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The National Park Service and Federal Highways Administration propose to replace the Fryingpan Creek Bridge within Mount Rainier National Park. An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared to support public review and comment and to help inform agency decision-making. The steps in this planning process are described below.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define project purpose and need and develop preliminary options
Step 2. Conduct civic engagement and seek public input on preliminary bridge options and potential planning issues
Step 3. Refine options and conduct environmental analysis
Step 4. Prepare environmental analysis documents and identify preferred alternative
Step 5. Public review and comment of environmental document
Step 6. Analysis of public comment
Step 7. Prepare final plan/decision document
Step 8. Release final plan/decision document to the public *
Based on the analysis presented in the EA, the NPS, with support from the FHWA, has selected Alternative B - New Bridge on a New Alignment Downstream of Existing Bridge (the NPS preferred alternative). The selected alternative incorporates the mitigation measures and best management practices (BMPs) listed in attachment A. As a result of public comment, modifications were made to a few of the figures, an additional figure was added, and additional text was added to the dismissal language in appendix A of the EA (see attachment B). Additional changes to the proposed trailhead parking area design were also made in response to public comment and consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Washington State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). These changes will result in the same or reduced impacts from what is described in the EA and are discussed in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Under the selected alternative, a new longer permanent bridge will be constructed approximately 50 feet downstream from the existing bridge. The bridge will be approximately 220 feet long with a waterway opening of 207 feet from face-of-abutment to face-of-abutment on the new alignment, allowing the bridge to span the 100-year floodplain and the abutments be located outside of the ordinary high water mark. The new longer bridge and abutment locations will expand the channel migration zone and floodplain under the bridge crossing, which is currently constricted by the existing bridge abutments. The new bridge will be approximately 92 feet longer than the existing bridge. Construction activities to access, excavate, install new, and remove existing bridge components will encroach into the active waterway.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define project purpose and need and develop preliminary options
Step 2. Conduct civic engagement and seek public input on preliminary bridge options and potential planning issues
Step 3. Refine options and conduct environmental analysis
Step 4. Prepare environmental analysis documents and identify preferred alternative
Step 5. Public review and comment of environmental document
Step 6. Analysis of public comment
Step 7. Prepare final plan/decision document
Step 8. Release final plan/decision document to the public *
Based on the analysis presented in the EA, the NPS, with support from the FHWA, has selected Alternative B - New Bridge on a New Alignment Downstream of Existing Bridge (the NPS preferred alternative). The selected alternative incorporates the mitigation measures and best management practices (BMPs) listed in attachment A. As a result of public comment, modifications were made to a few of the figures, an additional figure was added, and additional text was added to the dismissal language in appendix A of the EA (see attachment B). Additional changes to the proposed trailhead parking area design were also made in response to public comment and consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Washington State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). These changes will result in the same or reduced impacts from what is described in the EA and are discussed in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Under the selected alternative, a new longer permanent bridge will be constructed approximately 50 feet downstream from the existing bridge. The bridge will be approximately 220 feet long with a waterway opening of 207 feet from face-of-abutment to face-of-abutment on the new alignment, allowing the bridge to span the 100-year floodplain and the abutments be located outside of the ordinary high water mark. The new longer bridge and abutment locations will expand the channel migration zone and floodplain under the bridge crossing, which is currently constricted by the existing bridge abutments. The new bridge will be approximately 92 feet longer than the existing bridge. Construction activities to access, excavate, install new, and remove existing bridge components will encroach into the active waterway.