Long Bridge Project - Wetland Statement of Findings

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Federal Railroad Administration, jointly with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), and in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), are evaluating proposed improvements to the Long Bridge Corridor and related railroad infrastructure (the Long Bridge Project).

The purpose of the Project is to provide additional long-term railroad capacity and to improve the reliability of railroad service through the Long Bridge Corridor. Currently, there is insufficient capacity, resiliency, and redundancy to accommodate the projected demand in future railroad services. The Project is needed to address these issues and to ensure the Long Bridge Corridor continues to serve as a critical link connecting the local, regional, and national transportation network. NPS administers Federal park property in the Project Area (see Figure 1), including the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), National Mall and Memorial Parks (including East and West Potomac Parks), Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, and the Potomac River bottom.

Executive Order (EO) 11990: Protection of Wetlands, requires the NPS and other Federal agencies to evaluate the likely impacts of actions in wetlands. NPS Director's Order #77-1: Wetland Protection and Procedural Manual #77-1: Wetland Protection, provides NPS policies and procedures for complying with EO 11990. This Statement of Findings was prepared per the Director's Order for the proposed Long Bridge Project and documents compliance with the Procedural Manual. A Statement of Findings has been completed because some of the proposed construction and the proposed action would take place in the Potomac River, resulting in submerged aquatic riverine wetland impacts on NPS administered property. The Statement of Findings will be published with the combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Record of Decision (ROD).

For more information on the overall project, the DEIS and all associated planning document can be found here: http://longbridgeproject.com/

Document Content:

LB_EIS_2020_0512_NPS SOF-508compliant.pdf   (1.5 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.