City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will be the Lead Agency and will require the preparation of an environmental impact report (“EIR”) for the project identified herein. The Department of Recreation and Parks requests your comments as to the scope and content of the EIR. The project description and potential environmental effects are included below. Also included below are the date, time and location of the scoping meeting that will be held in order to solicit input regarding the content of the Draft EIR. A copy of the Initial Study prepared for the Project is not attached, but is available for review at the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Environmental Management Section, 1200 West 7th Street, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90017. A copy of the Initial Study is also available on the Department of Recreation and Park’s website at http://www.laparks.org/environmental/environmental.htm

Project Description:

To assist in implementing its mission to “explore the experiences and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West,” the Autry National Center proposes the Autry National Center Improvements Project (also referred to as the Project or Proposed Project) at its existing facility within Griffith Park in the City of Los Angeles. The Project would renovate and modernize certain portions of the existing museum facility in two development phases. The key Project features include increasing the building space by 129,000 square feet, renovating the exterior landscape areas, and enhancing vehicle and pedestrian circulation, and parking amenities. These improvements would allow the Autry National Center to establish the Center as the premier interpretive site for the exhibition of the American West; to store its collections in a single location with museum standard-of-care controls and appropriate physical storage conditions; to showcase the internal workings of the Museum (e.g., visible storage of collections and staff areas); to provide additional gallery and presentation areas for the public; to enhance its research and education programs; and to enhance the facility as a cultural resource.

The Project would require various approvals including, but not limited to, an amendment to the existing ground lease with the City of Los Angeles; a conditional use permit with a height allowance; site plan review; haul route approval; grading, excavation, and building permits; and any additional actions as may be deemed necessary.

Environmental Factors Potentially Affected:

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Hydrology/Stormwater, Land Use, Noise, Fire Protection, Transportation and Circulation/Parking, and other Mandatory Findings of Significance.

Public Scoping Meeting Date and Location:

The public scoping meeting will be held on May 29, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Autry National Center. The purpose of the scoping meeting is to solicit public comments regarding issues to be addressed in the Draft EIR. The scoping meeting will provide information regarding the Project and the anticipated scope of analyses to be contained in the Draft EIR. The Department of Recreation and Parks encourages all interested individuals and organizations to attend this meeting.

Date: May 29, 2007
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027

The enclosed materials reflect the scope of the Proposed Project, which may be of interest to you and/or the organization you represent. The Department of Recreation and Parks welcomes all comments regarding potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Project. All comments will be considered in the preparation of the EIR. Written comments must be submitted to this office by June 13, 2007. Written comments will also be accepted at the public scoping meeting described above. Responses via facsimile at (213) 928-9180 will be accepted, but must be followed by an original letter mailed to the address below.

Please direct your responses to:

David Attaway, Environmental Supervisor
City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
Environmental Management Section
1200 West 7th Street, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90017

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