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Photo of the buildings as you descend the entrance road on the way to the Visitor Center.

Demolish Buildings 3 and 6 and Restore to Natural Conditions

Pipestone National Monument » Demolish Buildings 3 and 6 and Restore to Natural Conditions » Document List

July 27, 2020

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your interest in Pipestone National Monument and the Buildings 3 and 6 Demolition project. This project involves demolishing Buildings 3 and 6 (the two houses off the park entrance road, across from the Three Maidens) and associated garage, driveways, and roadbed. After the buildings are removed, the area will be restored to tallgrass prairie.

The preferred alternative of the park's General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (2008) envisions reducing development in the heart of the Monument to restore the tallgrass prairie and prioritize the spiritual landscape. Buildings 3 and 6 are no longer needed for park functions, and removal of these buildings will open up views of the quarries and tallgrass prairie landscape as visitors enter the park.

Buildings 3 and 6 were originally built in 1950 and 1958, respectively, as employee housing units. Building 3 is currently used as offices and Building 6 has been vacant since 2015. They represent the "Mission 66" phase of national park development, when visitor facilities and employee housing were upgraded throughout the agency in the years leading up to 1966. The structures are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and their removal is expected to be an adverse effect under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The sewer line currently serving Buildings 3 and 6 is failing, leading to high volumes of freshwater infiltration. Repairs would be invasive and expensive. In addition, the buildings do not meet standards for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, and remodeling would be prohibitively expensive. The park has explored options for relocating the buildings, but ultimately determined that approach is not feasible due to the slab-on-grade construction.

Previous public comment on these actions took place during the development of the General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, including a news release and open houses in 2000, newsletters in 2002, and a public review period that closed on May 15, 2007.

Your comments on ways to mitigate the adverse effects of the demolition of the Mission 66 structures are welcome, as well as any other comments you wish to provide. Please submit comments by August 28, 2020 in writing to the address below or here on the National Park Service Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system. You may also provide comment using the "Open for Comment" link on the left menu.

Sincerely,

Lauren Blacik
Superintendent

Pipestone National Monument
36 Reservation Avenue
Pipestone, Minnesota 56164-1269

Contact Information

Lauren Blacik
507-825-5464