[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12569-12570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5460]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Availability of final supplemental environmental impact
statement for determination of section 6(f)(3) replacement lands for
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park (CCLMP), St. Louis County, Missouri.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS), in compliance with Section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq. and 4332, as amended, and with Section 6(f)(3) of
Title 1 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (L&WCF), 16 U.S.C.
4601-(8)(f), as amended, announces the availability of a final
supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) evaluating and
selecting additional replacement land for land in CCLMP converted from
outdoor recreation use as a result of the Page Avenue Extension. It is
determined that a total of 207 acres will be impacted by the proposed
``Red Route'' of significant magnitude to adversely affect present park
activities and environment. CCLMP, a county park which has received
Federal financial assistance from the L&WCF program, must comply with
the requirements of Section 6(f)(3) of the L&WCF Act as it pertains to
maintaining outdoor recreation use of all Federally assisted park and
recreation areas. This FSEIS is a supplement to the final environmental
impact statement (FEIS) for Page Avenue (Route D) extension, St. Louis
and St. Charles Counties, Missouri, approved in a Record of Decision on
January 6, 1993, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The FHWA FEIS addressed construction of a 10-lane elevated
extension of Page Avenue across the southern tip of the park site
assuming all necessary coordination with other Federal agencies has
been satisfactorily accomplished. The NPS on December 11, 1992, adopted
the FEIS for use in the environmental evaluation requirements of
Section 6(f)(3) of the L&WCF Act.
The initial proposal of 264.78 acres, revised to 258.48 acres and
submitted by the State of Missouri to replace the converted 183.4
acres, revised to 207.0 acres, was determined by the NPS as not
offering ``reasonably equivalent usefulness'' to the extent necessary
to reflect appropriately the loss of this unique natural area.
Secretary Babbitt announced on May 18, 1993, in letters to Senators
Danforth and Bond, that he did not intend to use his authority under
section 6(f)(3) to block the construction of this highway project. He
further stated that ``* * *it is necessary to identify a significant
amount of additional lands to be included in the mitigation package.''
The FSEIS identifies eight potential alternative land proposals and
a ``no action'' alternative for consideration in meeting section
6(f)(3) requirements of the L&WCF Act. Four alternatives were evaluated
in detail; three others were eliminated after initial consideration;
and one proposed alternative, identified by the Howard Bend Levee
District [[Page 12570]] during the draft supplemental environmental
impact statement public review period, was evaluated in the FSEIS and
determined not to be a significant ``new and reasonable'' alternative
nor was it found to meet the necessary section 6(f)(3) replacement
requirements.
It is determined by the NPS and State of Missouri that Alternative
B (Little Creve Coeur Lake) as the preferred alternative, most closely
meets the requirements of significant ``additional land'' for
replacement of converted land at CCLMP. This alternative, 464.8 acres
declared eligible for section 6(f)(3) consideration, is located to the
west and south of Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park and consists primarily
of wetlands presently in agricultural use.
With the adoption of the above preferred alternative, added to the
initial replacement package submitted by the State of Missouri, the
total land replacement for land converted at CCLMP could amount to
723.28 acres at an estimated value of $3,379,820. The approximate 207
acres of CCLMP land being converted has been valued at $1,755,098.
Copies of the FSEIS may be obtained from the responsible official,
Mr. William Schenk, Regional Director (refer to address below).
Comments on the FSEIS must be received no later than March 26, 1995 and
may be responded to in the Record of Decision.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the FSEIS should be submitted to: Mr. William W.
Schenk, Regional Director, Midwest Region, National Park Service,
Omaha, Nebraska 68102, 402-221-3432.
Public reading copies of the FSEIS will be available for review at:
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240, (202) 343-6843.
Dated: February 10, 1995.
William W. Schenk,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 95-5460 Filed 3-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
