[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22405-22406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11086]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Realty Actions; Sales, Leases, etc.: Georgia

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Realty Action.

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SUMMARY: Proposed Exchange of Federally-Owned Lands for Privately- 
[[Page 22406]] Owned Lands Both in Fulton County, Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Superintendent, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, 526 
Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public comments will be accepted for a 
period of 45 days from the date of this notice.
    I. The following described Federally-owned lands which were 
acquired by the National Park Service, have been determined to be 
suitable for disposal by means of exchange. The authority for this 
exchange is the Act of July 15, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 4601-22).
    These selected Federal lands lie inside the boundary of Martin 
Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. The lands include the western 
half of the former Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center which the 
City of Atlanta conveyed via donation to the National Park Service in 
1994. The Community Center property was acquired from the City of 
Atlanta for Service conversion of the eastern half of the building to a 
Visitor Center for the National Historic Site.
    The western half was acquired for the purpose of disposal by 
exchange with Ebenezer Baptist Church who intends to construct a new 
sanctuary on the lands using private funds.
    The selected lands have been surveyed for cultural resources and 
endangered and threatened species. Although no known archaeological 
resources exist on these lands, plans have been made to assess and/or 
protect archaeological resources should they be discovered during 
excavation of and construction on the land. The Land Protection Plan, 
General Management Plan Update and Environmental Assessment discuss the 
use of this land for exchange purposes, and these reports along with 
Finding of No Significant Impact are available upon request.
    Both the surface and the mineral estates are to be exchanged. There 
are no leases or permits affecting these lands. The property has been 
surveyed for hazardous substances and the presence of asbestos and lead 
paint has been documented.
    The lands to be exchanged by the United States are generally 
described as follows: A portion of the lands at 450 Auburn Avenue, NE., 
adjacent to Jackson Street.
    The above lands contain a total of 1.5 acres, more or less. These 
lands will be conveyed in fee simple and by easement.
    II. In exchange for the lands identified in Paragraph I, the United 
States of America will acquire land adjacent to Ebenezer Baptist Church 
and a longer term lease of the existing church sanctuary building. 
These lands lie within the boundary of Martin Luther King, Jr. National 
Historic Site.
    Acquisition of a long term leasehold in the Church sanctuary 
building will provide the National Park Service with the authority to 
conduct visitor interpretive tours and preserve the historic sanctuary 
where Dr. King served as co-pastor, one of the primary cultural 
resources of the National Historic Site.
    The initial term of the lease shall be 50 years with the National 
Park Service having the option to extend the lease for an additional 50 
years. Ebenezer Baptist Church shall retain the right to use the 
sanctuary periodically for weddings, funerals, and similar special 
events. Otherwise, the Service shall use the church for interpretive 
programs and administer the lands as part of Martin Luther King, Jr. 
National Historic Site upon completion of the exchange.
    The land adjacent to the church to be acquired by the United States 
of America shall be used to provide parking for handicapped and elderly 
visitors to the National Historic Site. These lands are being acquired 
in fee simple with no reservations subject only to rights-of-way and 
easement of record.
    The lands to be acquired and leased by the United States of America 
are generally described as follows: All or a portion of the lands at 
407 Auburn Avenue, NE., and 410-412 Edgewood Avenue.
    The above private lands contain 1.1 acres, more or less.
    The value of the properties to be exchanged shall be determined by 
a current fair market value appraisal and if they are not appropriately 
equal, the values shall be equalized by donation and/or payment of cash 
as circumstances require.
    Detailed information concerning his exchange including precise 
legal descriptions, Land Protection Plan, General Management Plan 
Update and Environmental Assessment, cultural reports, and Finding of 
No Significant Impact are available at the offices of the 
superintendent, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, 526 
Auburn Avenue, NW., Atlanta, Georgia 30312.
    For a period of 45 calendar days from the date of this notice, 
interested parties may submit comments to the above address. Adverse 
comments will be evaluated and this action may be modified or vacated 
accordingly. In the absence of any action to modify or vacate, this 
realty action will become the final determination of the Department of 
the Interior.

    Dated: April 28, 1995.
Frank Catroppa,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 95-11086 Filed 5-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M