Plan Process

This planning process is being conducted by the National Park Service pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a 1969 law that established as a goal of 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 of and alternatives to proposed "major federal actions"; (2) use the information gained 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.

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define purpose and need for project
Step 2. Conduct public scoping
Step 3. Develop alternatives and analyze environmental impacts
Step 4. Prepare draft Environmental Impact Statement and identify preferred alternative
Step 5. Seek public comment on Draft EIS
Step 6. Analyze public comments and refine alternatives
Step 7. Prepare final EIS/decision document
Step 8. Release final EIS/decision document to public *

Public involvement is an integral part of the NEPA planning process. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared and is available to the public for a 30-day review period. The Notice of Availability for the FEIS will be published in the Federal Register. A Record of Decision will be released no earlier than 30 days after the FEIS has been made available to the public.