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Proposed Land Exchange Between Fort Frederica National Monument and Christ Church of Saint Simons Island

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Proposed Land Exchange Between Fort Frederica National Monument and Christ Church of Saint Simons Island General Management Plan Amendment/ Environmental Assessment Proposed Land Exchange between Fort Frederica National Monument and Christ Church of Saint Simons Island Glynn County, Georgia United States Department of the Interior National Park Service August 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Proposed Land Exchange for Fort Frederica National Monument General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment Fort Frederica National Monument Glynn County, Georgia SUMMARY The proposed action is to exchange approximately 6 acres of land that is currently part of Fort Frederica National Monument for approximately 8.7 acres of land to be acquired by Christ Church of Saint Simons Island. The parcel being received from the church would be added to the park boundary and managed by the National Park Service. The church would construct and operate several new facilities on the 6-acre site being received from the National Park Service. These could include a new church building, classrooms, a courtyard, a passenger drop-off area, and parking for approximately 225 vehicles. The proposed land exchange would constitute an amendment to the existing General Management Plan (NPS, 2002a). The purpose of the amendment is to select and recommend implementation of a preferred Alternative action for managing the new park land. Two action alternatives are proposed. Alternative F would include very limited development of new facilities within the 8.7 parcel to be received by the National Park Service. Alternative G (the preferred Alternative) would involve creation of a Visitor Services Zone within the 8.7-acre parcel of land to be received by the National Park Service, with the ability to provide new but limited hardened facilities. Alternative G would provide a greater amount and variety of interpretive and other facilities for visitors as compared with Alternative F. Both action alternatives would meet all of the requirements of National Park Service laws, policies and mandates. PUBLIC COMMENT If you wish to comment on the environmental assessment, you may mail comments to the name and address below. This environmental assessment will be on public review for 30 days. Please note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations, from businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses available for public inspection in their entirety. Please address written comments to: Fort Frederica National Monument Attn: Kim Coons Fort Frederica Land Exchange Comments 6515 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................................2 PURPOSE AND NEED.............................................................................................................................. 9 Purpose of the General Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Assessment.................. 9 Background ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Project Site Description .........................................................................................................................13 Need for the General Management Plan Amendment..................................................................... 14 Purpose and Significance of the Park.................................................................................................. 14 Park Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Park Significance.................................................................................................................................... 14 Park Mission and Mission Goals ..........................................................................................................15 Mission Statement .............................................................................................................................15 Mission Goals.....................................................................................................................................15 Objectives of the Proposed Land Exchange...................................................................................15 Project Background, Previous Planning ............................................................................................. 16 Project Background and Scope ....................................................................................................... 16 Relationship to Other Planning Projects ....................................................................................... 16 Public Scoping ................................................................................................................................... 16 Issues and Impact Topics...................................................................................................................... 17 Issues................................................................................................................................................... 17 Derivation Of Impact Topics........................................................................................................... 17 Impact Topics Included in This Document .................................................................................. 17 Impact Topics Dismissed From Further Analysis ........................................................................ 18 Impact Topics Included in This Document .................................................................................. 19 Impact Topics Dismissed From Further Analysis ........................................................................ 21 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................24 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................24 Alternative E - No Action Alternative.................................................................................................24 Action Alternatives ................................................................................................................................24 Historic Preservation Zone .............................................................................................................28 Visitor Service Zone ........................................................................................................................ 29 Natural Resource Based Passive Recreation Zone...................................................................... 29 Description of The Action Alternatives .........................................................................................30 The Preferred Alternative (Alternative G) ..........................................................................................31 Mitigation Measures For The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................31 Practices to Minimize Effects on Cultural Resources..................................................................32 Practices to Minimize Effects on Soils ...........................................................................................32 Practices to Minimize Effects on Vegetation –Native Plant Communities...............................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Wildlife .....................................................................................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Wetlands...................................................................................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Special Status Species..............................................................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Socioeconomics.......................................................................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Visitor Use and Experience ...................................................33 Practices to Minimize Effects on Transportation, Local and Regional.....................................34 Practices to Minimize Effects on Soundscape and Noise ...........................................................34 Practices to Minimize Effects on Park Operations.......................................................................34 Alternatives Considered but not Further Assessed...........................................................................34 Environmentally Preferred Alternative ..............................................................................................34 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, EVALUATION METHODOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES....................................................................................................... 48 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 48 Affected Environment..................................................................................................................... 48 Methodology........................................................................................................................................
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