asia trail elephant facility - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

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ASIA TRAIL - ELEPHANT FACILITY SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT In 1986, a Master Plan completed for the Zoo proposed reorganizing the facility by grouping animals into themed exhibits according to their natural geographic locations. One themed component, the Asia Trail, is currently under construction. The development is intended to modernize, revitalize, rebuild, and relocate existing Asian-themed animal exhibits and associated infrastructure and utilities. Relocation of the Asian elephants, from the current Elephant House to the proposed elephant facility, is a critical component of the Asia Trail project. The Elephant House is currently undergoing renovation, including a new roof (see Figure 3-5). Source: EDAW 2004 Figure 3-5 The Elephant House, 2004 The proposed site of the new elephant facility has been used continuously since the 1920s for various Zoo animal exhibits, including its current use for zebra and cheetah exhibits. As a result, the site has been subject to grading and the addition of several feet of fill material. Although shovel tests were not conducted at the site as part of the most recent archaeological study, intact archaeological resources are not likely present after the past decades of soil disturbance. Built in 1964, the current zebra/cheetah complex consists of a cluster of pens surrounded by fenced open space. The complex is not eligible for listing on the National Register, nor is it considered a major contributor to the Zoo’s status as a historic site. Potential Archaeological and Historic Resource Effects Standards for evaluating potential project effects on historic resources are derived from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. These regulations define “effect” as “alteration to the characteristics of a historic property qualifying it for inclusion in or eligibility for the National Register” (36 CFR 800.16). Further, an “adverse effect” occurs “when an undertaking may alter, directly or indirectly, any of the characteristics of the historic property that qualify the property for inclusion in the National Register in a manner that would diminish SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 3-21
ASIA TRAIL - ELEPHANT FACILITY SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT the integrity of the property’s location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, or association” (36 CFR 800.5). Potential effects to archaeological and historic resources include direct and indirect effects. The physical displacement, demolition, or alteration of a resource is a direct adverse effect; changes in the use, operation or character of a resource may be either direct or indirect effects; and changes to the visual context are considered indirect effects. The term ‘effects’ as used under NHPA is equivalent to the term ‘impacts’ as defined in CEQ regulations. Under the proposed alternative, the animal exhibits of the project site would be relocated to the Zoo’s off-site facility, the structures of the project site would be demolished, a new elephant facility would be constructed on the project site, and the elephant exhibit would be relocated from the Elephant House. The demolition of the cheetah facility and the construction of the elephant facility would be unlikely to affect prehistoric or historic archaeological artifacts, since the area has been subject to decades of disturbance. The demolition of the cheetah facility also would not adversely affect historic structures, as the cheetah facility is not eligible for listing on the National Register. The new elephant facility would not affect planned open space at the Zoo, as it would be constructed in an area already designated as a building site. The proposed improvements would also continue the Zoo’s philosophy of presenting zoological collections in a natural setting, and would enhance the visual beauty of the historic site. For the near term, the intended use of the Elephant House is the continued exhibit of large animals (giraffes, rhinos, and hippos), consistent with its original function and, therefore, would have no adverse affect on the historic structure. The new elephant facility would be set back from, and not affect, Olmsted Walk. Overall, implementation of the project would potentially positively affect the Zoo as an historic site. The relocation and construction of a new elephant facility would coincide with the ongoing development of Asia Trail Phase I. Therefore, the potential effects to archaeological and historic resources would add to the potential effects of Phase I. However, as with Phase I, the project would not affect archeological and historic resources. Therefore, there would be no adverse cumulative effects on these resources from this project. Mitigation • In the event that archaeological resources are uncovered during ground-disturbing activity, construction should be stopped until the appropriate archaeological studies have been completed. • In accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the Elephant House should be protected until a new use is determined for the structure during the Zoo’s upcoming master plan process. In addition, the new use for the facility should maximize the retention of distinctive materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships. • The new elephant facility should be designed so that it is compatible with the materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing of other buildings at the historic Zoo. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 3-22
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asia trail elephant facility - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

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