Draft Environmental Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Draft Environmental Assessment

ACTION: Release of Draft Environmental Assessment for Navigational

Improvements for Washington Sailing Marina and Columbia Island Marina

for public review and announcement of a public meeting on November 21,

1997 at Patowmack Landing Restaurant at the Washington Sailing Marina

in Alexandria, Virginia.

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SUMMARY: Washington Sailing Marina (WSM), located on Dangerfield

Island, just opposite National Airport and Columbia Island Marina

(CIM), at the southern end of Lyndon Baines Johnson Grove and 3 miles

upstream from WSM are owned by the National Park Service (NPS) and

managed by Guest Services, Inc. The marinas provide for recreational

boating and access to the Federal navigational project in the Potomac

River. The WSM provides recreational sailing and the CIM provides

recreational power boating. The access channels serving to connect

these marinas with the Federal Navigational channel are inadequate and

unsafe for the types of boats currently using these marinas.

Through both studies, the benefits which may reasonably be expected

to accrue from the proposed project are being balanced against its

reasonable foreseeable detriments.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean

Water Act the NPS is soliciting comments from the public, state, and

local agencies and officials, and other interested parties. The public

review and comment period for the draft feasibility study and draft

environmental assessment will begin on November 21, 1997 and close on

December 21, 1997.

A public meeting will be held on November 21, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. at

Patowmack Landing Restaurant meeting room, located at the Washington

Sailing Marina, one mile south of National Airport, on George

Washington Memorial Parkway.

For further information please contact Superintendent, George

Washington Memorial Parkway at 703-285-2600. Requests for copies of the

draft plan or written comments may be addressed to Superintendent, at

George Washington Memorial Parkway, c/o Turkey Run Park, McLean,

Virginia 22101. Comments must be received by December 21, 1997, to be

addressed by the Final Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment.

Dated: November 3, 1997.

Audry F. Calhoun,

Superintendent, George Washington Memorial Parkway.

[FR Doc. 97-29774 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M