Environmental Assessment Ocracoke Light Station Rehabilitation

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of rehabilitation options for the Ocracoke Light Station at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (the Seashore), Hyde County, North Carolina. The Ocracoke Lighthouse and supporting structures (Double Keepers' Quarters, Carpenter's Shop, Store House, Cisterns, Privy, Oil House, and Generator House) were damaged by Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, and Dorian (2017 to 2019) and are susceptible to future flooding due to climate change and sea level rise.

This EA presents three alternatives for management of the Ocracoke Light Station, describes the environment that would be impacted by the alternatives, and analyzes the potential environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Under alternative A (no action), the Ocracoke Lighthouse would be rehabilitated and exterior and interior storm damage on the supporting structures would be repaired. Under alternative B (elevate some structures), the Lighthouse would be rehabilitated, and along with storm repairs, the Double Keepers' Quarters would be elevated approximately 4 feet and some of the supporting structures would be elevated approximately 1 to 2 feet for flood resiliency. Under alternative C (ghost structure), the Lighthouse would be rehabilitated, the storm damage on the supporting structures would be repaired, and the Double Keepers' Quarters would be removed and replaced with a ghost structure. A ghost structure mimics the size, shape, and location of the existing building.

This EA has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the implementing regulations of the 2020 Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508), to provide the decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet objectives of the proposal, 2) evaluates potential issues and impacts on the park's resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.

Document Content:

Ocracoke Light Station EA_Final_508Compliant_Mar2022.pdf   (2.6 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.