[Federal Register: February 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 32)]
[Notices]               
[Page 8110-8111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18fe99-75]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

 
Notice of Proposed Relocation of Jeanne d'Arc Statue, Place de 
France, New Orleans, Louisiana; Comments Requested

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; comment request.

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SUMMARY: Public comment is sought on a request from the City of New 
Orleans, Louisiana to relocate the Place de France, a statue of Jeanne 
d'Arc and two bronze cannons, currently located in the median between 
the International Trade Mart Building and the former Rivergate, to a 
new location in the Vieux Carre (the French Quarter), a National 
Historic Landmark District.

Background

    In 1971, the City of New Orleans, Louisiana (the ``City'') applied 
for a grant pursuant to the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, 
Public Law 91-609 (the ``Act'') to develop a park currently known as 
the Joan of Arc Plaza. The Plaza contains a gilded bronze statue of 
Jeanne d'Arc and two bronze cannons manufactured during the Napoleonic 
Empire donated to the City by the French Government.
    As a result of construction adjacent to the Joan of Arc Plaza, the 
City, by letter dated October 29, 1998 from Mayor Marc H. Morial, has 
requested the Secretary to approve relocation of the Plaza, the statue 
and the cannons from the current location to the Decatur Street/North 
Peters Street Triangle in the Vieux Carre (the French Quarter), a 
National Historic Landmark District. This location was identified by 
the staff of the City Planning Commission in consultation with the 
staff of the City's Arts Council.
    Section 705 of the Act provides that ``[n]o open-space land 
involving historic or architectural purposes for which assistance has 
been granted under this title shall be converted to use for any other 
purpose without the prior approval of the Secretary of the Interior.'' 
In Louisiana Landmarks Society, Inc. v. City of New Orleans, No.94-3880 
(E.D. La. 1995), the court provided no standards by which to evaluate 
the historic purposes of the Place de France. The court, however, found 
that the term ``historic'' is not limited to property listed on, or 
eligible for listing on, the National Register pursuant to the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C. 470. The Department of the 
Interior is accepting comments, pursuant to section 705 of the Act and 
this Notice, on whether the Secretary should approve relocation of the 
Place de France, together with the Jeanne d'Arc statue and two bronze 
cannons.
    The Department is also accepting comments on the effect of locating 
the Place de France, together with the Jeanne d'Arc statue and two 
bronze cannons, to the designated site in the Vieux Carre (the French 
Quarter), a National Historic Landmark District. In selecting this 
site, the City took into consideration the following seven factors: (1) 
urban prominence; (2) scale/urban context; (3) visibility as a 
deterrent to potential vandalism; (4) pedestrian and vehicular safety; 
(5) suitability for designated functions; (6) stated wishes of 
identified interest groups; and (7) favorable comparison to the 
previous installation. The City further advises that in selecting this 
site, it has consulted with the French community in the City, with 
Consul General Mme. Lenoir-Bertrand and with Ambassador Francois Bujon 
de L'Estang.

DATES: The Department of the Interior will accept comments on these two 
actions through March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Ms. Juliette 
Falkner, Director, Office of Executive Secretariat,

[[Page 8111]]

Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 7229, 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Geraldine Smith, Superintendent, 
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal Street, 
Suite 2400, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-1142, (504) 589-3882 (not a 
toll free number).
Brooks B. Yeagen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Management and Budget,
Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-4027 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P