[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14965]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 20, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Part Service
Amendment to the General Management Plan, Environmental
Assessment for Power Line Relocation, Manassas National Battlefield
Park, VA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the environmental
assessment (EA) for relocating a 500 kilovolt (kV) power line on one
set of towers, and 230 kilovolt (kV) and 115 kilovolt (kV) power lines
on another set of towers, within Manassas National Battlefield Park.
DATES: The EA will be on review for 60 days. Comments should be
received no later than August 19, 1994. A public Open House was held on
March 23, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the EA should be submitted to the
Superintendent, Manassas National Battlefield Park, 12521 Lee Highway,
Manassas Virginia 22110, phone (703) 754-1861.
A copy of the document is available on request from: Kenneth E.
Apschnikat, Superintendent, Manassas Battlefield Park, 12521 Lee
Highway, Manassas, Virginia 22110, phone (703) 754-1861.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The focus of the environmental assessment
(EA) is for the orderly termination and relocation of the Virginia
Power transmission corridor, which runs through the Brawner farm and
Stuart's Hill tracts. These tracts are where the Second Battle of
Manassas erupted on August 28, 1862. Brawner farm and Stuart's Hill
were incorporated into the park through legislated boundary adjustments
in 1980 and 1988, respectively. These two areas on the western edge of
the park encompass 870 acres and are bordered on the south by
Interstate 66, on the west by Pageland Lane, and on the east by
Groveton Road. U.S. Route 29 runs between the tracts.
The Manassas National Battlefield Park Amendments Act of 1988 (the
Act), title X of P.L. 100-647 (16 U.S.C. 429b(b)) legislatively took
possession of Virginia Power's easements, powerlines, and towers on the
Stuart's Hill tract at the park. The National Park Service has sought
to define and analyze alternative alignments and has selected a
preferred alternative that relocates the facilities to the western most
edge of the park. Relocation would stand as the method and extent of
compensation required by the Act.
The EA analyzes three alternatives for moving the power lines. It
identifies the location and type of equipment needed and assesses the
impacts that power line relocation alternatives would have on the
environment. This EA presents the preferred alternative (alternative
B), which proposes relocating the existing power line right-of-way
within the park boundary, and a no-action alternative that implements
legislation to move the power lines completely outside the park
boundary (alternative C). This EA also includes an alternative that
analyses conditions under which the power lines might remain in their
present alignment (alternative A).
The preferred alternative would enhance interpretive experiences of
the second battle by relocating the power lines away from the historic
core of the Brawner farm and Stuart's Hill tracts to a corridor just
inside the western boundary of the park.
The responsible official for a decision on the preferred
alternative is Robert G. Stanton, Regional Director, National Capital
Region, National Park Service.
Terry R. Carlstrom,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 94-14965 Filed 6-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M
