Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 127 / Monday, July 2, 2001 / Notices 34951

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Dan Sealy (703) 289–2530 or via email

at GWMP_IRRM_

SECRETARY@NPS.GOV.

Audrey F. Calhoun,

Superintendent, George Washington

Memorial Parkway.

[FR Doc. 01–16499 Filed 6–29–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Environmental Assessment for

Proposal to Replace the Existing

Deteriorated North Arcade Structure

and Damaged Portions of the Adjacent

Arcade Structure With a New North

Arcade Structure in Glen Echo Park,

MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the

Environmental Assessment (EA) for the

proposal to replace the existing

deteriorated North Arcade structure,

and damaged portions of the adjacent

arcade structure with a new North

Arcade structure in Glen Echo Park

(GLEC). Both structures are listed as

contributing elements of the Glen Echo

Park Historic District, Maryland.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on

Environmental Quality regulations and

National Park Service (NPS) policy, the

NPS announces the availability of an EA

for the proposed replacement of the

existing deteriorated North Arcade

structure and damaged portions of the

adjacent arcade structure with a new

North Arcade structure in GLEC, a unit

of the George Washington Memorial

Parkway (GWMP). The EA examines

several alternatives aimed to correct the

advanced deterioration and design

deficiencies of the North Arcade

structure. The building currently

provides marginal space for park

administrative offices, classrooms, a

photography studio, and a police

substation. The use of these spaces is

severely impacted by this advanced

deterioration.

The NPS is soliciting comments on

this EA. These comments will be

considered in evaluating it and making

decisions pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: The EA will remain available for

public comment until August 1, 2001.

Written comments should be received

no later than this date.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this EA

should be submitted in writing to: Ms.

Audrey F. Calhoun, Superintendent,

George Washington Memorial Parkway,

Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia,

22101. The EA will be available for

public inspection Monday through

Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. at

GWMP Headquarters, Turkey Run Park,

McLean, Virginia; on the NPS Website,

www.nps.gov/gwmp; at GLEC and at the

following Montgomery County libraries:

Bethesda Regional Library, Davis

Library, and Little Falls.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS

proposes to replace the existing

deteriorated North Arcade structure and

damaged portions of the adjacent arcade

structure with a new North Arcade

structure in GLEC. The intent of the

proposed action is to: provide an

interpretive area and classroom space to

conduct and possibly expand programs;

provide alternative space for the Puppet

Company or a similar theatre group so

that the main entrance of the Spanish

Ballroom can be restored and used

again; maintain and upgrade the space

currently occupied by Photoworks, a

portion of the lower level within the

North Arcade; provide useful, efficient

office space in place of what currently

occupies a portion of the upper level

within the North Arcade; address and

correct structural deficiencies of the

current structure (note that 40% of the

current structure is vacant because of

deterioration) and make the building

accessible; address and correct Life and

Safety Code deficiencies, including exit

and egress requirements; address and

correct Americans with Disabilities Act

accessibility deficiencies; replace

deteriorating mechanical and electrical

systems that have exceeded their

expected life cycle; enhance protection

of natural and cultural resources within

the park, especially those of the Glen

Echo Historic District; attract more

programs and users to the park to

possibly create self-sufficiency; and

respond to public requests for better

facilities, maintenance and upkeep.

The proposed action is based on the

fact that the building and canopy of the

North Arcade have not fared well over

time. This action aims to address

structural deterioration of the outdoor

concrete deck which has advanced to a

state that does not allow use of the

lower level rooftop plaza or the spaces

below. It will also address other

deficiencies, such as multiple floor level

changes and varied construction

practices that make the building

generally unsafe to use and difficult to

rehabilitate. In addition, the mechanical

and electrical systems, which have been

compromised through alteration and

have far exceeded their expected life

cycles will be replaced.

All interested individuals, agencies,

and organizations are urged to provide

comments on this EA. The NPS, in

making a final decision regarding this

matter, will consider all comments

received by the closing date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Dan Sealy (703) 289–2530 or via email

at GWMPlIRRMlSECRETARY@

NPS.GOV.

Dottie P. Marshall,

Acting Superintendent, George Washington

Memorial Parkway.

[FR Doc. 01–16498 Filed 6–29–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service, Interior

Notice of Availability of a Plan of

Operations and Environmental

Assessment for a Proposed Three

Dimensional Seismic Survey Within

the Barataria Preserve Unit of Jean

Lafitte National Historical Park and

Preserve, Jefferson Parish, LA

SUMMARY: In accordance with § 9.52 of

title 36 of the Code of Federal

Regulations and the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969,

notice is hereby given that the National

Park Service has a received a Plan of

Operations and Environmental

Assessment from Seitel Data, Inc. of

Houston, Texas, for a Proposed Three

Dimensional Seismic Survey within and

near the Barataria Preserve unit of Jean

Lafitte National Historical Park and

Preserve.

The Plan of Operations and

Environmental Assessment are available

for public review and comment for a

period of 30 days from the publication

date of this notice, in the office of the

Superintendent, Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal

Street, Suite 2400, New Orleans,

Louisiana and will be sent upon written

request.

DATES: The proposed seismic operation

will be initiated following the approval

of the Plan of Operations and a Finding

of No Significant Impact by the National

Park Service Regional Director. Field

operations will last approximately six

weeks within the Preserve.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Superintendent, Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal

Street, Suite 2400, New Orleans,

Louisiana, 70130.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jean

Lafitte National Historical Park and

Preserve was established by Congress on

November 10, 1978 (Public Law 95–625)

34952 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 127 / Monday, July 2, 2001 / Notices

in order to ‘‘* * * preserve for the

education, inspiration, and benefit of

present and future generations

significant examples of natural and

historical resources of the Mississippi

Delta region * * *’’ When the park was

established, all subsurface mineral

interests were retained by private

owners, thus the federal government

does not own any of the subsurface oil

and gas rights within the park boundary.

