[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22958-22959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11376]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for 
the Wireless Telecommunication Plan/Environmental Assessment; Rock 
Creek Park, Washington, DC

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact 
for the Wireless Telecommunication Plan and Environmental Assessment, 
Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and to 40 CFR 1501.4(e), the National Park Service 
(NPS) has prepared, and hereby announces the availability of a Notice 
of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
Wireless Telecommunication Plan and Environmental Assessment, Rock 
Creek Park, Washington, DC. The plan will provide all administered 
units of Rock Creek Park with a consistent framework for protecting 
park resources during the consideration of ``right-of-way permit'' 
applications and other inquiries submitted to the park for the 
construction, operation, and maintenance of wireless telecommunication 
facilities (WTF).
    The FONSI includes a project background, a description of the 
relevant legal authorities impacting the Wireless Telecommunications 
Plan, a description of the selected alternative, a synopsis of other 
alternatives considered, a description of the environmentally 
preferable alternative, a discussion of why the selected alternative 
will not have a significant impact on the human environment, how it 
will not impair park resources or values, and a description of public 
involvement in the planning process. Pursuant to NPS policy, it also 
includes as attachments responses to public comments and errata sheets

DATES: The FONSI is dated January 29, 2009, and it is available on the 
Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/rocr.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FONSI can be requested in person at Rock Creek 
Park, 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., Washington, DC 20008, or by phone 
(202) 895-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Applewhaite-Coleman, 
Superintendent, Rock Creek Park: 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW., 
Washington, DC 20008; (202) 895-6004; or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FONSI summarizes one selected 
alternative that meets the goals of both the preferred alternative and 
the preferred environmental alternative for siting WTF within Rock 
Creek Park. The document also describes the other alternatives, but 
does not provide an analysis. The alternatives analysis can be found in 
the Wireless Telecommunication Plan and Environmental Assessment. The 
selected alternative outlined in the FONSI will guide the future 
siting, building and permitting of WTF in Rock Creek Park. The NPS 
decided to develop this Plan in its 2003 FONSI on the 2003 
Environmental Assessment of the park's existing WTF, which resulted 
from litigation about those WTF.

Selected Alternative

    Under the selected alternative, the park has identified areas where 
coverage gaps for wireless telecommunication service exist and 
encourages applicants to site facilities in these areas provided no 
conflicts with the park mission and planned uses exist. In these areas,

[[Page 22959]]

permit terms and conditions are included to ensure protection of 
sensitive resources. These areas are located mainly along Beach Drive 
in the main unit of Rock Creek Park. If applications for WTF right-of-
way permits are received for outside the area identified as having a 
coverage gap, the selected alternative identifies zones or areas of the 
park where WTF may not be allowed, and identifies zones or areas where 
they may be considered an appropriate use. In the potential locations, 
applications to construct and operate WTF would also be subject to 
permit terms and conditions specific to that area or zone. 
Consideration of WTF and permit terms and conditions will be based on 
the General Management Plan or the individual management document for 
each park unit in Rock Creek Park, as applicable, and will include 
elements such as the design and location requirements for a proposed 
facility in a particular location.
    The selected alternative also includes elements identified in the 
Wireless Telecommunications Plan and Environmental Assessment as common 
to the action alternatives and in some instances to the no-action 
alternative as well.
    These are that:
     All applications are subject to compliance with the 
applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines outlined in 
``Chapter 1: Purpose of and Need for Action.''
     Co-location on the two existing monopoles will be handled 
as in the current permit for WTF in Rock Creek Park.
     Areas that lack in-car coverage are considered to have a 
coverage gap.
     All associated cables for WTF (electrical, telephone, and 
fiber optic) cannot be above ground.
     No fencing is permitted around WTF and their associated 
structures.
     Applications must include an analysis of locations outside 
the park that could provide similar levels of service, if available.
     Only WTF using the newest technology will be considered, 
following the intent of all applicable authorities to facilitate the 
build out of new WTF service, and conforming to the NPS Management 
Policies 2006 direction to require the ``best technology available.''
     WTF will not be considered in certain areas of the park 
because of desired conditions stated in the park's General Management 
Plan and other applicable management documents, which is provided for 
by the applicable authorities.
     Applicants are required to conform to the physical 
requirements for WTF facilities, such as height and lighting, directed 
by applicable authorities.
    Finally, as a result of a recent suggestion by U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service for future study on the effects of WTF radiation on 
birds, a topic upon which there is no U.S. field data, the National 
Park Service will seek funding and work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service to develop such a study, the results of which will be 
considered when available.

Other Alternatives Considered

    The Wireless Telecommunications Plan/Environmental Assessment 
evaluated two other alternatives:
    Alternative A--No-Action Alternative: Under the No-Action 
alternative, right-of-way permit applications for WTF within any unit 
of Rock Creek Park would continue to be evaluated by the National Park 
Service in accordance with applicable authorities and RM-53. Requests 
for WTF siting in all areas of the park would be reviewed in the 
context of the General Management Plan or the individual management 
document for each park unit within Rock Creek Park to determine if WTF 
siting would be acceptable in the requested area of the park. WTF 
applications would continue to be considered without a more structured 
process or plan for the evaluation of such requests than is currently 
in place. This alternative was not selected because it fails to provide 
a foundation for decision-making regarding the issuance of right-of-way 
permits, fails to establish criteria or identify areas where WTF would 
or would not be appropriate and fails to identify conditions under 
which WTF would be permitted.
    Alternative B--Zone Management: Under Alternative B applications 
would be reviewed and evaluated for WTF following RM-53, as described 
under the no-action alternative. Alternative B would add additional 
considerations to the process by identifying zones or areas of the park 
where WTF may not be allowed or where they would be considered an 
appropriate use based on the General Management Plan or the management 
documents for each park unit within Rock Creek Park. These permit terms 
and conditions are shown in Table 1, and are also included in the 
selected alternative, Alternative C. In areas where a WTF may be 
considered appropriate, applications for a right-of-way permit to 
construct and operate a WTF could be sited and would be subject to 
certain permit terms and conditions specific to the area or zone 
proposed for the facility. This alternative was not selected because it 
does not best address how in-car coverage gaps will be addressed.
    Both of these alternatives would result in a less efficient use of 
National Park Service time and staff than the selected alternative.

    Dated: April 22, 2009.
Margaret O'Dell.
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. E9-11376 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-34-P