South Ocean Beach Parking Area and Bayside Picnic Parking Area Relocation

Assateague Island National Seashore » South Ocean Beach Parking Area and Bayside Picnic Parking Area Relocation » Document List

August 26, 2013

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the release of the Bayside Picnic and South Ocean Beach Parking Areas Removal and Relocation Environmental Assessment (EA). The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, prepared an environmental assessment to address the proposed relocation of parking areas at Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland. The purpose of the proposed project is to relocate the Bayside Picnic Parking Area and South Ocean Beach Parking Area to locations that are more sustainable, less exposed to the elements and less susceptible to damage from future storm events in order to provide continued visitor access to these areas of the national seashore.

Two alternatives were analyzed for meeting the objectives of the project:

Alternative A, No Action/Continue Current Management: The National Park Service would continue to use and maintain the existing Bayside Picnic Parking Area, the South Ocean Beach Parking Area, and Life of the Dunes Trail Parking Area with no changes to the current infrastructure or locations. This alternative represents a continuation of existing management and provides a baseline for evaluating the impacts of the action alternative.

Alternative B, Removal and Relocation of Parking Areas: The existing Bayside Picnic, South Ocean Beach, and Life of the Dunes Trailhead Parking Areas would be removed and the Bayside Picnic Parking Area and South Ocean Beach Parking Area would be relocated to locations that are less exposed to the elements and less susceptible to damage from future storm events. Implementing these approaches would provide future visitor access to these areas of the national seashore and limit operational expenses associated with maintaining the existing parking area locations. Neither of the alternatives analyzed in this environmental assessment would result in significant environmental impacts.

Comments submitted to the website or by mail are welcome however, they should be received by close of business September 25, 2013.



Contact Information

Assateague Island National Seashore
ATTN: Bayside Picnic and South Ocean Beach Parking Areas Relocation EA Comments
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, MD 21811