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Pea Ridge National Military Park Mitigation Environmental Assessment
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The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate a range of alternatives and associated impacts of providing new access and improved circulation to the park in conjunction with the relocation of Highway 62 in northwestern Arkansas. The existing highway alignment runs along the southern boundary of Pea Ridge National Military Park (park) and provides the only visitor access to the park. The project is needed because the Highway 62 relocation further south will leave the park without an access point to its key features. The purpose of the EA is to identify a safe and convenient access road (and parking) to key features in the park while minimizing impacts on cultural and natural resources.
An EA 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 issues and impacts on park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The EA will also be used to coordinate compliance with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act pursuant to 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800.8(c).
Four action alternatives for mitigation are being considered by the park and are described below. Elements common to all alternatives include a new parking area at the visitor center, extension of the new park road to the new horse trail parking and trailhead east of the visitor center, and a new restroom near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative A - This alternative would locate the new horse trailhead to just east of the visitor center, replace the one-way tour road with a two-lane (two-way) tour road between the visitor center and the Elkhorn Tavern, and would provide a short new one-way route from the tour road on Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the two-way portion of the tour road.
• Alternative B – In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be in the same area as in Alternative A, the two-lane (two-way) tour road between the visitor center and Elkhorn Tavern would be retained, and a longer new route would extend down the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the new parking area near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative C – In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be located south of Ruddick's field, the park road would extend the full length of the southern boundary, the tour road between the visitor center and the Elkhorn Tavern would remain a one-way route, a new road would be added from the Elkhorn Tavern along historic Huntsville Road to the new park road on the southern boundary, and a longer new route would extend down the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the new parking area near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative D - In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be in the same area as in Alternative C, the park road would extend to the parking area, a new vehicular route would extend to the north to connect with the existing tour road, and a new two-way (two-lane) route would extend from the new connecting point to the new parking area at the Elkhorn Tavern. The new tour road route along the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) would extend to the new parking area on the south side of the tour road near the Elkhorn Tavern.
The park encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project—once during initial project scoping and again following release of the EA. The park is currently in the scoping phase of the proposed project and invites the public to submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the project online.
Superintendent (Acting)
15930 US Hwy 62 East
Garfield, AR. 72732
kevin_eads@nps.gov
An EA 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 issues and impacts on park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The EA will also be used to coordinate compliance with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act pursuant to 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800.8(c).
Four action alternatives for mitigation are being considered by the park and are described below. Elements common to all alternatives include a new parking area at the visitor center, extension of the new park road to the new horse trail parking and trailhead east of the visitor center, and a new restroom near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative A - This alternative would locate the new horse trailhead to just east of the visitor center, replace the one-way tour road with a two-lane (two-way) tour road between the visitor center and the Elkhorn Tavern, and would provide a short new one-way route from the tour road on Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the two-way portion of the tour road.
• Alternative B – In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be in the same area as in Alternative A, the two-lane (two-way) tour road between the visitor center and Elkhorn Tavern would be retained, and a longer new route would extend down the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the new parking area near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative C – In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be located south of Ruddick's field, the park road would extend the full length of the southern boundary, the tour road between the visitor center and the Elkhorn Tavern would remain a one-way route, a new road would be added from the Elkhorn Tavern along historic Huntsville Road to the new park road on the southern boundary, and a longer new route would extend down the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) to the new parking area near the Elkhorn Tavern.
• Alternative D - In this alternative, the new horse trail area would be in the same area as in Alternative C, the park road would extend to the parking area, a new vehicular route would extend to the north to connect with the existing tour road, and a new two-way (two-lane) route would extend from the new connecting point to the new parking area at the Elkhorn Tavern. The new tour road route along the slope of Elkhorn Mountain (below the east overlook) would extend to the new parking area on the south side of the tour road near the Elkhorn Tavern.
The park encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project—once during initial project scoping and again following release of the EA. The park is currently in the scoping phase of the proposed project and invites the public to submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the project online.
Contact Information
Kevin EadsSuperintendent (Acting)
15930 US Hwy 62 East
Garfield, AR. 72732
kevin_eads@nps.gov