[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68146-68147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27758]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SERO-SAJU-11286; 5331-0901-630]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Paseo del Morro National Recreational Trail Extension, San Juan 
National Historic Site, San Juan, Puerto Rico

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4332) (2) (C), the National Park Service (NPS) will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Paseo del Morro National 
Recreational Trail Extension (EIS). The EIS will include the 
involvement of multiple entities, including the Municipality of San 
Juan and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and neighborhoods along the 
trail corridor. Segments of the extension within and outside of the NPS 
boundary might include several amenities such as: Pedestrian trails, 
bicycle trail, Plaza, access to the Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery, 
viewpoints, pocket seating areas, and drinking fountains. The project 
would be constructed in four phases according to the segments within 
the project extension. The first segment would run parallel to the 
Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery, the second segment parallel to the 
community of La Perla, the third segment along the coastal area of 
Castillo San Cristobal, and the fourth segment through the ``Lomita de 
Los Vientos''. The characteristics of the trail, such as width of the 
primary and secondary trails, amenities, complementary programs, 
activities and methods of construction, would vary in the different 
segments of the projects.
    The objectives of the project are: To create public access to the 
North Coast of the Old San Juan Islet and create recreational public 
space along coastal area in front of Old San Juan, protect the historic 
walls of El Morro, encourage educational tourism within the area. The 
DEIS will assess potential environmental impacts associated with a 
range of reasonable alternatives for extension of the Paseo del Morro 
on

[[Page 68147]]

park resources such as existing flora and fauna, soils, cultural 
resources, and public safety. Socioeconomic impacts and effects on 
visitor experience will also be analyzed.

DATES: Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are 
encouraged to provide written comments or suggestions to assist the NPS 
in determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS, 
identifying significant issues, and identifying reasonable 
alternatives. The NPS will accept comments from the public for January 
14, 2013. The NPS will conduct a public scoping meeting in San Juan, 
Puerto Rico. When the public scoping meeting has been scheduled, its 
location, date, and time will be published in local media and on the 
NPS's Planning, Environment and Public Comment Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/saju. Written comments must be received prior to 
the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public 
meeting, whichever is later. The NPS will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to provide scoping comments or suggestions, you 
may submit your comments by any one of several methods. The preferred 
method for submitting comments is via the internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/saju. Select ``Paseo del Morro National 
Recreational Trail Extension'' to reach the comment site. Written 
comments may also be sent to: Walter Chavez, Superintendent, San Juan 
National Historic Site, 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00901.
    Before including your address, phone number, email 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. We will always make submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, 
available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the proposed action, 
the EIS, and the scoping process may be obtained from Mr. Walter Chavez 
at San Juan National Historic Site by phone at (787) 729-6777; or email 
[email protected]. Additional information can be found on the NPS 
Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/saju. Select ``Paseo del Morro National 
Recreational Trail Extension.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The park has involved the community in information gathering for 
developing a shared vision for the Paseo del Morro National 
Recreational Trail Extension as part of an effort led by the NPS 
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program. Meetings 
were held with the community in January 2010, August 2010, March 2011, 
and October 2011, to begin discussions on trail extension and 
connectivity. The development of the Draft EIS will use the information 
gathered in those meetings, along with future meetings in collaboration 
with the RTCA Program, to assist with alternative development.
    The NPS will provide additional opportunities for the public to 
provide written comments upon publication of the Draft EIS. The NPS 
welcomes public participation by Federal, State, and local agencies as 
well as other concerned organizations and private citizens throughout 
the preparation process of the EIS.
    The responsible official for this EIS is David Vela, Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street 
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: November 7, 2012.
Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-27758 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
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