[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 136 (Friday, July 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34774-34775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17071]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 
Fort Stanwix National Monument, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final General Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement, Fort Stanwix National Monument, New 
York.

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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 a Final General Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Fort Stanwix National Monument, located 
in the city of Rome, New York. Consistent with National Park Service 
rules, regulations, and policies, and the park's mission, the proposed 
federal action to establish a programmatic framework for park 
management in the form of a general management plan that is consistent 
with the purposes of the park as set forth in the park's enabling 
legislation An Act to Provide for the Establishment of a National 
Monument on the Site of Fort Stanwix in the State of New York (Pub. L. 
74-291).
    The Final GMP/EIS analyzes alternatives to guide the management and 
development of Fort Stanwix National Monument over the next 15 to 20 
years, consistent with the park's mission and NPS policy and other laws 
and regulations. NPS regional planning staff and staff at Fort Stanwix 
NM collaborated in the development of the Final GMP/EIS. The main 
issues that the Final GMP/EIS has focused on include protection of 
cultural resources, visitor services, partnership opportunities, 
carrying capacity, and the park boundary.
    The Final GMP/EIS analyzes two alternatives to guide the management

[[Page 34775]]

and development of Fort Stanwix National Monument. Alternative 1: No 
Action focuses on basically maintaining current management, protection, 
and interpretive practices and interpreting the siege of Fort Stanwix 
in the Revolutionary War. Alternative 2: Action Alternative seeks to 
broaden interpretation of Fort Stanwix in the context of the Northern 
Frontier, the Mohawk Valley, and American Indian history; forge new 
partnerships; upgrade exhibits and waysides; expand the interpretive 
role of the Marinus Willett Center; and develop an 18th-century 
cultural landscape treatment plan for the site. Alternative 2 is the 
preferred alternative because it best supports the park's purpose, 
significance and goals, while also providing management direction that 
best protects resources and offers high-quality visitor experiences.
    The Final GMP/EIS describes the affected environment and evaluates 
potential environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. 
Impact topics include cultural and natural resources, visitor 
experience, park operations, and the socioeconomic environment.
    The Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement 
(GMP/EIS) was made available for public review between September 15 and 
December 1, 2008. On August 26, 2008, a ``Notice of Availability'' 
formally announcing the public availability of the Draft GMP/EIS was 
published in the Federal Register (73 FR 50343). A public meeting was 
held in Rome, NY, on October 23, 2008. During the comment period, 14 
written comments were received by the planning team. Most respondents 
supported the preferred alternative.

DATES: The National Park Service will prepare a Record of Decision 
concerning the selection of a management alternative no sooner than 30 
days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
Notice of Availability of the Final GMP/EIS in the Federal Register.
    Further Information and Addresses: The Final General Management 
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Fort Stanwix National Monument 
is available public online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Copies are 
available upon request by contacting Superintendent Debbie Conway, Fort 
Stanwix National Monument,112 East Park Street, Rome, NY 13440; phone 
315-338-7730; [email protected].

Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9-17071 Filed 7-16-09; 8:45 am]
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