[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 201 (Thursday, October 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 59111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20544]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the General Management Plan, Rock Creek Park and the Rock Creek and 
Potomac Parkway, Washington, DC

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Rock 
Creek Park and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, Washington, DC.

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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 (NPS) announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Rock Creek Park and 
the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, Washington, DC. On June 6, 2007 the 
National Capital Regional Director approved the Record of Decision for 
the General Management Plan for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement. Specifically, the NPS has selected the preferred alternative 
(Alternative A) as described in the Final General Management Plan for 
the Environmental Impact Statement based on consideration of economic, 
environmental, technical, and other factors.
    The selected alternative and three other alternatives, including a 
no-action alternative, were analyzed in the Draft and Final 
Environmental Impact Statements. Each alternative considered (a) how 
traffic should be managed in the park and on the parkway; (b) the most 
appropriate levels of service and locations for visitor interpretation 
and education in the park; (c) the appropriate balance between 
rehabilitation of historic structures and cultural landscapes and 
preservation of natural resources; and (d) the most appropriate 
locations to support park administration and operations functions to 
minimize resource disturbance. The full range of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed. The NPS believes Alternative A 
would best accomplish its goals for managing Rock Creek Park and the 
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. Alternative A was selected by the NPS 
based on its ability to maintain traditional visitor experiences and 
activities, enhance resources protection, improve control over non-
recreational use of park roads to heighten safety and the quality of 
the visitor experience, and optimize the use of structures for park 
purposes. The selected alternative will not result in the impairment of 
resources and values.
    The most difficult decision to be made in this general management 
planning process was the management of traffic on the park road system 
because these park roads are recognized historic resources and are also 
the primary means for most visitors to experience the park. They are 
also heavily used as commuter routes. Under the selected alternative, 
the existing park roadway system will be retained and non-recreational 
through-traffic will be accommodated. It continues weekday auto travel 
throughout the park, but will use traffic-calming and speed enforcement 
measures to reduce traffic speeds and volumes to improve visitor safety 
and better control traffic volumes and speeds through the park. Speed 
tables and additional traffic signs will be installed on Beach Drive in 
the gorge area.
    The selected alternative will also enhance interpretation and 
education opportunities and improve the use of park resources, 
especially cultural resources. It generally retains the current scope 
of visitor uses. Additional aspects of this alternative include trail 
improvement; rehabilitation of the Peirce Mill complex to better focus 
on history; the moving of park administrative offices from the Peirce-
Klingle Mansion at Linnean Hill which will be rehabilitated for 
adaptive use compatible with park values; the relocation of the U.S. 
Park Police substation from the Lodge House on Beach Drive with the 
Lodge House converted to a visitor contact station; and that the nature 
center will be rehabilitated and expanded, and the planetarium 
upgraded.
    The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, 
synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, 
a finding of no impairment of park resources and values and an overview 
of public involvement in the decision-making process. This decision is 
the result of a public planning process that began in 1996. The 
official responsible for this decision is the NPS Regional Director, 
National Capital Region.

ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision, Plan and other information are 
available for public review in the Office of the Superintendent, Rock 
Creek Park at 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., Washington, DC 20008-1207 
and at the following locations: Chief of Planning, National Capital 
Region, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Washington, DC 
20242, (202) 619-7000 and the Office of Public Affairs, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, 18th and C Streets, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240, (202) 208-6843. Copies of the Record of Decision 
may also be obtained from the contacts listed above or may be viewed 
online at: http://www.nps.gov/rocr/parkmgmt/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Rock Creek Park, at 
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., Washington, DC 20008-1207 or by telephone 
at (202) 895-6004.

    Dated: August 24, 2007.
Joseph M. Lawler,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. E7-20544 Filed 10-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P