Plan Process

The National Environmental Policy Act encourages the participation of federal and state-involved agencies and affected citizens in the planning process. Through internal and public scoping, public meetings and outreach, public comment, and agency consultation and coordination, the National Park Service developed a deer management plan that supports forest regeneration, and provides for long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of native species and cultural landscapes.

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Conduct internal scoping
Step 2. Catoctin Mountain Park Completes the Internal Scoping Process, March 2004
Step 3. Publish Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for White-tailed Deer Management, August 23, 2004
Step 4. First Public Scoping Meeting, November 9, 2004.
Step 5. Scoping Meeting Public Comment Period until November 30, 2004
Step 6. Alternatives Workshop April 20, 2005
Step 7. Begin development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Step 8. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) available to the public
Step 9. 60 day Public Comment Period on Draft Environmental Impact Statement December 1, 2006-February 2, 2007
Step 10. Final Environmental Impact Statement completed
Step 11. Record of Decision
Step 12. Federal Register Publishes ROD
Step 13. Implementation of Selected Alternative *

On April 17, 2009, the Regional Director, National Capital Region approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, The National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued on December 12, 2008.