Programmatic Categorical Exclusion for Bicylce Rack Placements

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Programmatic Categorical Exclusion for Bicylce Rack Placements » Document List

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, offers visitors the chance to enjoy bicycling ranging from partial day trips to multiple day experiences. As a result, many of our park visitors take advantage of this opportunity. In order to address a growing use of the park, especially as a part of the Great Allegheny Passage, which connects Pittsburgh, PA with Washington D.C., the park will install bicycle racks throughout the park as funding becomes available.

The installation of the racks is governed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Park Service's Director Order #12 (DO#12), the National Historic Preservation Act, and other applicable laws. Typically, individual locations for bicycle racks would require individual compliance review. The bicycle racks would meet NEPA Categorical Exclusion # #3.4 C (18) "Construction of minor structures, including small improved parking lots, in previously disturbed or developed areas." This Categorical Exclusion includes small-scale structure/features incidental to the use of a developed area.

In order to streamline the permit process and the compliance review process, a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion has been developed that defines Categorical Exclusion #3.4 C (18) regarding bicycle rack locations criteria. Placement of bicycle racks, in compliance with the Programmatic Categorical Exclusion, can move forward without further compliance and review of each individual site.

If any location does not meet the programmatic categorical exclusion, that location will be required to be submitted for compliance review and will be processed by the park's Interdisciplinary Team for potential impacts to park resources.

Purchase and installation of the bicycle racks is anticipated to be undertaken over the course of several years.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.18 Construction of minor structures, including small improved parking lots, in previously disturbed or developed areas.

The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Streamlined Review Criteria #10 – Erection of Signs, Wayside Exhibits, and Memorial Plaques.


Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Chief of Interpretation, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.