Draft Alternative Design Scenarios; Air Force Memorial

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Draft Alternative Design Scenarios; Air Force Memorial

ACTION: Announcement of a public open house to present draft

alternative design scenarios for the development of the 25 acres of

park land containing the site of the proposed United States Air Force

memorial within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway

in further compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and

National Park Service policy, the National Park Service (NPS) announces

the presentation for public review, draft alternative design scenarios

for the further development of the 25 acres of park land within the

George Washington Parkway, in Arlington, Virginia, on North Meade

Street, which contains the site of the proposed United States Air Force

Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon. Public

comment on the draft design scenarios is requested to assist the

National Park Service to identify and analyze such environmental issues

as traffic, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, parking, access from

the Rosslyn Metro station, landscaping, and protection of the vistas of

and between the existing memorials. This is to ensure that the erection

of the proposed Air Force Memorial will not detract from the other

memorials, diminish other park resources, or intrude on the community.

A public open house to review and comment upon the draft

alternative design scenarios will be held December 17, 1997 in the

auditorium of the Arlington County Central Library, 1015 North Quincy

Street, Arlington, Virginia between 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Officials

of the National Park Service and representatives of the Air Force

Memorial Foundation will be in attendance to describe the draft

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alternative design scenarios, answer questions and receive comments.

The Air Force Memorial Foundation was authorized to establish a

memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to

honor the men and women who have served in the United States Air Force

and its predecessors. The memorial was authorized on December 2, 1993

by enactment of Public Law 103-163 and is being developed pursuant to

the Commemorative Works Act, 40 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq. This site was

approved by the National Capital Memorial Commission on March 24, 1994,

the National Park Service on July 8, 1994, the Commission of Fine Arts

(CFA) on September 14, 1994, and the National Capital Planning

Commission (NCPC) on May 4, 1995.

While the design concept for the memorial was approved by the CFA

on February 15, 1996, and by the NCPC on March 7, 1996, the final

design must still be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, the CFA

and the NCPC. Compliance with Section 106 of the Historic Preservation

Act of 1966 was initiated on March 15, 1996, with a determination of no

adverse affect in which both Commonwealth of Virginia and the District

of Columbia State Historic Preservation Offices have concurred. The

next phase in planning is to produce a development concept plan.

For further information, please contact Mr. John G. Parsons,

Associate Superintendent, Stewardship and Partnerships, National

Capital Support Office at 202-619-7025. Written comments may be

addressed to Mr. Parsons at National Park Service, National Capital

Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242. Comments must be

received by January 23, 1998.

Approved: November 20, 1997.

Emmons O. Larson,

Acting Regional Director, National Capital Field Area.

[FR Doc. 97-31261 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M