[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14212]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Environmental Assessment for Implementation of White House
Security Review Vehicular Traffic Restriction Recommendations
AGENCY: Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing this notice to
inform the public of the availability of the Environmental Assessment
for Implementation of White House Security Review Vehicular Traffic
Restriction Recommendations. The Environmental Assessment (EA) has been
prepared to address the environmental impacts of the restriction of
vehicular access to certain streets in the vicinity of the White House.
This EA was prepared following the security action pursuant to the
emergency provision (40 CFR 1506.11) of the Council on Environmental
Quality's National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations.
DATES: Comments must be postmarked no later than July 2, 1997. Comments
should be sent to the address given under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the EA or for further
information contact Mr. Bill McGovern, Environment and Energy Programs
Officer, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room
6140 Treasury Annex, Washington, DC 20220; telephone (202) 622-0043;
fax (202) 622-1468. The EA is also available on the Department of the
Treasury's home page at http://www.treas.gov. Additionally, copies of
the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; public
interest groups; interested individuals; and District of Columbia
public libraries.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 19, 1995 the Secretary of the
Treasury ordered the Director of the United States Secret Service to
restrict vehicular traffic on streets surrounding the White House. The
Director implemented the action on May 20, 1995. The action was taken
to provide necessary and appropriate protection for the President of
the United States, the first family, and those working in or visiting
the White House complex.
This action was one of several recommendations resulting from the
``White House Security Review'' (the Review). The Review was ordered by
then-Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen after a small plane
crashed on the South Lawn of the White House. The Review was expanded
after a shooting incident outside the White House in October of 1994.
In addition to these two incidents, the review had a broad mandate;
indeed the Secretary directed the Review to examine ``the dangers posed
to the White House complex and protectees therein, by air or ground
assaults.'' The final report of the Review is classified; however a
``Public Report of the White House Security Review'' was made public in
May 1995. The Review's recommendation states that it was ``not able to
identify any alternative to prohibiting vehicular traffic on
Pennsylvania Avenue that would ensure the protection of the President
and others in the White House Complex from explosive devices carried in
vehicles near the perimeter.''
The goal of the EA was to analyze the environmental impacts
associated with the security action. Primary focus areas of this EA
include the effects of changes in traffic patterns on transportation,
air quality, noise, vibration, and impacts to historic places.
Available pre-action data was collected from local agencies and
Federal agencies and supplemented by traffic counts and travel time
analysis conducted for the EA. With the exception of traffic counts for
certain intersections, the available pre-action data was not directly
comparable to the post action measurements and did not allow for
accurate comparison of before and after action conditions. The analysis
in the EA describes the conditions after the action and several traffic
modifications which the District of Columbia's Department of Public
Works (DCDPW) implemented to alleviate congestion.
A number of recommendations are discussed which could further
improve traffic conditions in the area around the White House. These
recommendations are presented in the EA; however, they are meant for
consideration by the relevant District of Columbia offices which have
the legal authority to implement them.
George Munoz,
Assistant Secretary (Management) and Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-14212 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P