Replace Park Dispatch Center, Environmental Assessment, Gateway National Recreation Area, Staten Island Unit, New York

US Department of the Interior National Park Service, Gateway National Recreation Area

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to build a new, permanent, state-of-the-art dispatch center at the park headquarters building (Building 210) at Fort Wadsworth, including a new 100-foot-above ground level (AGL) radio tower and backup generator. This dispatch center also would have the capacity to support the dispatch functions of the US Park Police and potentially the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Gateway National Recreation Area's (NRA) dispatch center in the park's Sandy Hook unit in New Jersey. The proposed relocation site is located above the floodplain at Fort Wadsworth in the park's Staten Island unit in New York. The radio tower would be a free-standing monopole and the backup generator would have a masonry enclosure around it. There would also be two heat pumps and a condenser unit enclosed by a chain link fence. Action is needed at this time because Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Gateway Dispatch Center located at Sandy Hook. A temporary dispatch center was relocated to higher ground at Fort Wadsworth in Building 220, but it is inadequate for long-term use. A secured location with updated systems is needed. The US Park Police also need a resilient dispatch center because their current location at Floyd Bennett Field, while unharmed by Hurricane Sandy, may be vulnerable to future storms. A resilient location that consolidates park dispatch functions with the US Park Police and will create more efficient operations during emergency events is needed. The center also needs to allow for the potential future consolidation with dispatch services from the Statue of Liberty National Monument, as the Ellis Island communication center lacks full dispatch capabilities. NPS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate alternatives for replacing the dispatch center, describe the environment that would be affected by the alternatives, and assess the environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. This EA examines two alternatives: a no-action alternative (alternative 1) and replacement of the dispatch center in Building 210 on Fort Wadsworth (alternative 2). Alternative 2 was identified as the NPS preferred alternative because it best meets the project's purpose of and need for action while protecting natural and cultural resources to the greatest extent practical. Implementation of the NPS preferred alternative could result in impacts on historic districts and cultural landscapes, as well as visitor use and experience.