Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Air Force Memorial Preliminary Design and Park Improvements, Arlington, VA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Air Force Memorial

Preliminary Design and Park Improvements, Arlington, VA

ACTION: Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the proposed

Air Force Memorial preliminary design and park improvements, Arlington,

Virginia.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations and

National Park Service policy, the National Park Service announces the

availability of an Environmental Assessment for the proposed Air Force

Memorial (Memorial) preliminary design and park improvements, in

Arlington, Virginia. The Environmental Assessment examines the

Memorial's preliminary design and the associated improvements to 25

acres of parkland in an area which contains the Iwo Jima Memorial and

the Netherlands Carillon, known as Arlington Ridge Park within the

George Washington Memorial Parkway. The National Park Service is

soliciting comments on this Environmental Assessment. These comments

will be considered in evaluating it and in making decisions pursuant to

the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The Environmental Assessment will remain available for public

comment through March 22, 1999. Written comments should be received no

later than March 22, 1999. Additionally, the National Park Service will

hold a public meeting to discuss the Environmental Assessment on

February 17, 1999, at which the public will be provided an opportunity

to speak. The meeting will be held in the Arlington County Central

Library auditorium, 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia, from

7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Following presentations by Federal, State, and

local agencies, individuals and representatives of community and civic

organizations will be able to present their comments in the order in

which their requests to speak are received. Commenters may either sign

up at the meeting or register in advance by calling Ms. Nancy Young at

(202) 619-7097. Individuals will be allowed 3 minutes to present their

comments; representatives of community and civic groups will be allowed

5 minutes. Presentation refers solely to oral comments; video and other

multimedia materials will not be permitted. At the time commenters are

recognized to speak, they are requested to provide three copies of

their comments in writing, if possible.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Environmental Assessment should be submitted

to: Mr. John G. Parsons, Associate for Lands, Resources, and Planning,

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

Room 220, Washington, DC, 20242. A limited number of copies of the

Environmental Assessment are available on request. Public reading

copies of the Environmental Assessment will be available at the

following locations: National Capital Region, National Park Service,

1100 Ohio Drive, SW, First Floor Lobby, Washington, DC 20242; and the

Air Force Memorial Foundation, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia

22209-1198.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 2, 1993, the Air Force Memorial

Foundation was authorized by Federal law 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 U.S. Air Force and its predecessor

organizations. It is being established pursuant to the Commemorative

Works Act, 40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.

This Environmental Assessment examines the Memorial's preliminary

design and the associated improvements to 25 acres of parkland. It

contains alternatives including a Preferred Alternative and a No Action

Alternative. Possible mitigation measures are also described. This

Environmental Assessment considers visitor use, vehicular and

pedestrian circulation, and existing periodic uses of the park.

Potential impacts assessed include those to the park's cultural

resources: Iwo Jima Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon and related

activities conducted at these locations. National Park Service

requirements for this site during memorial construction and operation

are also considered.

A public meeting was held December 17, 1997, and public comment was

requested on draft design scenarios for this memorial (62 FR 63382) to

assist the National Park Service in identifying issues to be analyzed

in this Environmental Assessment. Additional subjects considered in

this Environmental Assessment were generated by the National Capital

Memorial Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National

Capital Planning Commission in their deliberations on this memorial and

during the site selection process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Nancy Young, (202) 619-

7097.

Dated: January 27, 1999.

Joseph M. Lawler,

Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.

[FR Doc. 99-2373 Filed 2-1-99; 8:45 am]

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