Public comments sought by PNB for Poplar Grove National Cemetery Rehabilitation Project

Poplar Grove National Cemetery was transferred from the Office of the Quarter Master General, U.S. Army to the National Park Service by Executive Order (No. 6166) on June 19, 1933. The cemetery is comprised of 8.72 acres and contains the remains of 6,181 U.S Soldiers from the Civil War era and 60 non-Civil War burials. […]

September 26, 2008; 10:54 AM • by brenda p

Poplar Grove National Cemetery was transferred from the Office of the Quarter Master General, U.S. Army to the National Park Service by Executive Order (No. 6166) on June 19, 1933. The cemetery is comprised of 8.72 acres and contains the remains of 6,181 U.S Soldiers from the Civil War era and 60 non-Civil War burials. Poplar Grove National Cemetery is one of 14 Civil War era national cemeteries transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service. In the intervening 75 years this nationally important cemetery has deteriorated significantly due to neglect, mismanagement and old age. Petersburg National Battlefield, which is responsible for the management and upkeep of this resource, has sought funding to rehabilitate the entire cemetery. The rehabilitation project titled, “Restore Facilities, Resources & Character Defining Elements to National Cemetery Standards – POGR.” is slated to be funded in FY-13.

Planning for the rehabilitation and restoration of Poplar Grove National Cemetery has begun. In anticipation of this funding, many planning components must be completed before construction and rehabilitation activities can begin.

One of the first steps we must take in order to ensure this project is done correctly is to involve the public in the planning process. We want to consider all viable alternatives as we begin to develop a vision for this restoration/rehabilitation initiative. Work on a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is near completion. This CLR provides the historical context for the National Cemetery’s (NC) establishment, stewardship successes and failures and a glimpse of some of the unique challenges pertaining to its continued preservation. It is our hope this document will provide the reader, with an understanding of the significance of the site and a sound framework for which future management strategies can be identified. The document is available for review at www.nps.gov/pete or by contacting the Petersburg National Battlefield superintendent at (804)732-3571

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and again from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Dinwiddie County Historical Society, Old Dinwiddie Courthouse, Dinwiddie, Virginia stakeholders and the public will meet to share their ideas about the future of Poplar Grove NC. The public’s input will be used to craft alternatives for an Environmental Assessment (EA) which should be available for public review and comments in about 6 to 8 months. This process is required by law before federal funds can be expended to undertake a rehabilitation project of this nature.

Public participation is very important to the successful development of this site. Copies of the DRAFT Cultural Landscape Report are available for review on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website available via www.nps.gov/pete, click on the tab labeled Management, and follow the links. It is also available on CD ROM or in hardcopy at the following local libraries in the Petersburg vicinity:

A.P. Hill Branch
1237 Halifax Street
Petersburg, VA 23803
804-733-2391

Dinwiddie Library
14103 Boydton Plank Road
Dinwiddie, VA 23841
804-469-9450

Disputanta Library
10010 County Drive
Disputanta, VA 23842
804-991-2403

Hopewell Public Library
Appomattox Regional Library
245 E. Cawson St.
Hopewell, VA 23860
804-458-6329

McKenney Library
20707 First Street
McKenney, VA 23872
804-478-4866

Petersburg Public Library
137 S. Sycamore St.
Petersburg, VA 23803
804-733-2387

Prince George Library
6402 Courthouse Road
Prince George, VA 23875
804-732-0652

Rodof Sholom Library
1865 S. Sycamore St.
Petersburg, VA 23803
804-733-2393

Rohoic Library
7301 Boydton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23830
804-732-4119

Hard copies will also be available for review at the park’s three visitor contact stations (Eastern Front, Grant’s Headquarters at City Point, and at the Five Forks Battlefield visitor contact station) and in the Superintendent’s office at park headquarters. For your convenience, a CD Rom of the document is available as well. A few hardcopies will be available for those without access to one of the local libraries, the Internet or a computer. Written requests for a hardcopy should be mailed to Superintendent, Petersburg National Battlefield, 1539 Hickory Hill Road, Petersburg, VA 23803-4721. Adobe Reader© will be required to read both the Internet version and CD Rom version of the document. You may obtain a free copy of Adobe Reader© by downloading it from the following website: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

We respectfully request your thoughtful evaluation and comments. Public comments will be accepted until close of business, October 24, 2008. You may submit your comments using any one of the methods indicated in this advisory. Please address your surface mail comments to Superintendent, Petersburg National Battlefield, 1539 Hickory Hill Road, Petersburg, VA 23803-4721 or via the Internet at PEPC www.nps.gov/pete or via e-mail to pete_superintendent AT nps.gov.

Comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at park headquarters during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold from the record a respondent’s identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

For more information or questions concerning this “scoping” process, please contact Dave Shockley at (804) 732-0171 ext 305.

Petersburg National Battlefield was created in order to commemorate the campaign and siege and defense of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864 and 1865. The park staff is committed to preserving and protecting the historical, cultural, and natural resources within the park in a manner that will provide interpretation, education, and enjoyment for the visitors.

September 26, 2008 10:54 AM 0