announced through local 
media and direct mailings to interested parties known to the NPS. The 
purpose of the meeting will be to obtain both written and verbal 
comments from the public to assist NPS in preparing the new EA. In 
addition, NPS is seeking comments on the issues and alternatives to be 
addressed in the EA.
    The EA is expected to be completed and available for public review 
in early 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments may be directed to 
the address below: Superintendent, Rock Creek Park, 3545 Williamsburg 
Lane NW., Washington, DC 20008-1207, or [email protected].

Terry R. Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 02-30486 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
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