[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 47853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16078]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft General Management Plan, Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Great Falls Park, Virginia, a Site 
Within George Washington Memorial Parkway

AGENCY: National Park Service, National Capital Region.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a draft General Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Great Falls Park, McLean, Virginia. The 
GMP/EIS evaluates two alternatives for the park. The document describes 
and analyzes the environmental impacts of one action alternative and a 
no-action alternative. When approved, the plan will guide management 
actions during the next 15-20 years.
    Alternatives: In Alternative A, the no action alternative, Great 
Falls Park would be maintained as evolved thus far. There would not be 
any major changes in resources management, visitor programs, or 
facilities beyond regular maintenance. In Alternative B, the preferred 
alternative, the visitor center would be rehabilitated to improve 
exhibits and establish an education component on resource protection; a 
trail management plan and climbing management plan would be developed 
to reduce potential damage to sensitive cultural and natural resources. 
One new facility would be constructed to replace existing maintenance 
buildings and United States Park Police (USPP) trailer that would all 
be removed. The new building would accommodate park staff offices 
(relocated from the visitor center), maintenance personnel and 
equipment, law enforcement staff offices, and a holding cell. The park 
would also construct a USPP horse stable off Jackson Lane within the 
park. All of the restroom facilities would be improved and expanded at 
current locations.
    Public Review: A 60-day public review period for comment on the 
draft document will begin after publication of this notice. In order to 
facilitate the review process, public reading copies of the GMP/EIS 
will be available for review at the following locations: Great Falls 
Park, Visitor Center, 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102; 
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 
22101; Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, Virginia 
22066.

    In addition, the document will be posted on the National Park 
Service Planning site under: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa. Comments on 
the draft DGMP/EIS should be received (or transmitted by e-mail) no 
later than 60 days after publication of this Federal Register Notice. 
Written comments may be submitted to: Deborah Feldman, Park Planner, 
George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service, Turkey Run 
Park, McLean, Virginia 22101 or e-mailed to: [email protected].
    All comments received will be available for public review at George 
Washington Memorial Parkway Headquarters. If individuals submitting 
comments request that their name and/or address be withheld from public 
disclosure, it will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Such 
request must be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. 
There also may be circumstances wherein the National Park Service will 
withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As always, the 
National Park Service will make available for public inspection all 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
and businesses. Anonymous comments may not be considered. There will 
also be a public meeting with a date and location to be determined. The 
meeting will take place no later than two weeks prior to the closing of 
the public comment period. The date, time and location of the meeting 
will be identified in local newspapers as well as on the Internet at 
http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa.
    Decision Process: Notice of the availability of the final document 
will be published in the Federal Register. Subsequently, notice of an 
approved Record of Decision will be published in the Federal Register 
not sooner than 30 days after the final document is distributed. The 
official responsible for the decision is the Regional Director, 
National Capital Region, National Park Service; the official 
responsible for implementation is the Superintendent of George 
Washington Memorial Parkway.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Audrey F. Calhoun, 
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 
22101, phone 703-289-2500, fax 703-289-2598, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: July 5, 2005.
Joseph M. Lawler,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 05-16078 Filed 8-12-05; 8:45 am]
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