99-25966. Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact and General Management Plan, Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, Virginia

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25966]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact 
and General Management Plan, Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, 
Virginia

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service has prepared and made available for 
public review the General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment 
(GMP/EA) that document's the alternatives considered for managing 
Prince William Forest Park. Prince William Forest Park will undertake 
actions to improve visitor experiences and enhance general public use 
of park facilities while retaining and expanding existing facilities 
and current patterns of use.
    The Resources Management Plan has been developed to ensure long-
term protection of significant resources and land protection options 
would be initiated to protect the Quantico Creek watershed.
    The GMP/EA considered various alternatives to determine the best 
management strategy to ensure long-term preservation of its significant 
resources and to provide for the future needs of the visiting public. 
This plan is needed to address issues related to resource protection, 
visitor use and education, public awareness of the park's identity as 
part of the National Park system and park operations.
    The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) works toward a settlement of 
this land issue that will both fulfill the 1948 legislation at no cost 
to the Government and solve long-standing boundary and jurisdictional 
confusion. The MOU states that the National Park Service and U.S. 
Marine Corps will work together for legislation to divide the Special 
Use Permit (SUP) lands that were to go to Quantico in their entirety. 
The 1,700 acres that the park was intended to receive before 
transferring the lands would be carved out of the Chopawamsic lands 
themselves, from the land now under the SUP. The remaining acreage 
would be transferred to military jurisdiction, both requirements 
fulfilling the 1948 legislation. The two parties will establish a 
``green corridor'' along the federally owned portion of state Route 619 
to enhance its integrity as a scenic, two-lane, low speed roadway. 
Revisions will be made to the current Watershed Management Plan of 
Upper Quantico Creek and serve as the model for format and substance of 
the plan to be established for the Chopawamsic Creek Watershed 
Management Plan.
    The visitor use strategy under the Resources Management Plan would 
reduce or eliminate impacts on the natural environment through more 
effective visitor dispersal and increased visitor awareness. 
Rehabilitation and maintenance of park dams will preserve the park's 
primary wetland habitat. Management options and temporary modifications 
at Cabin Camp 3 will be explored.
    After reviewing the comments on the GMP/EA for Prince William 
Forest Park, the National Park Service has adopted the preferred 
alternative, Alternative A, adoption of the Resources Management Plan. 
The implementation of the preferred alternative, as described, would 
not constitute major Federal action that would have significant impact 
on the quality of the human environment within the meaning of Section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy act of 1969. 
Accordingly, the preparation of an environmental impact statement will 
not be required.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests for copies of the GMP/EA, or for 
any additional information, should be directed to: Robert Hickman, 
Superintendent, Prince William Forest Park, 18100 Park Headquarters, 
Triangle, Virginia 22172; or by calling [phone].

    Dated: September 30, 1999.
Terry R. Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 99-25966 Filed 10-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M