FEISAnnouncement

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposition of the Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities Research Center has been completed and is now available.

A limited number of paper copies of the Final EIS are available on a first come basis by contacting the NPS at 651-293-0200 or e-mail us. The Final EIS on compact disk is also available by contacting the NPS. An online version of the Final EIS can be accessed at the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website.

The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS, published in the Federal Register on December 11, will begin a 30 day no-action period. After the 30 day no-action period, a Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued by the Secretary of the Interior (or designee). The ROD is the instrument by which the final disposition of and future management authority for the Bureau of Mines property will be formalized and announced.

The EIS process evaluated the potential impacts of alternative future uses of the Bureau of Mines property on the natural, socioeconomic, historic, and cultural resources on-site and in the immediate area. The public reviewed a Draft EIS in 2006 and provided comment. The substantive comments received on the Draft EIS were used to complete the Final EIS. In addition, the Final EIS outlines the future disposition of the property as preferred Alternative D, Open Space / Park land use scenario. Under this preferred alternative the federal government would demolish the 11 buildings and related infrastructure on-site and restore the property to a natural condition resembling an open space or park.