Seitel Data Incorporated is proposing

to conduct a three dimensional seismic

survey encompassing approximately

105 square miles in Jefferson and St.

Charles Parishes, Louisiana. A portion

of the proposed survey area includes the

northernmost 1,500 acres of the

Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte

National Historical Park and Preserve.

In accordance with the National Park

Service Organic Act and section 902(a)

of the park’s enabling legislation,

Congress authorized the Secretary of the

Interior to promulgate regulations to

control nonfederal oil and gas

development in the park. These

regulations are published as the NPS

Nonfederal Oil and Gas Rights

Regulations, in the Code of Federal

Regulations, part 9, subpart B (36 CFR

9B), and include the following:

These regulations control all activities

within any unit of the National Park System

in the exercise of rights to oil and gas not

owned by the United States where access is

on, across, or through federally owned or

controlled lands or waters * * * These

regulations are designed to insure that

activities undertaken pursuant to these rights

are conducted in a manner consistent with

the purposes for which the National Park

System and each unit thereof were created,

to prevent or minimize damage to the

environment and other resource values, and

to insure to the extent feasible that all units

of the National Park System are left

unimpaired for the enjoyment of future

generations. These regulations are not

intended to result in the taking of a property

interest, but rather to impose reasonable

regulations on activities which involve and

affect federally-owned lands (36 CFR 9.30(a)).

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

and Preserve has a lawful obligation to

provide for the exercise of nonfederal

oil and gas rights within its boundary.

The NPS Nonfederal Oil and Gas Rights

Regulations require that a Plan of

Operations and Environmental

Assessment be submitted and approved

by the park Superintendent and

Regional Director prior to the initiation

of oil and gas exploration activities. A

Plan of Operations and Environmental

Assessment has been prepared by Seitel

Data, which documents the procedures

required by the National Park Service to

accomplish the three dimensional

survey while avoiding and minimizing

adverse environmental impacts to park

resources.

Dated: June 12, 2001.

W. Thomas Brown,

Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.

[FR Doc. 01–16495 Filed 6–29–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Draft General Management Plan/

Environmental Impact Statement for

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House

National Historic Site, Washington, DC;

Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, as

amended), the National Park Service has

prepared a Draft General Management

Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

(GMP/EIS) that evaluates four

alternatives for Mary McLeod Bethune

Council House National Historic Site

(Council House). The document

describes and analyzes the

environmental impacts of a preferred

action, two action alternatives and a noaction alternative. When approved, the

plan will guide management actions

during the next 15–20 years.

Alternatives

Alternative 1, the no-action

alternative, would maintain current

management direction. The Council

House would continue to operate as a

visitor center and administrative office

area; archival collections and archive

staff offices would remain in the

carriage house. Conflicts would

continue to occur between visitor and

administrative functions in the limited

space of the Council House resulting in

a less than desirable visitor experience

and operational inefficiency. Storage

space for archival collections would

remain inadequate. Alternative 2, the

preferred action, would place dual

emphasis on the Council House, which

would be used as a museum, and on the

archives. Under this alternative new

space would be acquired to

accommodate some visitor services and

most administrative offices. The visitor

experience would be enhanced with

adequate space to provide broad and

comprehensive interpretive

opportunities and exhibits in the

Council House. The primary storage for

archival collections would be in an

offsite state-of-the-art facility that would

provide enhanced preservation and

protection of stored items. The carriage

house would be renovated and would

house a research room, offices for

archival staff, an area for some

processing of collections, and space for

frequently accessed collections.

Alternative 3 would commemorate the

site through the establishment of the

Bethune Center for Human Rights. The

Council House would be used for

interpretation and also would provide a

place for groups to meet and engage in

activities, workshops and programs.

Materials related to social justice and

human rights would be emphasized in

the archival collections. Additional

property would be leased or acquired

for administrative offices and would be

the primary space for meetings and

workshops. This space would be the

main contact point for visitors, and

access and programmatic interpretation

would be provided for visitors with

mobility disabilities at this site. Offsite

interpretation would be expanded with

traveling exhibits. The carriage house

would be renovated and expanded to

include the archival collections,

archival staff offices, and research

space. Under Alternative 4, the Council

House would be used as a traditional

National Park Service museum

commemorating the life and times of

Mary McLeod Bethune. The Council

House would have expanded exhibit

space and an orientation area for

visitors. Period furnishings would be in

the Council House and archival

collections would illustrate the

highlights of Mary McLeod Bethune’s

life and activities. Educational materials

would focus on the life contributions

and legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune.

Space would be leased offsite to

accommodate current archival

collections that would be managed

through a contract with others. The

carriage house would be torn down and

replaced with a new building that

would house a bookstore, visitor

restrooms and administrative offices.

Public Review

A 60-day public review period for

comment on the draft document will

begin after publication of this notice. In

order to facilitate the review process,

public reading copies of the GMP/EIS

will be available for review at the

following locations:

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House

National Historic Site, 1318 Vermont

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005

National Capital Parks—East, 1900

Anacostia Drive, SE., Washington, DC

20020

National Capital Region Office of Lands,

Resources and Planning Attention:

Gail Cain 1100 Ohio Drive, NW.,

Washington, DC 20242