Environmental Assessment for Replacing Hurricane Katrina-Destroyed Visitor Center


The National Park Services is proposing to build a new Visitor Center (VC) at the Chalmette Battlefield. This building would replace the building heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina and demolished thereafter. Evaluated in this Environmental Assessment are three alternatives: a no action alternative and two action alternatives. The action alternatives involve: 1) replacing the VC on the original footprint and 2) replacing the VC on a new expanded footprint and new adjacent location. The second alternative was selected as the Preferred Alternative and would increased the size of the VC from 1,400 square feet to 3,500 square feet.

The new VC will be in the existing turf island where the previous VC foundation and the current temporary modular VC are located. This site is a high point of ground, about ten feet above sea level, and is directly south of the Monument at the apex of the Monument Road. The proposed building meets flood plain elevation requirements. The existing parking lot south of this island, existing sidewalks and curb ramps for accessible parking and the existing comfort station south of the parking lot will remain. This center will remove the temporary modular building purchased as an emergency post-Hurricane Katrina Visitor Contact Station, as well as the former VC's foundations beneath.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Jun 27, 2008 - Jul 28, 2008
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