facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The improvements proposed to alleviate congestion along the North Road through a
comprehensive traffic and parking management strategy include the construction of two
traffic circles and a limited-use turn lane on North Road at the Harvard Street Bridge/
Beach Drive entrance. The traffic circle would physically impact areas A007, A008, and
A009. Ground disturbance in these areas could damage or destroy archeological
resources.
In summary, before any ground disturbance associated with Alternative A improvements,
the presence or absence of archeological resources in these areas of high archeological
potential needs to be verified by testing. Alternative A may have minor to moderate long
term adverse impacts through the proposed new construction as it would physically
impact areas of high potential for prehistoric archeological resources. As the final designs
for these improvements have not been fully developed, consultation with the Washington,
DC Historic Preservation Office through the Section 106 process should establish
appropriate testing and mitigation efforts.
Alternative B
Under Alternative B, facility improvements would result in revitalization of older
exhibits including renovation of exhibits, construction of new entrances into the National
Zoo, installation of new transportation facilities and construction of new administrative
facilities. These improvements could have physical impacts to prehistoric archeological
resources or resources that contribute to the significance of the National Register-listed
National Zoo Historic Site. As a result, Alternative B could result in direct, long-term,
moderate impacts to areas of high archeological potential. SI has initiated consultation
with the Washington, DC Historic Preservation Office through the Section 106 process.
As a result of this consultation, a programmatic agreement will be sought that identifies
future review requirements and mitigation to be employed during project development.
Future design would consider ways to minimize impacts to areas of high archeological
potential, such as following the principles outlined in The Secretary of Interiors
Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Projects under Alternative B that could have an adverse effect to areas of high
archeological potential include:
Creation of new larger multi-species exhibit areas;
Revitalization of the entrance at Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive; and
Transportation improvements including construction of two traffic circles and
the separation of visitor and service vehicle traffic.
The creation of new multi-species exhibit areas, specifically at the Lion-Tiger Hill, could
physically impact areas of high potential for prehistoric archeological resources (A004
and A005). Ground disturbance in these areas could damage or destroy archeological
resources.
The revitalization of the Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive entrance, with new facilities,
could physically impact areas A007, A008, and A009.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 79 | P a g e