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. - - EXhfbitA PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO lHE RICE CREEK NORTH REGIONAL TRAIL MASTER PLAN The following amendment to the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Master Plan (June 1998) has been prepared and is being proposed by the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Departm"ent. Acquisition of the land included in the proposed amendment will preserve a corfidor which links the Rice Creek corridor with the 1500-acre preserve under the management of the Minhesota National Guard. The corridor will preserve a hydrological and wildlife movement functions, as well as future trail connections to the large preserve, The property is Currently part of the lwin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCMP) and an "Excessing Process" has been initiated to dispose of the property, Amendment to Section VIII ACQUISITION DETAILS A. Parcellrlformation The 1998 MasterPlan identified two parcels for acquisition; Parcel A, 113 acres from TCMP and Parcel B, 11 i'lcres from MnDOT. (See enclosed Boundary Map), 1. Amendment Action: lhis amendment proposes that the acquisition boundary for the regional! trail corridor be expanded to include an additional 49 acres of TCMP property', The properly has been identified as Parcel C and Parcel D. .J' PatCelC: U.s. Dept. of Defense, 42.75 acres ParCel D: U.S. Dept. of Defense, 6,25 acres )[ 2. Amehdlment Justification: The proposed amendment will enable Ramsey County to acquire an important natural corridor between the existing boundary of the regional trail and the large nature preserve licensed to the Minnesota National Guard. Preservation of the wildlife corridor is consistent with the 1996 "Vision for the Future" plan (a,k,a. Vento Reuse Plan) adopted by the TCMP Reutilization Committee appointed by the late Congressman Bruce Vento. The Minnesota Department of NaturalResources (DNR) has identified the wildlife corridor as an integral ecological link between Rice Creek on the west and a future regional park reserve on the east. lhe ad(litioMI area has been identified as two separate parcels. Parcel D has cohtamination, which must be c1eane(l up prior to a transfer to Ramsey County. (See attachea map). Parcel C is free of contamination and could be transferred as soon as the excessing process is complete. The relative size of each parcel (C and D) is subjecUo further characterization of the contaminated area. 3. Restoration/Development: The area contains several small buildings, roads and a railroad spur. The buildings will be removed within five years. It is anticipated that the roads and railroad will be removed in conjunction and cooperation with development of the properties to the north and south. The U.S. Department of Army is responsible for clean up of the contaminated area (Parcel D). Ramsey County expects that the wildlife corridor will be cleaned up to a degree that allows for public use before the land transfer of Parcel D is effectuated.