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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » C&O Canal NHP and Harpers Ferry NHP Deer Management Plan and EA
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 a proposed White-tailed Deer Management Plan for Harpers Ferry and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal national historical parks. 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)"
An EA must lead to a (1) FONSI or (2) 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.
Concurrent with the NEPA process is project evaluation under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966/Section 106 (36 CFR Part 800) which requires Federal agencies to evaluate the effects of their undertakings on historic properties.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Public Scoping for Proposed Project - February 9, 2015 - March 20, 2015
Step 2. Public scoping meetings (February 24-26, 2015)
Step 3. Analysis of public scoping comments - Spring 2015
Step 4. Preparation of Environmental Assessment *
Step 5. Public Review of Environmental Assessment - Spring 2017
Step 6. Meetings for Public Review of Environmental Assessment - Spring 2017
Step 7. Analysis of Public Comments - Summer 2017
Step 8. Preparation of Decision Document - Fall 2017
Step 9. Announcement of Decision - Fall 2017
An EA must lead to a (1) FONSI or (2) 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.
Concurrent with the NEPA process is project evaluation under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966/Section 106 (36 CFR Part 800) which requires Federal agencies to evaluate the effects of their undertakings on historic properties.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Public Scoping for Proposed Project - February 9, 2015 - March 20, 2015
Step 2. Public scoping meetings (February 24-26, 2015)
Step 3. Analysis of public scoping comments - Spring 2015
Step 4. Preparation of Environmental Assessment *
Step 5. Public Review of Environmental Assessment - Spring 2017
Step 6. Meetings for Public Review of Environmental Assessment - Spring 2017
Step 7. Analysis of Public Comments - Summer 2017
Step 8. Preparation of Decision Document - Fall 2017
Step 9. Announcement of Decision - Fall 2017