The Department of the Army has published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and to conduct the Section 106 public consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to address potential environmental effects associated with the congressionally-mandated removal of the Confederate Memorial from Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The purpose of the proposed action is to remove from ANC a monument that commemorates the Confederate States of America. The need for the proposed action is to comply with non-discretionary congressional direction. The EIS will look at the impacts of removal of the statue atop the monument, disassembly of the bronze elements, and disposition of both. The Army intends to leave the granite base and foundation in place.
The NOI, published August 4, 2023, initiates a 30-day public scoping period, during which the Army will solicit comments on the proposed action. The NEPA scoping process is meant to identify factors that will influence the NEPA analysis, including alternatives and mitigation. Public scoping comments can be submited via a website form located at https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/About/Confederate-Memorial-Removal.
A virtual public scoping meeting will take place August 23, 2023, to cover both the NEPA and NHPA processes. The meeting time, instructions on how to access the meeting, and more information on the proposed action and how to participate in the EIS process will be posted on the ANC webpage: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/About/Confederate-Memorial-Removal.