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The National Mall and Memorial Parks is closing certain parkland within Zone 3 of the Phase II Waterline Project. Zone 3 includes; the Washington Monument grounds between 17th St NW, 14th St NW and Constitution Ave NW, Independence Ave SW, as well as a few areas between Constitution Gardens/World War II Memorial and 17th St NW. These closures will begin June 11, 2018 and will continue until January 31, 2019, however these dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions. The park closures are necessary for Phase II of the PMIS 151059 waterline construction project. Closures include areas needed for drilling, staging and excavations and are indicated by pink boxes on the attached figure. These areas will be secured with fencing for safety purposes and should never be entered unless authorized to do so. The closures will not adversely affect the parks’ natural, aesthetic, or cultural values; nor require significant modification to the resource management objections; nor is it of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted Under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c). This 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. Patricia S. Trap /s/, 7-31-18 Acting Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks |
Last updated: August 1, 2018