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RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL COALITION TO SAVE OUR MALL REGARDING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S PLANS FOR WASHINGTON MONUMENT SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

WHEREAS the National Park Service (NPS) and National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) have been parties to the Section 106 public consultation process for the Washington Monument Security Improvements since February 2002, along with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, the DC Preservation League, the National Coalition to Save Our Mall, and ANC 2A-05; and

WHEREAS there are unresolved questions about the design and the proposed plans for a tunnel, underground visitor center, and walls and walkways encircling the Monument; and

WHEREAS it is not possible to fully evaluate the design without crucial information to be contained in the yet incomplete Cultural Landscape Report and Historic Building Survey; and

WHEREAS on December 23, 2002, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation wrote to NPS stating that "an evaluation of the project's success in meeting this requirement [Secretary of the Interior's Standards] is seriously impeded at this time because no additional information has been made available for evaluating National Register issues as they relate to the project's design;" and

WHEREAS, despite that lack of critical information, on July 22, 2002, the NPS issued its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); and

WHEREAS, despite the lack of critical information, on December 16, 2002, the NCPC issued its FONSI based on the NPS's inadequate EA;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NPS and NCPC have acted prematurely and should rescind their respective FONSIs;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NPS should not request any further preliminary or final design review from NCPC or from the Commission of Fine Arts for the project until all necessary information has been provided and evaluated by all parties to the Section 106 process, in order for the Section 106 process to be completed;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NPS and NCPC should in concert with parties to the Section 106 process evaluate additional and more adequate reasonable alternatives to the controversial plans, including alternatives suggested by Concurring Parties to the Section 106 process.

Adopted by the Board of the Coalition on January 2, 2003.

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