[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1405-1406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-233]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


National Park Service

Agency: National Park Service, Interior.

Action: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision for the 
General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Missouri.

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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 Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for 
the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Memorial), Missouri. On 
November 23, the NPS Midwest Region regional director approved the ROD 
for the final GMP/EIS. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to 
implement the preferred alternative.
    The NPS will implement the preferred alternative as described in 
the final GMP/EIS issued on October 23, 2009, with one alteration to 
the proposed boundary in East St. Louis, Illinois. Alternative 3 
(Program Expansion), the preferred alternative, will revitalize the 
Memorial by expanded programming, facilities, and partnerships. The NPS 
will capitalize on multiple opportunities to expand visitor experience 
throughout the Memorial.
    In order to gain the widest breadth of ideas for expanding 
interpretation, education opportunities, and visitor amenities at the 
Memorial, a design competition, akin to the 1947 competition, will be 
initiated by the NPS in close coordination with partners. Project 
funding will not come all at once but rather will most likely be 
provided by partners, donations, and other non-Federal and Federal 
sources. Private funding will be required in order to fully implement 
the winning entry of the design competition.
    The NPS will use the design competition to seek opportunities to 
enhance existing entrances to the Memorial on the north and south, as 
well as to capitalize on the primary axis between the Old Courthouse 
and the Gateway Arch with new entrances on the west and east and by 
establishing a new east portal linking East St. Louis to the Gateway 
Arch grounds by water taxi. A new external and internal visitor 
transportation system will be designed as part of the competition. The 
ultimate configuration and use of the south end of the Memorial will be 
determined by the results of the design competition. Similarly, the 
design competition will vet ideas for the configuration and use of that 
portion of the Memorial in East St. Louis. While the entrants will be 
asked to respect the recent developments at Malcolm Martin Memorial 
Park, the NPS and the Metro East Park and Recreation District will 
entertain designs that integrate the established functions into a 
cohesive vision for the Memorial.
    While the design solutions might include the development of above-
ground structures within a portion of the designated Design Competition 
Overlay, the NPS will not allow the implementation of a project that 
would

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cause impairment to the Memorial, and all enhancements will be required 
to be located in such a manner as to preserve the integrity of the 
National Historic Landmark and National Register Historic District.
    In addition to considering the ``winning'' ideas from the 
competition, the NPS will continue the educational and interpretive 
programs currently offered at the Memorial and expand opportunities for 
visitors to participate in more interactive experiences across the 
Memorial grounds. The grounds surrounding the Gateway Arch will be 
managed in such a way as to accommodate and promote more visitor 
activities and special events than are currently provided.
    The NPS will actively coordinate with the city and State to enhance 
the pedestrian environment around the Memorial by developing a unifying 
streetscape along the Gateway Mall and the other streets adjacent to 
the Memorial, including Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard and the riverfront 
levee.
    The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of 
other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a 
description of the environmentally preferable alternative, a finding on 
impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to 
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in 
the decision-making process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the ROD can be obtained by 
contacting Superintendent Thomas Bradley, Jefferson National Expansion 
Memorial, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102. 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 the Memorial.

    Dated: November 23, 2009.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-233 Filed 1-8-10; 8:45 am]
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