A comment period for this project closes Aug 1, 2024:
Days, Hours, Min.

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to develop a trail plan for the Brandywine Valley unit of First State National Historical Park that would establish a cohesive and sustainable trail system.

The NPS has prepared this DRAFT plan/environmental assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] § 1500-1508.9), and the NPS Director's Order 12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-making (NPS 2011) and its accompanying NPS NEPA Handbook (NPS 2015).

The NPS has developed a DRAFT programmatic agreement for this undertaking which may affect historic properties (as defined in 36 CFR Part 800) subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as amended (NHPA) (16 USC 470 et seq.) and the regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) (36 CFR Part 800).


* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Conduct trails study: Inventory and evaluate the condition of existing trails.
Step 2. Civic Engagement: Engaged the public to provide input and feedback on trail management in the Brandywine Valley. The park held a 30-day public comment period and three (3) open houses in March 2023.
Step 3. Define purpose and need/develop preliminary alternatives
Step 4. Conduct internal scoping
Step 5. Refine alternatives
Step 6. Conduct external scoping
Step 7. Identify environmental impacts and select preferred alternative
Step 8. Prepare draft plan/EA
Step 9. Internal Agency review of draft plan/EA
Step 10. Public review of draft plan/EA: release of draft plan/EA for 30-day public comment period. *
Step 11. Analysis of public comment
Step 12. Prepare final plan/EA
Step 13. Release final plan/EA to the public