[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68278-68279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30355]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, Hyde Park, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National 
Historic Sites, Hyde Park, New York.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of the Draft General Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement (Draft GMP/EIS) for Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National 
Historic Sites, New York.
    Consistent with National Park Service laws, regulations, and 
policies, and the purposes of the National Historic Sites, the Draft 
GMP/EIS describes and analyzes three alternatives (No-Action, Action 
Alternative One, and Action Alternative Two) to guide the management of 
the National Historic Sites over the next 20 years. The Draft GMP/EIS 
covers the three units of the national park system that compose 
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites: Home of Franklin D. 
Roosevelt National Historic Site; Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic 
Site; and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. The three national 
historic sites are combined into a single administrative unit, but each 
was established by separate legislation and each has its own purpose 
and significance. At present, management of the National Historic Sites 
is guided by three separate planning documents. Although a GMP was 
needed for each of the sites, a single unifying plan was deemed to be 
the most expeditious and critical for continued coordinated management.
    Primary planning issues include preservation and treatment of 
cultural resources, provision of visitor services, and partnership 
opportunities. The alternatives incorporate various management 
prescriptions to ensure protection, access, and enjoyment of the parks' 
resources. The No Action Alternative would continue the current 
management direction. Action Alternative One would emphasize restoring 
historic appearance and encouraging visitors to explore more of the 
estate buildings and landscape. Action Alternative Two would seek to 
make the parks relevant to more audiences by encouraging greater civic 
participation in park activities, while significantly enhancing the 
historic character of park resources. Action Alternative Two is the 
National Park Service's preferred alternative. The Draft GMP/EIS 
evaluates the potential environmental consequences of implementing the 
alternatives. Impact topics include the cultural, natural, and 
socioeconomic environments.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments on the Draft GMP/
EIS from the public for a period of 60 days following publication of 
the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register. The National Park Service will also hold a public 
forum to solicit comments on the Draft GMP/EIS during the public review 
period. The date, time and location will be announced in local

[[Page 68279]]

newspapers, on the parks' Web sites (http://www.nps.gov/hofr, http://www.nps.gov/elro, http://www.nps.gov/vama, http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/rova), and can also be obtained by calling 
845.229.9116 extension x 10.

ADDRESSES: There are several ways to view the document, which will be 
publicly available on or about December 1, 2009:
     An electronic version of the document will be available 
for public review and comment on the National Park Service Planning, 
Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova.
     Copies of the document can be viewed at Bellefield, the 
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt headquarters, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, 
NY, and at the Hyde Park Free Library, 2 Main Street, Hyde Park, NY.
     Copies of the document can be requested by contacting the 
park at 845.229.9116 extension 10.

If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. The preferred method of comment is via the Internet at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova. You may also mail written comments to 
Superintendent Sarah Olson, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic 
Sites, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538. You may also fax 
your comments to 845.229.7115. Before including your address, phone 
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt 
National Historic Sites, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538, 
Phone: 845.229.9116 ext. 33, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Together the sites include over 1,100 acres 
of federally owned land, along with 40 historic buildings (including 
four furnished historic homes), 14 miles of roads and trails, 35 acres 
of forest plantations set out by FDR, five historic gardens, nearly 100 
acres of open fields, and over 25,000 objects and artifacts. The parks 
are supported by an annual budget of over $5 million and the work of 
hundreds of volunteers and they attract more than half a million 
visitors every year.
    Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site preserves and 
interprets the birthplace, lifelong home, and memorial gravesite of 
FDR, so that current and future generations can appreciate the life and 
legacy of the U.S. president who led the nation through the Great 
Depression and World War II.
    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site commemorates and 
perpetuates the life work of Eleanor Roosevelt, and preserves and 
interprets the place most central to her emergence as a public figure, 
so that current and future generations can appreciate her life and 
legacy as a champion of democracy and human rights.
    Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site preserves and interprets 
the country estate of Frederick W. and Louise Vanderbilt as a premier 
example of an ``American country place,'' which illustrates important 
economic, social, and cultural developments resulting from America's 
industrialization following the Civil War.
    The Draft GMP/EIS sets forth alternative visions (management 
alternatives) for the preservation and operation of Roosevelt-
Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. This plan is the product of a 
process that integrates the aspirations of the public with the unique 
capabilities of the NPS to provide for the preservation and public 
enjoyment of the National Historic Sites over the next 20 years.

Michael T. Reynolds,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30355 Filed 12-22-09; 8:45 am]
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