[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46562-46563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17583]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Comprehensive 
Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (16 U.S.C. 410ccc-4; 42 U.S.C. 4371; 40 CFR 1506.6) 
the National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Selma to Montgomery 
National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan. The document 
provides a framework for the management, use, and development of the 
trail by the National Park Service and its partners over the next 15 to 
20 years. The document describes four management alternatives for 
consideration, including a no-action alternative, and analyzes the 
environmental impacts of those alternatives. Beginning at Brown Chapel 
AME Church in Selma, Alabama, the trail follows the route of the March 
1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, traveling through Lowndes 
County along U.S. Highway 80, and ending at the Alabama State Capitol 
in Montgomery.

DATES: There will be a 60-day comment period beginning with the 
Environmental Protection Agency's publication of its notice of 
availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available by contacting John Barrett, 
National Park Service, 100 Alabama St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303. An 
electronic copy of the DEIS is available on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/sero/planning.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service held community and 
stakeholder meetings to gather advice and feedback on desired outcomes 
of the management plan. The meetings assisted the National Park Service 
in developing alternatives for managing associated cultural and natural 
resources and creating interpretive and educational programs. Responses 
from the meetings were incorporated into the alternatives described in 
the plan. Alternative A focuses on the story of the voting rights march 
as defined by events that occurred between held between March 7 and 
March 25, 1965, in Dallas, Lowndes, and Montgomery counties,

[[Page 46563]]

Alabama. Alternative B builds on the story of Alternative A, providing 
information on the broader efforts to gain voting rights for African 
Americans, as events unfolded in Dallas, Lowndes, and Montgomery 
counties. Under this alternative, exhibits and other interpretive 
materials would explain earlier organizing and protest activities, the 
voting rights march, and the aftermath of the march. Alternative C adds 
to the stories of Alternatives A and B by interpreting the progression 
of citizenship rights in the United States. This alternative tells the 
story of African American efforts to gain voting rights in the larger 
context of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. This alternative would 
emphasize that the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March was an 
integral part of America's evolving commitment to greater equality and 
a stronger democracy. The National Park Service has identified 
Alternative C as the preferred alternative.
    It is the practice of the National Park Service to make comments, 
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. Anonymous comments will not be 
considered. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety. However, individual 
respondents may request that we withhold their names and addresses from 
the public record, and we will honor such requests to the extent 
allowed by law. If you wish to withhold your name and/or address, you 
must state that request prominently at the beginning of your comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Light, (334) 727-6390 or 
John Barrett, (404) 562-3124, extension 637.
    The responsible official for this draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is Patricia A. Hooks, Regional Director, Southeast Region, 
National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30303.

    Dated: June 27, 2004.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 04-17583 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P