[Federal Register: November 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 66480-66481]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no03-101]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Low Country Gullah Culture Special Resource Study.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332; 40 CFR 1503.1) the National Park
Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Low Country Gullah Culture Special Resource
Study. The document describes ways that the National Park Service can
assist in preserving Gullah culture (more commonly known as Geechee in
Georgia and Florida) by outlining four management alternatives for
consideration by Congress, including a no-action alternative. The DEIS
analyzes the environmental impacts of those alternatives considered for
the future protection, interpretation, and management of Gullah
cultural resources. The study area stretches along the southeastern
United States coast roughly from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina
to the St. John's River in Florida and approximately 30 miles inland.
DATES: There will be a 60-day comment period beginning with the
Environmental Protection Agency's publication of its notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available by contacting Cynthia
Porcher, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 1214 Middle Street,
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, 29482. An electronic copy of the
DEIS is available on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/sero/ggsrs/gg_res.htm
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service held community and
stakeholder meetings to gather advice and feedback on desired outcomes
of the study. The meetings assisted the National Park Service in
developing alternatives for managing associated cultural and natural
resources and creating interpretive and educational programs. The
alternatives were presented at community forums in October and November
2002. Responses from the meetings were incorporated into the four
alternatives described in the study. Under Alternative A, three coastal
centers would be established through partnerships with government
agencies and nonprofit organizations. The centers would be dispersed
along the southeastern U.S. coast where host and neighboring
communities could provide support. The centers would interpret the
history and evolving culture of the Gullah people from colonial times
to the 21st Century and would provide learning opportunities for the
casual visitor as well as residents of communities. Under Alternative
B, existing national park units would collaborate with state and local
park sites located in the project area to administer multi-partner
interpretive and educational programs. Cooperative agreements among
agencies would identify and delegate administrative, operational, and
program functions for each partner. Under Alternative C, a National
Heritage Area would be established to connect and associate Gullah
resources. The National Park Service would provide startup and related
administrative assistance for the heritage area. Overall management of
the heritage partnership would eventually be administered by one or
more local entities that would guide and oversee the goals and
objectives of the heritage area. Under Alternative D, Alternatives A
and C would be combined into a single alternative.
It is the practice of the National Park Service to make comments,
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public
review during regular business hours. Anonymous comments will not be
considered. We will make all submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety. However, individual
respondents may request that we withhold their names and addresses from
the public record, and we will honor such requests to the extent
allowed by law. If you wish to withhold your name and/or address, you
must state that request prominently at the beginning of your comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Porcher, (803) 881-5516 or
John Barrett, 404-562-3124, extension 637.
[[Page 66481]]
The responsible official for this draft Environmental Impact
Statement is Patricia A. Hooks, Acting Regional Director, Southeast
Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924 Building,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: October 22, 2003.
Wally Hibbard,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 03-29501 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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