Final Environmental Impact Statement for Saint Croix Island International Historic Site General Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement for Saint Croix Island

International Historic Site General Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability for 30 days of Final Environmental Impact

Statement (FEIS) for general management plan at Saint Croix Island

International Historic Site located in Calais, Washington County,

Maine, U.S.A. The National Park Service will take no action concurrent

with the availability of the FEIS after which time a Record of Decision

will be prepared.

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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 the Final Environmental Impact Statement for actions

described in the final draft general management plan for Saint Croix

Island International Historic Site. The FEIS is bound with the final

draft general management plan and final draft plans for interpretation

and land protection that will be implemented when a Record of Decision

is finalized.

St. Croix Island is the 1604 site of the first French attempt to

colonize the territory called Acadia and the location of one of the

earliest European settlements in North America. Saint Croix Island

International Historic Site was authorized as a national monument in

1949, dedicated in 1968, and redesignated an international historic

site (IHS) in 1984. It is the only IHS in the National Park System. A

memorandum of understanding between Canada and the United States

recognizes the international significance of the site and commits both

nations to joint planning and commemoration.

Four alternatives for the future management of Saint Croix Island

IHS were presented and evaluated in the draft general management plan

and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. After considering public and

agency comment, the NPS modified the preferred alternative to pursue

cooperative development of a regional visitor center in downtown Calais

with local, state, and other federal agencies. The FEIS considers the

consequences of the actions recommended by the Saint Croix Island IHS

final draft general management plan on cultural resources; visitor use

and experience; natural resources; the socioeconomic environment; and

NPS operations and administration.

DATES: The FEIS is available for a period of 30 days, March 20, 1998,

through April 20, 1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMAITON: Public reading copies of the FEIS will be

available for review at the Department of Interior Natural Resources

Library, 1849 C. Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and at Acadia

National Park Headquarters, Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609.

For further information contact the Superintendent, Acadia National

Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609; voice at (207) 288-5472;

fax at (207) 288-5507; e-mail to [email protected].

Dated: March 9, 1998.

Paul F. Haertel,

Superintendent, Acadia National Park.

[FR Doc. 98-7107 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]

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