NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF HISTORIC PROPERTY ADVERSE EFFECT

El Yunque National Forest, PR-9966 Storm Damage Repairs

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the U.S Forest Service (USFS), proposes to repair approximately 3.5-kilometers of Puerto Rico State Road 9966 (PR-9966) in El Yunque National Forest (EYNF) that was damaged by Hurricane Fiona in September 2022. PR-9966 has been identified as a property potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in association with a second post-Civilian Conservation Corps/New Deal Era wave of recreational development in EYNF which took place as part of the Operation Outdoors and War on Poverty initiatives in the mid-1960s.

The proposed roadway repairs would replace several sections of original concrete curb and gutter, replace an original pre-cast concrete culvert near KM 7.58, and replace guardrail along 3.5-kilometers of PR-9966. In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended and 36 CFR 800, FHWA, in coordination with the USFS and Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, have determined that the proposed repairs would adversely effect PR-9966.

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.6, FHWA and the USFS are working with the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to develop a Memorandum of Agreement to mitigate the adverse effect.

Any person or group wishing to submit comments regarding the Adverse Effect may do so in writing by July 15, 2025. Comments should be directed to Kim Campo-Allen, Environmental Protection Specialist, FHWA, at kim.campo-allen@dot.gov.

Federal Project #:  PR ERFO FS ELYUN816 2022-1(5)