[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43542-43543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18694]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Final Environment Impact Statement 
for the General Management Plan for Carl Sandburg Home National 
Historic Site, Flat Rock, NC

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and General 
Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Carl Sandburg Home National Historic 
Site, Flat Rock, North Carolina.

DATES: The Draft EIS/GMP was available for public review from October 
15, 2002 through December 15, 2002. Responses to public comment are 
addressed in the FEIS/GMP. The National Park Service will execute a 
Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication 
by the Environmental Protection Agency of the notice of availability of 
the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/GMP are available from the 
Superintendent, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 81 Carl 
Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, North Carolina, 28731. Public reading copies 
of the FEIS/GMP will also be available for review at the following 
locations:

--Office of Superintendent, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 
81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, North Carolina, 28731. Telephone: 
828-693-4178.
--Division of Planning and Compliance, Southeast Regional Office, 
National Park Service, Attention: Tim Bemisderfer, 100 Alabama Street, 
1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Telephone: 404-562-3124, ext. 
693.
--An electronic copy of FEIS/GMP is available for download in .pdf 
format on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/carl/gmp news.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with the park's purpose, 
significance, and mission goals, the FEIS/GMP

[[Page 43543]]

analyzes three action and one no action alternatives for guiding 
management of the park over the next 20 years. The environmental 
consequences anticipated from implementing the various alternatives are 
addressed in the document. Impact topics include cultural resources, 
natural resources, interpretation and museum operations, park 
operations and administration, and quality of life and the 
socioeconomic environment. The three action alternatives incorporate 
various management prescriptions to enhance resource protection and 
visitor experience conditions. The no-action alternative would continue 
current management practices into the future. The three action 
alternatives are described as follows:
    The Sandburg Center alternative is the preferred alternative. Under 
this alternative, the park would serve as a focal point for learning 
about Carl Sandburg. Access to Sandburg related information, 
literature, and research would be enhanced by expanding the park's 
Internet database and creating secure and climate controlled exhibit 
areas for information and objects currently housed in the museum 
preservation facility. Additional interpretive program areas would be 
created by rehabilitating the interior of one or more historic 
structures near the main house or barn. The existing visitor contact 
station would be renovated to improve its interpretive and visitor 
services functions and a visitor center created outside the current 
authorized boundary of the park. The Sandburg Center alternative 
includes a Congressional legislated boundary expansion of 110 acres for 
scenic view and boundary protection and up to 5 acres for construction 
of a visitor center and new parking area.
    The Paths of Discovery alternative would supplement the park's 
traditional high quality interpretive programs and enhance walking 
opportunities by constructing a \3/4\ mile long interpretive trail The 
alternative promotes a community-wide partnership strategy to address 
common needs such as additional parking and multi-purpose meeting 
space. The Paths of Discovery alternative includes a Congressionally 
legislated boundary expansion of 110 acres for scenic view and boundary 
protection and up to 5 acres for construction of a visitor center and 
new parking area.
    In the Connemara Lifestyle alternative, visitors would experience 
the site much as Carl Sandburg knew it. Park management would focus on 
maintaining the site's historic landscape, structures, and furnishings 
and providing interpretive programs on site and at local schools. 
Primary access to the objects and information contained in the museum 
collection would occur at the main house, an expanded visitor contact 
station, and through the Internet or other mass media formats. 
Opportunities for access to objects and information would be greater 
than existing conditions but less than the Sandburg Center or Paths of 
Discovery alternatives. The Connemara Lifestyle alternative includes a 
Congressionally legislated boundary expansion of 25 acres for scenic 
view and boundary protection and up to 2 acres for construction of a 
new parking area.
    In all action alternatives, the park would continue to provided 
guided tours of the Sandburg residence and maintain the historic 
landscape at a high level of integrity. Opportunities for walking would 
be available and closely managed to maintain the historic character of 
the site. The existing amphitheater would be relocated to a less 
intrusive location and the trailer restroom would be replaced by an 
appropriately designed modern facility at the same location. Any 
additional property interest would be acquired under a willing seller/
willing buyer arrangement without the exercise of eminent domain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Carl Sandburg Home 
National Historic Site, 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, North 
Carolina, 28731, Telephone: 828-693-4178.
    The responsible official for this Environmental Impact Statement is 
William W. Schenk, Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park 
Service, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 
30303.

    Dated: June 19, 2003.
W. Thomas Brown,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 03-18694 Filed 7-22-03; 8:45 am]
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