[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 58440] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-28404] [[Page 58440]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Final Environmental Impact Statement/Fort Baker Plan Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, CA; Notice of Availability SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Fort Baker Plan (FEIS/ Plan), Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The FEIS/Plan details and analyzes proposed implementation of future building use, site improvements, visitor services, and cultural and natural resource management actions related to converting Fort Baker from a military installation to a unit of the National Park System. Alternatives and Proposed Action: Four alternatives were considered--a No Action Alternative, the 1980 General Management Plan Alternative, the Office and Cultural Center Alternative, and the Proposed Action. Each alternative is briefly described below. Under the No Action Alternative, the buildings along the historic parade ground area would be occupied as residences. Non-residential structures would be stabilized for preservation with no new use. There would be minimal changes to the waterfront to provide for visitor safety, and no there would be no expansion by existing tenant U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) or Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) uses. The marina would be closed, the slips and docks removed, and the boat shop would be stabilized for preservation with no new use. Minimal preservation treatment of natural and cultural resources would be carried out to meet legislative requirements and to complete currently under way restoration efforts. The 1980 General Management Plan Alternative would result in a 350- person conference center, artist-in-residence program and a hostel with no new construction. Non-historic buildings would be removed and replaced with a 700-car shuttle staging parking lot and NPS maintenance facility. The marina would be converted to a public facility with visitor services and short-term boat mooring. Urban landscape treatment would be applied to the waterfront area, and a ferry landing would be developed at the historic fishing pier. Roads and trails would be improved. The Office and Cultural Center Alternative would use the historic buildings for meeting, program, restaurant, performance and program space needs for private and non-profit groups. Non-historic residences would be retained and some removed to provide parking for the center. The marina would continue to provide long-term boat mooring and some public boat mooring and visitor services. Other treatments would be the same as the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action would create a retreat and conference center in a combination of historic buildings, non-historic buildings and new construction containing meeting space, dining facilities and overnight accommodations. The existing BADM and USCG tenants and their facilities would be retained and expanded under the Proposed Action. Public services and short-term boat moorings/slips would be provided in the historic boat shop and marina area; the maximum number of boats accommodated is set at 60. Recreational and interpretive trails and programs would be provided. The waterfront landscape would be improved, the beach restored, and natural and cultural resources of the site preserved and maintained. Approximately 40 acres of natural habitat would be restored, including habitat for the federally threatened mission blue butterfly. Background: Public scoping activities were conducted during July 16-23, 1997. In addition, Advisory Commission workshops and presentations were held September 2 and November 12, 1997. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released for a 60-day public review period on October 6, 1998 which ended on December 6, 1998. A public hearing was held during the review period to receive oral comments from the public on November 18, 1998. A total of 127 written letters, e-mails, and oral comments were received. Both the DEIS and the FEIS/Plan evaluate the same Proposed Action and alternatives. The FEIS/Plan is comprised of two volumes; Volume I: DEIS, as amended; and Volume II: Response to Comments. Changes made to the DEIS include typographical corrections or points of clarification, refinement of existing mitigation, and new mitigation. Traffic effects, environmental consequences associated with potential ferry service at Fort Baker, and projected demand for wastewater services were the primary areas of additional analysis. Based on a correction to the assumptions used (and mathematical errors occurring in) the DEIS, the maximum total square footage of net new construction is reduced to 85,000sf (from 119,891sf). All text changes made in response to a comment are clearly indicated in Volume II (with citation to relevant sections in Volume I). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests for information or copies of the FEIS/Plan should be directed to the Fort Baker Planning Team, Golden Gate National Recreation Area Headquarters, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, California, 94123; telephone (415) 561-3030 x2246. The FEIS/Plan will also be available for review at area libraries, and via the Internet at www.nps.gov/goga/. The no-action period for the FEIS/ Plan will extend for thirty (30) days after the Environmental Protection Agency's notification of the filing of the document is published in the Federal Register. Subsequently, the National Park Service will publish a notice of the Record of Decision in the Federal Register. The official responsible for the decision is the Regional director, pacific West Region; the official responsible for implementation is the superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Dated: October 22, 1999. Cynthia Ip, Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region. [FR Doc. 99-28404 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P