[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36251-36253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17376]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 
Governors Island National Monument, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision on the Final 
General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for 
Governors Island National Monument.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service (NPS) 
announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Final 
General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) 
for Governors Island National Monument, New York. On June 1, 2009, the 
Regional Director, Northeast Region, approved the Record of Decision 
for the GMP/EIS, selecting Alternative D, The Harbor Center, which was 
described as the preferred alternative in the Final GMP/EIS issued on 
April 26, 2009. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement 
the selected alternative. The National Monument will be developed as a 
Harbor Center with partners as a hub of activities and a

[[Page 36252]]

jumping-off point for visitors exploring New York Harbor. This course 
of action and three other alternatives were presented and analyzed in 
the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of 
foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate 
mitigating measures were identified.
    Copies of the Record of Decision may be obtained from the contact 
listed below or online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public 
Comment (PEPC) Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gois).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patti Reilly, Superintendent, 
Governors Island National Monument, Battery Maritime Building, Slip 7, 
10 South Street, New York, NY 10004, 212-825-3040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS selected alternative develops 
Governors Island National Monument as the Harbor Center--a hub of 
activities and jumping-off point for visitors wanting to explore New 
York Harbor.
    Working with other harbor-related organizations--national parks and 
local, regional, national and international civic, educational and 
research organizations--the NPS would develop a range of activities in 
Fort Jay and Castle Williams that interpret the key themes of the 
island and greater harbor. The park would collaborate and coordinate on 
harbor-related programs on and off Governors Island that would help 
visitors understand the forts' military significance, the island's 
strategic location, and the ongoing ecological conservation efforts for 
the harbor and the re-visioning and redevelopment of the waterfront.
    Governors Island National Monument would become a primary stop on 
harbor ferry tours. Programs would include specialized boat tours of 
the harbor, educational programs that explore the harbor's history and 
ecology.
    A variety of programs, exhibits, and special events would be 
available in both forts. These activities would use the harbor to 
describe the island's history and significance, and the interplay over 
time between the harbor and the city's health and economy.
    Fort Jay would house harbor research, offices and temporary lodging 
for NPS sponsored fellowship and residency programs; and be the setting 
for harbor related seminars and workshops.
    Castle Williams would be the island's main exhibit and interpretive 
center, showcasing multimedia programs and interactive exhibits that 
explore local, national, and global topics associated with Governors 
Island and New York Harbor.
    The selected alternative would seek to accomplish the following 
broad goals:
    <bullet> Preserve the National Monument's historic resources for 
the enjoyment of present and future generations. Management would make 
historic preservation of Fort Jay and Castle Williams its highest 
priority.
    <bullet> Offer visitors multiple and varied opportunities to 
explore and understand the National Monument. Public access to the 
National Monument would be convenient and affordable. Dock 102 would 
have a new contact station which would serve as an information and 
orientation center; Building 140 would continue to be another welcoming 
center with a bookstore.
    <bullet> Operate the National Monument as part of the larger 
island. The NPS would cooperate with organizations, including 
Governor's Island Education and Preservation Corporation (GIPEC), to 
make Governors Island an educational and civic resource of special 
historic character, and a recreational and open-space resource for the 
people of New York and the United States.
    The combination of preservation and programming activities would 
make the National Monument a major New York City and Harbor attraction, 
drawing local visitors back repeatedly and drawing national and 
international audiences.
    The planning team has completed the evaluation and found that an 
adjustment to include the remainder of the glacis (approximately 10 
acres) would meet the official criteria and would be justifiable under 
certain circumstances.
    In addition to the selected alternative, three other alternatives, 
including a no-action alternative, were presented and analyzed in the 
Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. To help guide and 
structure the formulation and analysis of the alternatives, a set of 
criteria and goals were established by the planning team; each 
alternative had to meet these goals in its own way:

Resource Preservation Goals

    <bullet> The uses of Fort Jay, Castle Williams, and other resources 
managed by the NPS are compatible with the purpose and significance of 
the National Monument.
    <bullet> The island's other important resources and values that 
provide the context and add to the significance to the National 
Monument, including archeological resources, historic structures, and 
cultural landscapes, are preserved.

Visitor Experience Goals

    <bullet> Visitors are well oriented, comfortable and safe 
throughout their trip, including time at off-island departure points, 
on ferries, and while visiting the National Monument.
    <bullet> A variety of communications tools convey necessary 
information to visitors before, during, and after their visit, about 
the National Monument's resources and programs, and opportunities to 
enjoy other NPS sites in the New York region.
    <bullet> Visitors understand the history of the island and the 
people who lived and worked there, and appreciate the island's place in 
the history of New York Harbor and the nation.
    <bullet> Regular feedback from visitors enables National Monument 
staff to improve and enhance public programming and services.
    <bullet> Facilities and services within the National Monument and 
on the greater island meet visitors' basic needs and enrich the overall 
experience, drawing visitors back to the island.

Transportation Goals

    <bullet> Access to the National Monument is convenient, reliable, 
and available to visitors at a reasonable cost. Access is coordinated 
with the extensive public transportation network of the New York 
metropolitan area.
    <bullet> Ferries and on-island transportation systems employ 
sustainable technologies and are accessible to all National Monument 
visitors, staff, and contractors. When feasible, on-island 
transportation systems are shared and coordinated with other island 
organizations.

Park Administration Goals

    <bullet> Administrative, interpretive, maintenance, and other 
staff, as well as facilities and other infrastructure, sustain the 
programs and operations of the National Monument and accomplish the NPS 
mission.
    <bullet> National Monument staff enjoy healthy and safe working 
conditions.

Collaboration and Partnership Goal

    <bullet> Formal partnerships and informal associations with other 
agencies and organizations assist with the preservation and public 
enjoyment of the National Monument. These partnerships and other 
collaborative projects support the NPS and National Monument missions.
    After careful consideration and review of the purpose and 
significance of Governors Island National Monument and its establishing 
Presidential Proclamations, other laws and policies including the 
Organic Act, National

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Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act and the 
2006 NPS Management Policies, and input received from the public during 
the planning process, Alternative D was chosen by NPS as the 
alternative to be implemented. Compared to all the alternatives 
considered, the selected alternative best fulfills the mandates of the 
Presidential Proclamations, the purpose and significance, and the other 
laws and policies guiding the NPS and the Monument. By partnering with 
others to help protect, interpret and educate visitors about the 
Monument, the island and New York Harbor, the Monument's long-term 
future, viability and relevance is assured.
    The selected alternative best protects park resources while also 
providing high-quality visitor experiences including effective 
educational and interpretive programs focused on Governors Island 
National Monument's purpose, significance and goals. Implementation of 
the selected alternative will not result in the impairment of park 
resources and values. Provisions in the selected alternative are 
incorporated to protect and enhance the park's cultural and natural 
resources, and provide for high-quality visitor experiences. Negative 
impacts are minor or moderate in intensity. Overall, the selected 
alternative will have beneficial effects on cultural and natural 
resources, the visitor experience and park operations.
    The Record of Decision 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 list of measures to 
minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in 
the decision-making process. This decision is the result of a public 
planning process that began in 2003. Between 2003 and 2007, prior to 
the release of the Draft GMP/EIS, NPS staff met with and briefed 
representatives from numerous agencies and organizations about the GMP 
and NPS's future plans on Governors Island. Additional public 
involvement activities followed the release of the Draft GMP/EIS and a 
detailed analysis of public comment with NPS responses was provided in 
the Final GMP/EIS. The official responsible for this decision is the 
NPS Regional Director, Northeast Region.

    Dated: June 11, 2009.
Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-17376 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
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