Passenger Ferry Departure Site Environmental Assessment / Assessment of Effect

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing establishing a passenger ferry departure site to address visitor access to the seashore and has completed a draft Passenger Ferry Departure Site Environmental Assessment / Assessment of Effect (EA/AoE).

The draft EA/AoE evaluates three alternatives for establishing a ferry departure site in the Beaufort or Morehead City area:
• Alternative A: is a No-Action Alternative;
• Alternative B: calls for development of a site on Front Street in Beaufort, North Carolina, and is identified as the preferred alternative;
• Alternative C: calls for development of a site on 10th Street in Morehead City.

Although the EA/AoE identifies Alternative B as the preferred alternative, both action alternatives (B and C) meet the purpose, needs, and objectives for this project.

The purpose for establishing a departure site is to comply with the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 by providing a long-term public ferry system that would operate from a clearly identified location in either the Town of Morehead City or the Town of Beaufort in Carteret County, North Carolina. This departure site would create an official gateway to the park, better orient visitors to park resources and facilities, improve access to the park by meeting accessibility standards at each dock, and facilitate other improvements. The NPS hopes to develop a partnership with other public or government entities as an alternative to federal acquisition of a departure site.

Both action alternatives include program elements identified as essential to establishing a gateway ferry departure site in the Beaufort or Morehead City area. Under both action alternatives, the NPS would develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or similar agreement with the local government partner to provide a long-term commitment by both parties to develop, operate, and maintain the site and facilities.

Document Content:

Passenger Ferry Departure Site EA / AoE   (3.4 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.