Final Environmental Impact Statement, General Management Plan, Development Concept Plan, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, CO

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement, General Management Plan,

Development Concept Plan, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, CO

Agency: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Action: Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement/General

Management Plan/Development Concept Plan for Bent's Old Fort National

Historic Site.

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Summary: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the

availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/General

Management Plan/Development Concept Plan (FEIS/GMP/DCP) for Bent's Old

Fort National Historic Site, Colorado.

Dates: A 30-day no-action period will follow the Environmental

Protection Agency's notice of availability of the FEIS/GMP/DCP.

Addresses: Public reading copies of the FEIS/GMP will be available for

review at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site,

Telephone: 719-384-2596

Division of Planning, Design and Construction, Rocky Mountain Regional

Office, National Park Service, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO

80225, Telephone: (303) 969-2828

Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of

Interior, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240, Telephone:

(202) 208-6843

Supplementary Information: In December 1993, the National Park Service

released, for a 60-day public review, a Draft Environmental Impact

Statement/General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan (DEIS/GMP/

DCP) that evaluated three alternatives. The alternatives provided for

the preservation of historic and natural resources while providing for

visitor use. Under the no-action alternative, existing management

activities would continue. Alternative One would expand the scope of

the interpretive program, creating a self-service, self-interpretation

oriented visitor experience. It would maintain the historic character

of the site and improve overall operational and administrative working

environments, while limiting physical development of small additions of

space and renovation of existing spaces. The proposal would expand the

scope of the interpretive program, create an interactive interpretive

atmosphere through implementation of a visitor center, maintain the

historic character of the site, and improve overall operational and

administrative working environments by adding appropriate facilities.

The DEIS/GMP/DCP in particular evaluated the environmental

consequences of the proposed action and the other alternatives on

geology/soils, vegetation , prime and unique farmlands, wildlife,

threatened and endangered species, water resources/quality, floodplains

and wetlands, air quality, noise quality, cultural resources, visitor

use, and socioeconomic resources/surrounding land uses. The

environmental consequences of the proposed action and alternatives

considered are fully disclosed in the DEIS/GMP/DCP. The Final

Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan/Development

Concept Plan states that the proposal, as described in the DEIS/GMP/DCP

is the final plan. Also included are the results of the public

involvement and consultation and coordination for this project.

For Further Information: Contact Superintendent, Bent's Old Fort

National Historic Site, at the above address and telephone number.

Dated: May 31, 1994.

W. Wayne Gardner,

Chief, Branch of Planning, Rocky Mountain Region, National Park

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-17045 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]

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