[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66671-66672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29853]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan Amendment 
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan Amendment 
(FEIS/GMPA), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of the ROD for the FEIS/GMPA for the Elkmont Historic 
District in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
    On June 30, 2009, the Regional Director, NPS, Southeast Region, 
approved the ROD for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will 
begin to implement the FEIS/GMPA, described as the selected action (the 
preferred Alternative C) contained in the FEIS/GMPA issued on May 1, 
2009. Under the selected alternative, the NPS will preserve a 
representative collection of 19 historic buildings in the District of 
the park. The District is listed in the National Register of Historic 
Places (NRHP). Within the District, the core of the former Appalachian 
Club resort community known as ``Daisy Town'' will be preserved 
including the Appalachian Clubhouse and a cluster of 16 cabins. Fifteen 
of these cabins are identified as contributing to the significance of 
the District. An additional non-contributing cabin will be preserved to 
maintain the visual continuity of the Daisy Town streetscape. The 
exteriors of these buildings will be restored to approximate the 
appearance of this portion of the District during its early 20th 
century period of significance. The Appalachian Clubhouse interior will 
be rehabilitated for public rental and day use activities. The 16 
cabins will be retained for interpretive purposes.

[[Page 66672]]

    In addition to the Daisy Town buildings, the exterior of the 
Chapman cabin in the ``Society Hill'' portion of the District will be 
restored to the early 20th century period of significance and retained 
for interpretive purposes, the exterior of the Spence cabin in 
``Millionaire's Row'' will also be restored and its interior 
rehabilitated for public rental and day use. The gravel pathway from 
the Appalachian Clubhouse to Jakes Creek Cemetery will be restored. 
Historic plantings that are not invasive would be retained throughout 
the District. To provide access and circulation, existing parking areas 
will be reconfigured and resurfaced, and a new day use parking area 
will be constructed.
    Altogether, 30 buildings identified as contributing to the 
District's significance will be removed. Buildings slated for removal 
include the Wonderland Hotel Annex, 26 cabins, and 3 garages. The 
remains of the structurally failed Wonderland Hotel were removed in 
December 2006.
    The preserved buildings and cultural landscape features, along with 
wayside exhibits and other interpretive media, will be used to enhance 
visitor understanding of the history and development of the Elkmont 
vacation community, its architecture, and the area's important cultural 
and natural resources.
    To increase species diversity, improve and increase wildlife 
habitat, and provide soil stabilization within the District, the NPS 
will restore native plant communities in suitable areas, including the 
sites where buildings have been removed. Removal of buildings within 
the Little River floodplain would allow for gradual succession to 
native communities.
    The selected alternative will not generate wastewater discharge 
above the permitted allowable level from the sewage treatment plant or 
contribute nonpoint runoff into the Little River or its tributaries. No 
additional structures or activities within the 100-year floodplain are 
proposed.
    The approved plan enhances opportunities for visitors to interact 
with and appreciate the historic district's resources while providing 
for the preservation or adaptive use of the park's resources when 
implemented. The Record of Decision includes a description of the 
project's background, a statement of the decision made, synopses of 
other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, findings on 
impairment of park resources and values, a description of the 
environmentally preferred alternative, a listing of measures to 
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in 
the decision-making process.

DATES: The ROD was signed by the Regional Director, NPS, Southeast 
Region, on June 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available from the Superintendent, 
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, 
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738; telephone: 865-436-1201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS evaluated six other alternatives for 
the treatment and management of the District in the GMPA/EIS. These 
alternatives are described in full in the FEIS/GMPA. Among the 
alternatives considered, the selected alternative best protects the 
diversity of park resources while also maintaining a range of quality 
visitor experiences, meets NPS purposes and goals for the Elkmont 
Historic District of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and meets 
National Environmental Policy Act goals. The selected alternative will 
not result in the impairment of park resources and will allow the NPS 
to conserve park resources and provide for their enjoyment by visitors.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 
1506.6 (b).

For Further Information CONTACT: Contact the Superintendent, Great 
Smoky Mountains National Park, at the address and telephone number 
shown above. An electronic copy of the document is available on the 
Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/.
    The responsible official for this FEIS is the Regional Director, 
Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 
Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: October 5, 2009.
David Vela,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9-29853 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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