New Museum Building Environmental Impact StatementThe Utah Museum of Natural History is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the construction and operation of its proposed new museum facility on University property south of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum and adjacent to Research Park at the University of Utah. The Final EIS was distributed in February 2007 and is available for downloading below. Public Scoping was conducted early in 2005 in anticipation of preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA). Subsequently, the Museum determined it would be appropriate to prepare an EIS for the project. At that time, the National Park Service and the Utah Museum of Natural History became Joint Lead Agencies in preparing the EIS. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2005 and another round of public scoping was conducted concluding on October 11. All comments received during scoping on the EA were retained for the EIS. A total of 435 comments were received in the two scoping process and 90 people registered at an EA public scoping meeting. Comments received were used in identifying issues to be addressed and in formulating alternatives. In July 2006, A Draft EIS was made available for public review and comment with a 60-day comment period ending September 28, 2006. Comments were received by mail, email, and at a public meeting conducted on September 5. A total of 70 individuals, organizations, or agencies provided comments on the Draft EIS. The Final EIS responds to comments received on the DEIS as displayed in the Consultation and Coordination section of the document. The Final EIS was distributed in February 2007 and is available for downloading below. The Final EIS retains Alternative B as the Preferred Alternative. A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed by the National Park Service on March 26, 2007, 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register. A Notice of Availability of the ROD appeared in the Federal Register a month later. The Record of Decision announces the selection of Alternative B, the Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS, as the course of action for implementation, provides a basis for that decision, and provides background on the EIS process that led to the decision. Following is a link to download and review the Record of Decision. It is in PDF format. You may need the free Adobe Reader to view the document. Record of Decision download Following are links to download and review the Final EIS. The document is broken into sections to afford faster downloads. It is in the PDF format. - Cover through page 58 (Cover, Summary, Table of Contents document)
- Page 59 through page 210 (Affected Environment)
- Page 211 through page 242 (References, Appendix A: LEED, Appendix B: Vegetative Species, Appendix C: Animal Species, Appendix D: Obstructed Views)
- Page 243 through page 256 (Appendix E: Scoping Notices)
- Page 257 through page 294 (Appendix F: Consultation Letters, Appendix G: Memorandum of Understanding, Endnotes)
Some public scoping comments expressed a concern that the Bonneville Shoreline Trail through the Museum's proposed new site and adjacent trail access points may be closed during Museum construction and/or after the Museum is in operation. Trail use and access will be maintained throughout construction and after construction. If temporary construction-related disruptions to use of the existing trail alignment are necessary, temporary realignments may be installed to assure continued trail use through the site. Every effort will be made to minimize disruption to trail use while assuring public safety. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail and trail access are factors in Museum site planning and EIS alternatives analysis. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail will continue to be integral to this site. Additional information on the EIS, the decision, and implementation may be obtained by contacting the Museum or the National Park Service. To contact the Utah Museum of Natural History
Write: Ann Hanniball, Associate Director
Utah Museum of Natrual History
1390 E. Presidents Circle
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Or email or phone: hanniball@umnh.utah.edu, 801-581-4889
To contact the National Park Service
Write: Cordell Roy, Utah State Coordinator
National Park Service
324 S State, Suite 200, Box 30
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Or email or phone: cordell_roy@nps.gov, 801-741-1012, ext. 101
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