[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79389-79390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31904]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[1790-ROVA-409]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the General 
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Roosevelt-
Vanderbilt National Historic Sites

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended [42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)], the National 
Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision 
for the General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/
EIS) for the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites (NHS), in 
Hyde Park, New York. The Regional Director, Northeast Region, approved 
the Record of Decision for the GMP/EIS. The Record of Decision includes 
a statement of the decision made, a synopsis 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. The approved General Management Plan will guide long-term 
management of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, which is comprised of three 
(3) units of the national park system: The Home of Franklin D. 
Roosevelt NHS; Eleanor Roosevelt NHS (also known as Val-Kill); and 
Vanderbilt Mansion NHS. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to 
implement the selected alternative, which is Action Alternative Two, 
the NPS preferred alternative, as described in the Abbreviated Final 
GMP/EIS issued on August 6, 2010.

[[Page 79390]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt 
National Historic Sites, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538; 
(845) 229-9116 ext. 33; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary function of a general management 
plan is to clearly define a park's purpose and management direction 
over the long term, typically 15 to 20 years into the future. The plan 
describes the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to 
be achieved and maintained. The clarification of what must be achieved 
according to law and policy is based on a review of the park's purpose, 
significance, and mission. The NPS seeks to have all parks operate 
under approved general management plans to ensure that park managers 
carry out as effectively and efficiently as possible the mission of the 
NPS.
    Hyde Park, New York, is home to three national historic sites 
established by separate legislation: The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt 
National Historic Site; Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (also 
known as Val-Kill); and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. 
The sites are combined into a single administrative unit, Roosevelt-
Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, under one superintendent and 
operated by one staff. Together the parks include over 1,100 acres of 
Federally owned land along the east bank of the Hudson River. The GMP/
EIS was created over several years under the guidance of an 
interdisciplinary planning team including the Superintendent, senior 
park staff, NPS regional office staff, and consultants. At the outset, 
the planning team recognized that, although a general management plan 
was needed for each of the three Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic 
Sites, a single unifying plan was not only the most expeditious 
approach, but was also essential for continued coordinated management.
    The planning process for the GMP/EIS was conducted with extensive 
public and agency involvement. During 2005 and 2006, the planning team 
held meetings with and/or contacted key stakeholders, agencies, Tribes, 
resource experts, and members of the public. Planning newsletters were 
distributed in 2006 and 2007 with updates on the planning process, 
draft statements of purpose and significance, preliminary planning 
issues, and describing three preliminary alternatives, and also 
included a mail-back card inviting comment. Over the course of the next 
two years, the planning team continued to brief and receive input from 
stakeholders.
    The Draft GMP/EIS was released for public review and comment from 
December, 24, 2009, through February 28, 2010. The Draft GMP/EIS 
presented and evaluated three alternatives: The No-Action Alternative; 
Action Alternative One; and Action Alternative Two. Action Alternative 
Two was identified as the NPS Preferred Alternative. Copies of the 
Draft GMP/EIS were sent to individuals, agencies, Tribes, and 
organizations, and were made available at park visitor centers, local 
library, and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment 
(PEPC) Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova). Public open houses 
were held on January 28 and 29, 2010.
    The comments received on the Draft GMP/EIS required only minor 
responses and editorial corrections; thus, an abbreviated format was 
used for the Final GMP/EIS. The Abbreviated Final GMP/EIS was issued on 
August 6, 2010. It included an analysis of agency and public comments 
received on the Draft GMP/EIS with NPS responses, errata sheets 
detailing editorial corrections to the Draft GMP/EIS, and copies of 
agency and substantive public comments. No changes were made to the 
alternatives or to the impact analysis presented in the Draft GMP/EIS. 
Therefore, Action Alternative Two remained the NPS Preferred 
Alternative.
    The NPS has selected Action Alternative Two because it best 
fulfills the purposes of the parks and conveys the greatest number of 
beneficial results in comparison with the other alternatives. The 
selected action seeks 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. 
Resource management efforts will focus on the landscape and be aimed at 
rehabilitating existing features, but will follow contemporary best 
practices for land management within select areas. A learning center 
will be established to expand the scope and magnitude of the 
educational programs. The selected action calls for a significant 
expansion of partnership activities in the operation of the sites and 
opens up greater potential for new approaches to generating revenue to 
help sustain and improve operations.
    The Record of Decision is available online at the NPS Planning, 
Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rova). A printed copy may be obtained by 
contacting the park at the address shown above.

Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31904 Filed 12-17-10; 8:45 am]
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