[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 35523-35524] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-17191] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Availability of Draft General Management Plan/ Development Concept Plan/Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: National Park Service, Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Draft General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/DCP/EIS) describes three alternatives for cultural and natural resource management, visitor use, and interpretation, and related facility development in Stones River National Battlefield. Alternative 1 (the National Park Service's (NPS) proposed action) would improve interpretation and the ability of the visitor to experience a ``sense of place'' within the battlefield; and it would also preserve a larger area of the battlefield that has retained historic landscape integrity. This would be accomplished by protection of more resources through boundary expansion, new exhibits in the visitor center, establishment of a new automobile tour route within the expanded park boundary, and new interpretive wayside exhibits. Alternative 2 would improve interpretation and the visitor experience within the authorized boundary of the park. This would be accomplished by providing new exhibits in the visitor center, establishing a new automobile tour route within the park, and providing new wayside exhibits. Alternative 3 (continuation of existing conditions) would represent no significant change in interpretation and the way the park is being managed and no change in the authorized park boundary. Under all alternatives, there would be an emphasis on working with local agencies, groups, and landowners to preserve and protect lands that retain historic landscape integrity within the original battlefield, but outside the park boundary. Environmental impacts that [[Page 35524]] would result from implementation of the alternatives are addressed in the document. Impact topics include cultural and natural resources, interpretation and visitor use, socioeconomic environment, and NPS operations. DATES: The Draft GMP/DCP/EA will be available for review from June 11, 1997, until August 12, 1997. Written comments must be received by the Superintendent at the following address or postmarked no later than August 12, 1997. Public meetings will be held on the following dates and times: June 25, 1997 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Stones River National Battlefield Visitor Center June 26, 1997 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Chamber of Commerce, 501 Memorial Boulevard, Murfreesboro, Tennessee ADDRESSES: A limited number of copies are available from the Superintendent at the following address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129, Telephone (615) 893-5901. Dated: June 16, 1997. Jerry Belson, Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 97-17191 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-M