Grand Canyon National Park Seeks Public Comment On Environmental Assessment For Yavapai Observation Station Rehabilitation

GRAND CANYON , AZ - Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joseph F. Alston today announced the release of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Yavapai Observation Station Rehabilitation. The building, eligible as a National Historic Landmark, is located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The proposal includes both interior and exterior rehabilitation designed to preserve historic features and elements of the building while improving functionality, safety, and accessibility for users. Installation of new exhibits is also a primary component of the project. The proposal implements direction outlined in the 1995 Grand Canyon National Park General Management Plan for the building to function as an interpretive facility, focusing on geology and related themes. The facility is currently used primarily as a bookstore with only limited interpretive exhibits. The National Park Service (NPS) is soliciting comments from the public on the proposal.

The EA considers two alternatives, Alternative A; a no-action alternative and Alternative B; an action alternative. Alternative B, the agency preferred alternative, proposes to rehabilitate the building, bringing it up to current building codes and safety and accessibility standards. This would be achieved through interior and exterior repairs and rehabilitation actions including such things as replacement of roofing, reinforcing log vigas and beams in selected locations, repainting, repairing historic doors, restoration of the original scored concrete flooring, installation of a fire detection and sprinkler system, and upgrading the structural and electrical systems. Other key components of the rehabilitation include 1) installation of new exhibits focusing on the geology of Grand Canyon and 2) the eventual removal of the observation deck windows, to restore the original open-air terrace, and installation of a glass wall with an operable door between the exhibit hall and the observation terrace.

Copies of the EA can be obtained by writing to the Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023, Attn: Sara White, Environmental Compliance Officer, or on-line at www.nps.gov/grca/compliance/. Comments will be accepted for 30 days and should be sent to Sara White at the above address by July 21, 2003. For questions or additional information, please contact Debbie Lutch, project compliance lead, at 928-774-0095.