[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68072-68073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30356]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Disposition of the Former Bureau of Mines Twin Cities 
Research Center Main Campus, Minnesota

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of 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 Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for disposition of the former Bureau of Mines Twin 
Cities Research Center Main Campus (Center), Hennepin County, 
Minnesota.

DATES: The final EIS will remain available for public review for 30 
days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS are available from the 
Superintendent, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Suite 
105, 111 Kellogg Boulevard East, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101; telephone 
651-290-4160. You may also view the document via the Internet through 
the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov); simply click on the link to Mississippi National 
River and Recreation Area.

Supplementary Information: The NPS prepared a draft EIS for the Center. 
The draft was made available for public review for 60 days (August 25-
October 24, 2007) during which time the NPS distributed over 275 copies 
of the draft. The draft was also made available at the park offices, on 
the Internet, and at area libraries. Based on several requests for 
greater time to review and comment on

[[Page 68073]]

the document, the NPS extended the comment period 30 days to November 
27, 2007.
    By the close of the official comment period, a total of 509 
comments on the draft EIS were received via oral comments, written 
letters, e-mail, and through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public 
Comment system. Public and Agency comments addressed future management 
authorities, impacts to cultural and historical resources, 
interpretation of the Center's history, and restoration of the Center 
to more natural conditions, as well as pointing out factual errors and 
shortcomings of the draft EIS.
    The Notice of Availability for the draft EIS also solicited written 
proposals for the future use of the Center property. Public Law 104-134 
included provisions which would allow the transfer of the Center 
property to a local, State, or Tribal government or university entity. 
At the close of the comment period, six written proposals were received 
from qualified Agencies for the transfer of the Center property.
    Finally, the draft EIS did not identify the preferred alternative 
because at the time of its release, the Department of the Interior had 
not indicated a preference. The final EIS identifies the preferred 
alternative as alternative D. Under alternative D, the Federal 
Government would manage and bear the costs for modification of all or 
part of the land, structures, or other improvements prior to conveyance 
or retention of the Center.
    Following completion of the modifications, the property would be 
disposed through transfer to a university or nonfederal government 
entity without restrictions (alternative B), transfer to a university 
or nonfederal government entity with restrictions (alternative C), or 
retention by the Federal Government for use such as those described 
under the three conceptual land-use scenarios. Under the preferred 
alternative, the preferred land use scenario is open space/park.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Superintendent Paul Labovitz, 
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, at the address or 
telephone number above.

    Dated: October 21, 2009.
David N. Given,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. E9-30356 Filed 12-21-09; 8:45 am]
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