Public Meeting on Proposed New Policies for Memorial in the Nation's Capital.

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48852-48855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23313]


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NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION


Public Meeting on Proposed New Policies for Memorial in the 
Nation's Capital.

AGENCY: National Capital Planning Commission.


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ACTION: Notice of public meetings on proposed new policies for 
memorials in the Nation's Capital.

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Background

    The National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine 
Arts, and the National Capital Memorial Commission (Joint Task Force on 
Memorials) will hold public hearings on Wednesday, September 29, 1999 
in Washington, DC at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G 
Street, NW in Room A-5 (lower level). The meeting will be held in 
afternoon and evening sessions. The afternoon session will run from 
2:00 PM to 4:30 PM and the evening session will run from 6:00 PM to 
8:30 PM. The purpose of the hearings is to receive public testimony on 
proposed new policies for monuments, memorials, and museums in the 
Nation's Capital. The 60-day public comment period on the proposed 
policies ends on November 8, 1999.
    The Joint Task Force, whose parent agencies are responsible for 
reviewing and approving the placement and design of commemorative works 
in the National Capital, have been meeting since fall 1997 to forge a 
consensus on new policies for commemorative works in the Mall area. The 
three commissions have agreed to seek public comments on a draft policy 
statement and map, which establish a protected area in the central 
cross-axis of the Mall (the Reserve) in which no new commemorative 
sites would be approved. The proposed policy also calls for the 
creation of a zone adjacent to the Reserve where new monuments, 
memorials, and museums, meeting certain predetermined criteria, would 
be permitted to locate (Area A). Finally, the proposal creates an area 
outside Area A where new commemorative works would be encouraged to 
locate (Area B) (See Illustration 1).

SUMMARY: The Proposed Policy Statement reads as follows:

The Reserve

    The great cross-axis of the Mall forms one of the world's 
premier examples of civic art, which itself is a monument to 
democracy. Here the nation commemorates its history, and citizens 
can join in celebration, congregation, contemplation, and the 
exercise of their rights of free speech and assembly.
    The Reserve is a unique national space, an embodiment of our 
democratic ideals and achievements, and must be preserved as an 
indispensable, nationally significant cultural resource. This 
setting has matured as the nation has matured. The cross-axis, 
framed by monuments and museums, constitutes the historic urban 
design framework of the capital established by the L'Enfant and 
McMillan Plans-open spaces, long axes, and dramatic vistas. It must 
be rigorously protected. No new memorial sites will be approved in 
this area.*
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    * Within both the Reserve and Area A, the proposed restrictions 
are not applicable to commemorative works that received site 
approval prior to September 8, 1999 from the Commission of Fine 
Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Secretary of 
the Interior or the Administrator of the General Services 
Administration, as appropriate. These memorials are the World War II 
Memorial in the Reserve, and the following in Area A: the Black 
Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, and 
the U.S. Air Force Memorial. In addition, the Martin Luther King, 
Jr. Memorial has been approved for a location within the proposed 
Area A, but a specific site has not yet been approved.
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    The Mall is a historic, monumental open space and a 
substantially completed work of public urban design. The east-west 
axis extends from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The 
north-south axis stretches from the White House to the Jefferson 
Memorial. The L'Enfant Plan established the central greensward that 
was extended to the west a century later by the McMillan Plan. This 
latter plan created the great cross-axis that dominates the Mall 
Complex well known to American and world visitors alike. The area is 
defined primarily by monuments, memorials, and museums contained by 
a carefully designed landscape that is extended by water and the 
monumental skyline. This vast open space enhances public and 
individual gatherings and recreation. The Mall's sweeping vistas and 
reciprocal views contribute greatly to the power and beauty of the 
Nation's Capital.

Area A

    Area A, immediately adjacent to the Reserve, comprises the rest 
of the Monumental Core of the Nation's Capital. The importance of 
Area A accrues from its proximity to the Reserve and from its own 
significance as an area of commemoration and historic and scenic 
vistas. This area also serves as an important recreation area under 
the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Memorials may be 
approved for this area subject to restrictive criteria and design 
guidelines that ensure that memorials will not intrude on the 
significance of the setting.*
    The Commemorative Works Act of 1986 recognizes the importance of 
protecting much of this area by limiting future memorials to those 
of preeminent historical significance. The Task Force's current 
proposal would slightly enlarge the boundary of this zone to extend 
this protection, primarily to federal lands on the Virginia shore of 
the Potomac River.

Area B

    Area B is the rest of the city of Washington with emphasis on 
the important North, South, and East Capitol Street axes, as well as 
circles and squares on major avenues, waterfronts, urban gateways 
and scenic overlooks. The idea of encouraging the placement of 
memorials in strategic locations beyond the traditional Monumental 
Core is a key premise of the National Capital Planning Commission's 
framework plan, Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for 
the 21st Century.
    The Joint Task Force on Memorials strongly encourages the siting 
of commemorative works in the National Capital in Area B. Monuments 
and memorials have the power to encourage civic beauty and pride. 
Memorial sponsors should consider appropriate sites throughout the 
Nation's Capital and its environs, especially in association with 
federal facilities on Special Streets and Gateways, on circles, 
squares, and other parkland, and along the waterfront where the 
presence of memorials will reinforce the L'Enfant and McMillan 
Plans.
    In some cases, commemorative works can impart extra meaning to 
or be enhanced by museums. The Task Force encourages the siting of 
such works in Area B, which provides many appropriate areas for 
locating memorials and their associated museums in proximity to each 
other. This commemorative and planning activity would encourage 
tourism, educational opportunities, and good urban design, as well 
as civic, cultural, and economic development throughout the 
Washington area.
    The development of memorials in urban areas may entail unusual 
cost and complexity for land acquisition and infrastructure. Federal 
assistance should be used to encourage the establishment of 
memorials in Area B, in recognition of the valuable federal land 
otherwise contributed to memorial sites in Area A.

Public Comment Period

    Public testimony will be taken at the public meetings on September 
29, 1999. Individuals interested in testifying at the meetings should 
call the National Capital Planning Commission at (202) 482-7200 no 
later than 12:00 noon, Eastern Time, the day before the public meeting 
to register in advance. Members of the public who wish to testify and 
have not signed up in advance may sign up at the meeting before the 
start of the session. Public testimony will be limited to five minutes 
each, and will generally be scheduled on a first-come basis.
    Written comments may be submitted before, during, or after the 
meetings. Comments should be mailed to the attention of the Joint Task 
Force on Memorials, c/o Ronald Wilson, National Capital Planning 
Commission, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 
20576. Comments may also be sent by e-mail to info@ncpc.gov. All 
written and oral comments will become part of the public record. 
Comments should be received no later than COB, November 8, 1999, the 
end of the 60-day public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joint Task Force on Memorials, c/o 
Ronald Wilson, National Capital Planning Commission, at (202) 482-7242.


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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Copies and Electronic 
Access. Single copies of the draft memorials policy statement and map 
may be obtained at no cost from the Joint Task Force on Memorials by 
writing the National Capital Planning Commission, 801 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20576 or by calling NCPC at (202) 
482-7200. The documents are also available on NCPC's Internet site 
http://www.ncpc.gov.

    Dated: September 1, 1999.
Lise L. Wineland,
Attorney Advisor

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[FR Doc. 99-23313 Filed 9-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7520-01-P