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NATIONAL COALITION TO SAVE OUR MALL
113 N. Washington St., #479 Rockville, MD 20850
www.savethemall.org (301) 340-3938
July 25, 2002
John G. Parsons
National Capital Region
National Park Service
VIA FAX 202-401-0017
Dear John:
We are alarmed that on July 22 the National Park Service issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Washington Monument project. The Environmental Assessment for the project is inadequate and has been sharply criticized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, the National Coalition to Save Our Mall, and other organizations and individuals. These public comments need to be addressed and answered as part of the NEPA process. However, the FONSI fails to seriously address these concerns and therefore is premature.
With respect to the additional alternatives attached to the FONSI, please remember that the environmental procedures call for treating alternatives examined in a comparative and equal fashion with the preferred alternative. This is called for 40CFR Sec. 1502.14.
We urge the NPS to rescind the FONSI until it has submitted in writing responses to the public comments. In addition, we believe that because the Washington Monument is a preeminent cultural resource and the project is highly controversial, the NPS should schedule a special public hearing to take testimony on the EA. Only after that should NPS seek approval at NCPC of the “preliminary site and building plans”.
Is the Cultural Landscape Report completed? As you know, that report is needed before any informed determination can be made about significant or not significant impacts.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Judy Scott Feldman
Chairman
cc. John Fowler, ACHP
Fran Mainella, NPS
John V. Cogbill III, NCPC
Harry Robinson, CFA
Richard Moe/ Betsy Merritt National Trust
Ann Hargrove, Committee of 100
Dorothy Miller, ANC2A-05
other concurring parties
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The Washington Monument
• April, 2004, Latest Plans
• March 17, 2004, Illegal Contract Sullies National Icon
• Feb. 19, 2004, Judge Collyer decision on Guard Rails
• Nov. 12, 2003, Coalition Calls for Halt to Guard Rails
• Timeline
• 2003, Questions about NPS's Plans
• NCPC Advances Plans for Washington Monument Guard Rails
• "No significant impact" from tunnels, walls -- NCPC
• CFA Tables NPS Plans for Monument
• National Parks Conservation Association Letter to CFA
• Sept. 16, 2002 Letter to Commission of Fine Arts
• Full Text of FONSI Finding (pdf file)
• NCPC Schedules Special Meeting August 15, 2002
• July 27, 2002, NCPC Letter to Coalition re: FONSI
• July 25, 2002, Coalition Responds to NPS Finding of No Significant Impact
• July 25, 2002, Coalition Letter to NCPC re Environmental Assessment
• May 21, 2002, Park Service Extends Comment Deadline
• May 5, 2002, "Set record straight," coalition asks NCPC
• May 22, 2002, NCPC Chairman Responds
• May 1, 2002, Park Service Reaffirms Tunnel Decision
• Feb. 28, 2002, Preservation Board Approves Tunnel Scheme
• Text of Environmental Assessment
Public Responds to the Environmental Assessment
• National Coalition to Save Our Mall
• National Parks Conservation Association
• The Committee of 100
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
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