National Capital Region; Environmental Assessment of Proposed Land Exchange, George Washington Memorial Parkway, City of Alexandria and Arlington County, VA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

National Capital Region; Environmental Assessment of Proposed

Land Exchange, George Washington Memorial Parkway, City of Alexandria

and Arlington County, VA

ACTION: Notice of the availability of an environmental assessment (EA)

for proposed exchange of land interests between the National Park

Service, and Commonwealth Atlantic Properties, Inc., Commonwealth

Atlantic Land Company, and Commonwealth Atlantic Land V Inc.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council of Environmental Quality regulations

and National Park Service policy, the National Park Service has

completed an EA which evaluated the potential impacts of the proposed

exchange of land interests associated with two distinct properties

located in the City of Alexandria and in Arlington County, Virginia.

The EA examines the environmental and visual impacts of the land

exchange on the resources and scenic quality of the George Washington

Memorial Parkway. The National Park Service is soliciting comments on

this EA. These comments will be considered in evaluating it and in

making decisions pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: There will be a 30-day public review period for comment on this

document. Comments on the EA should be received no later than June 30,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Comment on the EA should be submitted to Mr. John G.

Parsons, Associate Regional Director, Lands, Resources, and Planning,

National Park Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW,

Washington, DC 20242. A limited number of copies of the EA are

available on request. A public reading copy of the EA will be available

at the National Capital Region Headquarters Building, 1100 Ohio Drive,

SW, First Floor Lobby, Washington, DC 20242, and at the National Park

Service Planning web page at nps.gov/gwmp/landexchange.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John G. Parsons, Associate

Regional Director, Lands, Resources, and Planning, National Park

Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC

20242, Telephone: (202) 619-7025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By virtue of an Indenture land agreement

dated February 12, 1938, the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac

Railroad Company (RF&P), predecessor in title to Commonwealth, conveyed

to the United States certain land use restrictions over 29.1 acres of

land in Arlington County, Virginia, currently owned by Commonwealth and

hereinafter referenced as ``the Indenture Land.''

Commonwealth also owns 38.55 acres of land in the City of

Alexandria, Virginia, hereinafter referenced as ``Potomac Greens.'' By

virtue of a Deed of Easement dated August 13, 1984, and in accordance

with the terms of a previous exchange agreement between the United

States and RF&P, the United States conveyed to RF&P a perpetual

easement on and across a portion of lands of the George Washington

Memorial Parkway for access, including ingress and egress from the

northbound and southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial

Parkway to and from Potomac Greens in return for RF&P's obligation to

construct at no cost to the United States a center-piered bridge and

all associated ramps and connections necessary for ingress and egress

to and from Potomac Greens to the George Washington Memorial Parkway

and other valuable consideration.

Commonwealth is desirous of the United States relinquishing its

restrictions on the Indenture Land in order to allow Commonwealth to

implement a proposed plan for the mixed use development of the property

in exchange for certain restrictions to be conveyed by Commonwealth to

the United States relative to building heights and setbacks.

Commonwealth has also proposed implementing a plan for the residential

development of Potomac Greens, including minimal support retail.

The National Park Service is desirous of acquiring Commonwealth's

access rights to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and in return

is willing to partially relinquish the United States' interests in

restricting the use of the Indenture Land.

The National Park Service published a notice in the Federal

Register on December 9, 1998 (63 FR 67916), inviting public comment on

proposed land exchange. A public meeting was held on December 10, 1998,

and as a result received six comments on the proposed exchange.

Dated: June 1, 1999.

Terry R. Carlstrom,

Regional Director, National Capital Region.

[FR Doc. 99-14439 Filed 6-7-99; 8:45 am]

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