Record of Determination for a Partial Closure of the West Side of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial for Delivery of Heavy Construction Materials via a Crane

National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA) will temporarily close the west side of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. This is a partial closure, as the memorial can still be safely accessed from the north and east sides of the site.

A large crane will be brought to the west side of the memorial – see plan below. The crane is required to deliver materials to assemble ramps and lifts for temporary access to the statuary chamber during construction. Due to the large size of the crane and the action of lifting heavy objects over public areas, closing the west side is necessary to keep visitors, the contractor staff, and NPS personnel safe.

The accessible route via the south ramp to the memorial chamber will be closed during the crane deployment. The elevator will remain operational.

• Two walks from the east side remain open to the front plaza of the memorial at the Tidal Basin. Access from the front plaza up the stairs to the statuary chamber also remain open at this time.
• Signs directing pedestrians around the impacted area will be in place.
• Extra personnel (i.e. contractor staff, rangers, US Park Police) will be on site to direct visitors.
• The NAMA Safety Officer will approve crane safety plan.
• The entire site will reopen as soon as the crane leaves the site (approx. 2pm - 3pm) and a safety inspection is completed.
• No natural or cultural resources are adversely impacted by this activity.

Accordingly, the National Park Service determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted Under 36 C.F.R. § l.5(c). This determination is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications.

Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Lulan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C.); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C. 1994), affld in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made through fencing and posting of signs at conspicuous locations in the affected park area. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.


Jeffrey P. Reinbold, Superintendent National Mall and Memorial Parks

March 14, 2022