Finding of No Significant Impact Interpret and Access Historic Ruins and Resources

Smith, Russell

The National Park Service (NPS) will stabilize historic resources and improve interpretation at Sunken Road, the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, and many of the 25 civilian sites at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (FRSP) to more accurately convey their historical significance to visitors and to support a more coherent and expanded interpretation of the Civil War. This will improve visitor experience and circulation, rehabilitate cultural landscapes, and protect natural and cultural resources within the park. This work will include establishing an interpretive setting at Sunken Road in the Fredericksburg Battlefield; restoring and improving portions of the Fredericksburg National Cemetery; and accessing, stabilizing, and interpreting civilian sites throughout the park. While these sites commemorate a significant time or place, many of them have lost their historical character and setting. For example, Sunken Road is now a paved road above its historical elevation that until recently was open to vehicular traffic. Although the original stone wall lining the road had been somewhat reduced prior to the Battle of Fredericksburg, it has been further reduced to such an extent that it no longer represents its historical context. In addition to this, the once open field between Fairview and the Chancellorsville Inn site is now wooded and does not portray the battlefield and vista that existed during the war. Such non-historic vegetation patterns have become a problem at many sites within the park and have impeded interpretation of wartime events. Along with the loss of proper interpretation, the physical environment at FRSP is being reduced as well. The terraced slopes at the cemetery are eroding. This degradation is threatening the stability and integrity of the cemetery. Further erosion is occurring at other sites throughout the park as social paths cut through the terrain. Due to the lack of formalized circulation patterns, visitors have forged their own paths through the park, creating worn dirt paths. As these paths continue to erode, the stability of the site and the safety of visitors will be threatened. An environmental assessment (EA) was released on July 21, 2003 for a 60-day public comment period in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and NPS Director’s Order 12 (DO 12). The EA described the goals of the project, analyzed the effects of each alternative on the human environment, and solicited public comment on the proposed action.