[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 223 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67190-67191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19496]


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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed 
Construction of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American 
History and Culture

AGENCY: Smithsonian Institution (SI), National Capital Planning 
Commission (NCPC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1509), and in accordance with 
the Environmental Policies and Procedures implemented by the National 
Capital Planning Commission, the SI and NCPC announce their intent, as 
Joint-Lead Agencies, to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
to assess the potential effects of constructing and operating the 
National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) within 
the Smithsonian Institution. The Museum will be located on a 217,800 
square foot (SF) or 5 acre site bounded by Constitution Avenue, Madison 
Drive, 14th and 15th Streets, NW. on the National Mall in Washington, 
DC. A public meeting will be conducted to ensure that all significant 
issues related to construction and operation of the proposed museum are 
identified.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 108-184, the National Museum of 
African American History and Culture Act enacted by the Congress of the 
United States on December 16, 2003, (the Act) established a museum 
within the Smithsonian Institution to be known as the National Museum 
of African American History and Culture. It recognizes that such a 
museum ``would be dedicated to the collection, preservation, research, 
and exhibition of African American historical and cultural materials 
reflecting the breadth and depth of the experience of individuals of 
African descent living in the United States.''
    Section 8 of the Act, ``Building for the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture,'' directs the Smithsonian Board of 
Regents to select one site among four in Washington, DC for the 
construction of the museum. The sites identified are the Arts and 
Industries Building; the area bounded by Constitution Avenue, Madison 
Drive, 14th, and 15th Streets, NW., now commonly known as the Monument 
site; the Liberty Loan site located on 14th Street, SW. at the foot of 
the 14th Street Bridge; and the Banneker Overlook site, located on 10th 
Street, SW. at the foot of the L'Enfant Plaza Promenade. After 
undertaking a site evaluation study that analyzed site-specific 
characteristics and evaluated minimum and maximum build scenarios at 
each site, as well as a process of consultation with parties specified 
in the legislation, the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 
voted to select the Monument site. The decision was announced on 
January 30, 2006.
    The identity and description of the action to be addressed in this 
EIS derive primarily from the language of Public Law 180-184, its 
legislative history, and the studies by the ``National Museum of 
African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential 
Commission'' that led to its enactment. With regard to the scope of the 
action, much information on the potential size, configuration, and 
siting of a museum facility at the Monument site was presented in the 
Phase II Site Evaluation Study of November 15, 2005, for the use of the 
Smithsonian Regents in their selection of the site. Graphics included 
in this study showed the potential in

[[Page 67191]]

terms of massing and placement of a museum facility on the candidate 
sites. Although they were conceptual and only intended for site 
selection purposes, they are a point of departure for this study and 
the range of alternatives evaluated in this EIS.
    The potential range of alternatives that will be evaluated in the 
EIS includes the no action or no build alternative and a range of build 
alternatives derived from the site evaluation study that will include a 
minimum build-out at approximately 350,000 gross square feet (GSF), a 
middle range build-out at approximately 415,000 GSF, and a maximum 
build-out that would not exceed approximately 804,000 GSF. Each 
alternative description will identify the number of levels above and 
below ground, general massing, and site setbacks. The Presidential 
Commission identified 350,000 GSF as the preliminary program space 
requirements for the museum. Thus, it was used as the baseline or 
``point of departure'' for the maximum and minimum build scenarios 
developed in the site evaluation study. As part of the scoping process, 
other alternatives may be identified that merit further investigation.
    Topics for environmental analysis will be further defined during 
scoping activities with the public and agencies but will include topics 
such as historic resources, archeology, visual resources, 
transportation, public utilities, land use, social and economic issues, 
and physical and biological resources such as air, geology, and 
groundwater.
    Public Scoping Meeting and Comments: The Smithsonian Institution 
and the National Capital Planning Commission will solicit public 
comments for consideration and possible incorporation in the Draft EIS 
through public scoping, including a scoping meeting, on the proposed 
museum building at the Monument site. Notice of the public meeting will 
be publicized in local newspapers and through other sources. To ensure 
that all issues related to this action are addressed and all 
significant issues are identified early in the process, comments are 
invited in writing and orally from all interested and/or potentially 
affected parties. These comments may be provided at the public meeting 
or provided in writing to Jill Cavanaugh at the Louis Berger Group, 
Inc., 2300 N Street, NW., 800, Washington, DC 20037 (until 
December 15, 2006) and to 2445 M Street, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 
20037-1445 (after December 15, 2006). Comments will also be collected 
at http://www.nmaahc-eis.com. All public comments must be postmarked or 
received on the Web site by January 5, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Passman, Senior Facilities 
Planner, Smithsonian Institution, Office of Facilities Engineering and 
Operations, PO Box 37012, 750 9th Street, NW., Suite 5200 MRC 908, 
Washington, DC 20013-7012; Phone: 202-275-0234; Fax: 202-275-0889.

John E. Huerta,
General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution.
 [FR Doc. E6-19496 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]
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