National Park Service and Francis Marion Memorial Project Seek Public Comment on Location of New Memorial

Date: October 31, 2014
Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7174

National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20242

202-619-7400 phone
www.nps.gov

National Park ServiceNews Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2014 
Media Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7174

National Park Service and Francis Marion Memorial Project Seek Public Comment on Location of New Memorial

WASHINGTON— The National Park Service (NPS) and the Francis Marion Memorial Project (FMMP) are conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of establishing a permanent memorial honoring Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. The first phase of of public scoping focuses on site selection, and the NPS and FMMP are accepting public comments throughDecember 10, 2014on possible locations for the Congressionally authorized memorial.

The NPS and FMMP hosted a productive open house on Tuesday, October 28 where members of public participated in robust dialogue with project staff on possible locations and potential associated impacts. A second public meeting will take place in early December.

The FMMP, in coordination with the NPS, has identified Marion Park and other federal parcels along South Carolina Avenue SE as possible locations for the memorial. Marion Park is bound by 4th, 6th and E Streets SE. Marion Park is managed by the NPS. Other parcels along South Carolina Avenue SE are owned by the U.S. Government, but are under the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia.

Public Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Southeast Library at 403 7th Street SE

How to Comment
The preferred manner for providing comments is online via the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website, used by the agency to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process. From the project websitehttps://parkplanning.nps.gov/marionmemorial, select “Open for Comment” from the menu on the left side of the page.

Comments may also be submitted in writing, by mail or fax to:
Glenn DeMarr
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
ATTN: Marion Memorial
Fax: [phone]

Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked byDecember 10, 2014to receive consideration.

Please be aware that the entire comment– including personal identifying information such as name, address, phone number and e-mail address – may be made public. Requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.

Additional opportunities to comment on the memorial’s design will be available during a separate scoping period in late winter or spring 2015. The NPS and the FMMP are preparing the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to identify alternatives and assess the potential impacts of an eventual proposed site and design. Concurrently, the NPS, the FMMP and National Capital Planning Commission will consult with the District of Columbia State Historic Preservation Office in order to determine the project’s potential effect on historic resources, consistent with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

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