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The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, is a landmark environmental protection legislation establishing as a goal for federal decision-making a balance between use and preservation of natural and cultural resources. NEPA requires all federal agencies to: (1) prepare in-depth studies of the impacts and alternatives to proposed "major federal actions"; (2) use the information contained in such studies in deciding whether to proceed with the actions; and (3) diligently attempt to involve the interested and affected public before any decision affecting the environment is made. Section 102(2)(E) of NEPA requires an agency to "study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to recommended courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources." An Environmental Assessment (EA) is the tool most often used for complying with NEPA and determining when an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) may be necessary. In this instance, the National Park Service has decided to prepare an EA for Jones Point Park. An EA "briefly provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS or a [F]inding of [N]o [S]ignificant [I]mpact (FONSI). 40 C.F.R. §1506.9(a)(1)"
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Fall 2004-Summer 2005 NPS and FHWA Prepares EA
Step 2. Winter 2004/2005 Engineering Studies to Support EA
Step 3. Spring 2005 Preliminary plan designs at 30%
Step 4. Summer 2005 City Of Alexandria forward concepts to NPS
Step 5. October 2005 - Public Open House, comments on alternatives received
Step 6. Spring 2006 Mt Vernon Trail rerouted for Bridge Demolition and New Span Construction
Step 7. Summer/Fall 2006 Demolition of existing Bridge in Jones Point Park
Step 8. Summer 2006 Draft EA, Internal Reviews
Step 9. August 2006 Draft EA Released for public comments (60 days)
Step 10. mid-September 2006 EA Public Hearing
Step 11. Analysis of Public Comment
Step 12. Modifications made to Alternative 4 - NPS preferred alternative
Step 13. June/July 2007 Second Draft EA Public Review Period
Step 14. August 2007 NPS Decision Document *
Step 15. Winter 2008 - Summer 2008 Complete Final Design of remaining mitigations plans for Jones Point Park
Step 16. Summer 2008 Complete final design of remaining mitigation plans for Jones Point Park
Step 17. Summer/Fall 2008 Award JPP Mitigation Plan contract
An EA must lead to either (1) a FONSI or (2) a Notice of Intent and an EIS. Therefore, if we find, by using an EA, that the preferred alternative will have significant effect on the human environment then an EIS will be prepared. If we find that alternatives analyzed in the EA would not significantly affect the human environment, a FONSI will be prepared.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Fall 2004-Summer 2005 NPS and FHWA Prepares EA
Step 2. Winter 2004/2005 Engineering Studies to Support EA
Step 3. Spring 2005 Preliminary plan designs at 30%
Step 4. Summer 2005 City Of Alexandria forward concepts to NPS
Step 5. October 2005 - Public Open House, comments on alternatives received
Step 6. Spring 2006 Mt Vernon Trail rerouted for Bridge Demolition and New Span Construction
Step 7. Summer/Fall 2006 Demolition of existing Bridge in Jones Point Park
Step 8. Summer 2006 Draft EA, Internal Reviews
Step 9. August 2006 Draft EA Released for public comments (60 days)
Step 10. mid-September 2006 EA Public Hearing
Step 11. Analysis of Public Comment
Step 12. Modifications made to Alternative 4 - NPS preferred alternative
Step 13. June/July 2007 Second Draft EA Public Review Period
Step 14. August 2007 NPS Decision Document *
Step 15. Winter 2008 - Summer 2008 Complete Final Design of remaining mitigations plans for Jones Point Park
Step 16. Summer 2008 Complete final design of remaining mitigation plans for Jones Point Park
Step 17. Summer/Fall 2008 Award JPP Mitigation Plan contract
An EA must lead to either (1) a FONSI or (2) a Notice of Intent and an EIS. Therefore, if we find, by using an EA, that the preferred alternative will have significant effect on the human environment then an EIS will be prepared. If we find that alternatives analyzed in the EA would not significantly affect the human environment, a FONSI will be prepared.