Letter to Interested Parties

Dear Interested Party:

The National Park Service proposes to replace a primary waterline at Carlsbad Caverns National Park which was damaged by natural events. The existing 6,930 feet long (8 inches in diameter) waterline was subjected to damaging freezing temperatures in February 2011. A wildfire followed in June destroying much of the insulation on the pipeline and several of the wooden support blocks. This above-ground pipeline is the park's only potable water distribution line to supply water to the visitor center, employee housing and park offices. The proposed project is needed to restore a permanent, reliable source of water to the park, and to further protect the waterline from damaging natural events.

An Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect for implementing this project will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates potential issues and impacts to park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.

Five alternative actions are being evaluated:
1. Alternative A - No action.
2. Alternative B - Conduct minimal repairs to the damaged waterline section.
3. Alternative C - Remove the existing, damaged waterline and replace with another above-ground pipeline in the same location, form, and fashion as it presently exists.
4. Alternative D - Remove the existing damaged waterline and replace it with a buried pipeline along the same location.
5. Alternative E - Remove the existing damaged waterline and storage tank and replace with a pressure-regulated system which would connect directly to the distribution point.

We are currently in the scoping phase and welcome your comments.


Sincerely,


John C. Benjamin
Superintendent

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