[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 172 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51251-51252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17595]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management 
Plan, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia, Maryland 
and Virginia

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the General Management Plan, Harpers Ferry National 
Historical Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the General 
Management Plan, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia, 
Maryland and Virginia. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
General Management Plan analyzes the impacts of a no-action and two 
action alternatives. The official responsible for this decision is the 
NPS Regional Director, National Capital Region.

DATES: The NPS will undertake a 60-day public review of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan 
following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of the 
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review in the 
office of the Superintendent, P.O. Box 65, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
25425, by telephone at (304) 535-6748, and at the following locations: 
Office of the Chief of Planning, National Capital Region, National Park 
Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Washington, DC 20242, (202) 619-7277; 
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, (202) 208-6843; and 
Bolivar Harpers Ferry Public Library, 152 Polk Street, Harpers Ferry, 
West Virginia 25425, (304) 535-2301. Copies of the document may also be 
accessed via internet connection to the park Web site at http://www.nps.gov/hafe or directly through the NPS PEPC (Planning, 
Environment, and Public Comment) Web site at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=187.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Wassel, Harpers Ferry, West 
Virginia at (304) 535-6748.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alternative 1, the no-action alternative, 
describes the existing conditions and trends of park management and 
serves as a basis for comparison in evaluating the other alternatives.
    Alternative 2, the NPS preferred alternative, was developed during 
the ``Choosing By Advantages'' process in which the planning team 
identifies and compares the relative advantages of each alternative 
according to a set of factors. This process also establishes the 
relationship between the advantages and costs of each alternative. This 
information is used to combine the best attributes of the preliminary 
alternatives into the preferred alternative giving the NPS the greatest 
overall benefit for the most reasonable cost.
    Alternative 2 takes a traditional approach in which each location 
within the park is managed to reflect the most significant historic 
period or era associated with it. An enlarged contact station on 
Cavalier Heights would be developed. Management activities would focus 
on the preservation of the resources as well as the presentation of the 
interpretive themes appropriate to each location. Outlying portions of 
the park would be connected by an auto tour and round-the-park trail 
system. The existing transportation system would also be expanded to 
include more of the park. African-American history would be elevated in 
prominence on Camp Hill and NPS staff would work with partners to 
promote protection of and visitation to sites

[[Page 51252]]

throughout the local area. A public/private partnership would be 
cultivated to rehabilitate and manage the historic Shipley School.
    Alternative 3 would provide increased connections with private 
businesses and public/private organizations to help utilize, maintain 
and interpret historic structures while bringing additional life and 
excitement to Lower Town. A joint NPS/state tourism entrance complex 
would be developed. This alternative would provide enhanced visitor 
services ensuring visitor needs were met not only in the park but in 
the surrounding counties. Historic structures would be preserved and 
interpreted. Some structures would be leased to non-NPS entities to 
ensure upkeep and lessen the financial burden on the park. A new 
headquarters building would be developed somewhere in the Harpers Ferry 
vicinity. An enlarged transportation system would be operated in 
partnership with Main Street Harpers Ferry. A public/private 
partnership would be developed to rehabilitate and manage the historic 
Shipley School.

    Dated: August 13, 2007.
Joseph M. Lawler,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
 [FR Doc. E7-17595 Filed 9-5-07; 8:45 am]
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