Historic Georgetown Inc.

This action would have significant impacts on the Landmark District; however, local entities have had little inclusion in the PEIS process. Of additional concern is the probable increase in air contaminants and noise pollution in conjunction with other negative environmental impacts.

During the PEIS, Historic Georgetown and the other entities in the district (People for Silver Plume, Clear Creek County, and the Towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume) hope to work CDOT, the FHWA, and the NPS to mitigate the impacts of I-70 expansion. The outcome of the process will affect much of Clear Creek County and could dramatically impact the Georgetown-Silver Plume NHLD.

For more information about the Georgetown-Silver Plume and other National Historic Landmark Districts, visit the NHL website at www.cr.nps.gov/nhl.

I-70 widening could imperil historic district

By Sharon Rossino

Every two years, the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior, sends a status-report questionnaire to stakeholders in designated National Historic Landmarks or Landmark Districts. NPS seeks information that will help it to classify each landmark as satisfactory or in some way threatened. Historic Georgetown, Inc., has responded to the survey on behalf of the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). After consulting with the Towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, and with Clear Creek County, HGI reported that the current condition of the NHLD is "good, but threatened," due to the fact that the historical, cultural, and architectural integrity of the Georgetown-Silver Plume NHLD is at risk of being substantially compromised. The impending threat is the proposed widening of the I-70 corridor through Clear Creek County. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are conducting a Programmatic Environmental Impact Study (PEIS), and preliminary results indicate that the favored solution is a standard widening of the interstate to six lanes through Clear Creek County.	This action would have significant impacts on the Landmark District; however, local entities have had little inclusion in the PEIS process. Of additional concern is the probable increase in air contaminants and noise pollution in conjunction with other negative environmental impacts. During the PEIS, Historic Georgetown and the other entities in the district (People for Silver Plume, Clear Creek County, and the Towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume) hope to work CDOT, the FHWA, and the NPS to mitigate the impacts of I-70 expansion. The outcome of the process will affect much of Clear Creek County and could dramatically impact the Georgetown-Silver Plume NHLD. For more information about the Georgetown-Silver Plume and other National Historic Landmark Districts, visit the NHL website at www.cr.nps.gov/nhl.