The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area has been designated by Congress to lead the public planning process pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to address the disposition of the federal property known as the Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities Research Center Main Campus (i.e. the Center). Congress closed the Center in 1995. This federal land is located within the boundary of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
In October 2004, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed a Memorandum of Agreement to work together on the Bureau of Mines project. The National Park Service will lead the National Environmental Policy Act planning process to identify and evaluate alternative disposition options for this federal property. The daily management of the Center is the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The FWS office is located at Fort Snelling.
The purpose of the project is to consider alternatives and potential impacts of alternative future uses of this federal property on the natural, historic and cultural resources.
The former Research Center is located within two historic designations: the Fort Snelling National Historic Landmark, the Fort Snelling National Register Historic District. The site includes the Camp Coldwater Spring and the Springhouse and pond. The buildings have been determined eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
