[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28231-28232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13830]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of the Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement for the Klondike Gold Rush National
Historical Park
AGENCIES: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft general management plan/
environmental impact statement for the Klondike Gold Rush National
Historical Park.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of the
draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. The draft General
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement describes a proposed
action for the three Alaska units and one Seattle unit of the park and
three alternatives (two in Seattle) to provide additional opportunities
for residents and visitors to enjoy the park units while protecting the
park's cultural and natural resources. A no action alternative also is
evaluated. This notice announces the dates and locations of public
meetings to solicit comments on the draft GMP/EIS.
DATES: Public comment on the draft GMP/EIS is from May 31 to July 31,
1996. Comments must be postmarked by July 31. Hearing dates, times, and
locations are listed under Supplementary Information, below.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS should be submitted to the
General Management Plan, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park,
2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, AK 99508-2892. Comments may also be
sent via electronic mail by July 31 to: KLGO/KLSE GMP Comments@nps.gov.
Copies of the draft GMP/EIS are available by request from the
aforementioned address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Mosby, National Park Service,
Alaska System Support Office. Telephone: (907) 257-2650 FAX: (907) 257-
2510.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended),
the National Park Service, has prepared a draft GMP/EIS that describes
a proposed action for the three Alaska units and one Seattle unit of
the park and three alternatives (two in Seattle) to provide additional
opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the park units while
protecting the park's cultural and natural resources. Public meetings
are scheduled on the dates and at the times and locations indicated
below.
June 18--Seattle, Park Office, 117 South Main Street, 7:00
p.m.
July 8--Skagway, Public Library, 8th & State Streets, 7:00
p.m.
July 9--Whitehorse, Public Library, 2071 2nd Avenue, 7:00
p.m.
The proposed action (alternative C) in Alaska includes development
concept plans for Dyea and the Chilkoot Trail and would expand park
management, development, resource (cultural and natural) protection,
and maintenance components to meet most, but not all, of the expected
visitor-use increases and interests in the park. A Klondike History
Research Center would be established, in cooperation with the city of
Skagway and State of Alaska, to process, study, conserve, and store
historical, ethnographic, and natural history artifacts. Part of the
center's function would be to provide interpretive and
[[Page 28232]]
educational programs, as well as the opportunity for interagency
training and academic research within Skagway. Specialized historic-
restoration skills would be made available to others on a cost-
reimbursable basis. Access to the Dyea area would be improved with a
rerouted, wider gravel road, and parking, picnic, interpretive, and
trail opportunities. Selected Dyea townsite streets would be cleared
and signed. Archaeological inventory, surveys, and mapping; marking the
historical segments; minor trail rerouting; and increased interpretive
programs would occur along the Chilkoot Trail. White Pass
archaeological inventory, surveying, mapping, and marking the historic
trail route would be completed; but no facilities are proposed in the
unit.
In Seattle, the proposed action would lead eventually to acquiring
a permanent location for the park visitor center, park offices, and
historic collections. In the interim, expanded lease space at the
present location would allow park offices to move to accessible space
on the third floor; and park collections would be moved to the
mezzanine level of the building. The interpretive focus would shift
with more emphasis toward the role of the Pacific Northwest in the gold
rush. Additional interpretive information (exhibits and walking tours)
would be developed within the Pioneer Square area. Interpretive
exhibits, in cooperation with the city of Seattle, would be added to
the waterfront area at Washington Street Landing. Contacts with the
Skagway office would be expanded with staff cross training. A Friends
of the Park group would be organized.
Under the No-Action Alternative (alternative A), the development of
a new general management plan would not take place. Management actions
would react to situations as needed. In Alaska, work toward a new
crossing of Nelson Slough and beach area access would continue, and the
existing park management and operations would continue. In Seattle, the
basic operation would continue unchanged.
Under alternative B (minimal alternative), some actions would take
place in the park units. In Alaska, the park boundary in Dyea would be
marked. Work toward a new crossing of Nelson Slough and beach area
access would continue. The existing road along Nelson Slough would be
graveled, but remain one lane. The campground, picnic area, and ranger
station would be moved to be within the park boundary and the historic
segments of the Chilkoot Trail would be marked. In Skagway interpretive
programs would be slightly increased, as would the visitor center
operation. Site bulletins would be developed for each restored
building. There would be an increased emphasis on maintaining the
restored historic buildings as that program is completed. In Seattle
about 2,800 ft \2\ of additional lease space would be acquired and
improvements would be made to storage capabilities and the mezzanine
area. Collections would be moved out of the basement and minor
improvements made to existing exhibits. Pioneer Square and Washington
Street Landing and other appropriate waterfront locations interpretive
exhibits would be developed and sited. A park friends group would be
established.
Under alternative D for Alaska, park management, development,
resource protection, and maintenance needs would expand to meet all of
the expected visitor use increases and interests in the park well into
the next century. To accommodate the additional visitor use, there
would be an increase in operational activities, maintenance,
interpretation, and resources management, while protecting park
resources from degradation. Park facilities would be upgraded with
improvements to the visitor and administrative facilities in Skagway
and the development of new facilities in Dyea and along the Chilkoot
Trail. The day-use education center proposed in Alternative C would be
expanded to provide for overnight use. This would provide visitors with
additional activity options for a better understanding of park themes.
Additional historic buildings would be acquired for restoration and
lease for commercial activities, or retention for administrative
purposes. Both an historical restoration center and a Klondike History
Research Center would be established in Skagway.
The park would work with the state of Alaska and city of Skagway to
provide better access for the Dyea and Chilkoot Trail areas. The park
would also initiate and maintain additional cooperation with the city
of Skagway, Parks Canada, and state and federal land management
agencies to assure compatible uses in areas adjacent to the park.
Maximum protection of cultural and natural resources would be provided.
Connections with the Brackett Wagon Road and Canadian trails would be
examined, as would additional trail opportunities along the Chilkoot
Trail.
No alternative D (Substantial Change) was developed for Seattle
unit.
This document is a collaborative effort between two vastly
separated National Park system support offices and two park locations
along with input from the city of Skagway, state of Alaska, and
international assistance from Parks Canada.
Dated: May 16, 1996.
Judith Gottlieb,
Field Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 96-13830 Filed 6-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
