[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 42110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3739]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Ellis Island Development Concept Plan, Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, New 
York and New Jersey

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for Ellis Island Development Concept 
Plan, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Ellis Island Development Concept Plan, Statue of Liberty 
National Monument and Ellis Island, New York and New Jersey. On May 14, 
2007, the Director, Northeast Region approved the Record of Decision 
for this undertaking. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service 
will begin to implement the selected Alternative (i.e., the preferred 
alternative in the FEIS issued on April 6, 2007). The National Park 
Service will work with its nonprofit partner for the project, Save 
Ellis Island, Inc to develop the Ellis Island Institute as the primary 
adaptive reuse of the Island's remaining abandoned buildings. The 
Institute will provide cultural, interpretive, and educational programs 
and activities related to the park's historic themes. An associated 
small conference facility and overnight accommodations will be 
developed, financed and managed by a professional hospitality business 
partner working with the nonprofit partner. The facility would host 
meetings, retreats, and workshops that would primarily focus upon 
issues such as immigration, world migration, public health, culture and 
ethnic diversity. In accordance with the National Park Service's 
Partnership Construction Process, additional market analysis and 
feasibility studies will be completed to test and confirm the economic 
and programmatic viability of the project. The primary purpose of this 
undertaking, having evaluated the full range of foreseeable 
environmental consequences of three (3) alternative management 
strategies presented in the FEIS, is to rehabilitate and adaptively 
reuse 30 deteriorating buildings on Ellis Island, and provide limited 
vehicular service and emergency access, while preserving cultural 
resource values and enhancing visitor appreciation of the immigration 
function and history pertaining to Ellis Island.
    The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, 
synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, 
a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a listing of 
measures to minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public 
involvement in the decision-making process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Statue of Liberty 
National Monument and Ellis Island, Ellis Island Receiving Office, 
Jersey City, NJ 07305. (212) 366-3206 (Ext. 100), [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Record of Decision may be 
obtained from the contact listed above or online at http://www.nps.gov/elis/.

    Dated: May 14, 2007.
Linda Canzanelli,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 07-3739 Filed 7-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GE-M