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Relocate Pole Light at Antietam Campground
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Relocate Pole Light at Antietam Campground » Document List
The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, operates a walk-in campground near Antietam Creek, mile 69.6 of the park. Parking for this campground is located along Canal Road. Campers must sign in at the campground host site, located across Canal Road from the main camping area. The proposed project will move an existing security light away from the campground host campsite to a location nearer Canal Road and the campground sign-in location.
The existing light is rented from Allegheny Power and it is mounted on one of their power poles. The light was installed to provide security and overnight lighting to the volunteer campground host area. However, in recent years, various campground hosts have relayed concerns with the location of the light. First, it is too far away from the sign-in area and campers are forced to use flashlights if arriving after dark. Second, the campers must cross the dark roadway to sign-in. Third, the campground hosts have complained that the light attracts bugs to their campsite and is so bright it prevents them from sleeping.
It is necessary to keep a security light on site, but this project will move the light closer to the roadway, which will illuminate the sign-in area and the roadway. This will require the installation of a new pole and the moving of the existing light to the new pole. All electric connections would be aerial. The new pole will require a hole 6-feet deep by 18 inches diameter. Since the pole would be exactly 100 feet from the existing, no guide wires would be needed. Some branches from an adjacent tree will need to be trimmed for this project. The location for the new pole is within disturbed soil and will not impact the historic setting of the canal.
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.13 – Upgrading or adding new overhead utility facilities on existing poles, or on replacement poles that do not change existing pole line configurations.
The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Streamlined Review Process #9 – Maintenance or Replacement of Non-Historic Utility Lines, Transmission Lines, and Fences.
The existing light is rented from Allegheny Power and it is mounted on one of their power poles. The light was installed to provide security and overnight lighting to the volunteer campground host area. However, in recent years, various campground hosts have relayed concerns with the location of the light. First, it is too far away from the sign-in area and campers are forced to use flashlights if arriving after dark. Second, the campers must cross the dark roadway to sign-in. Third, the campground hosts have complained that the light attracts bugs to their campsite and is so bright it prevents them from sleeping.
It is necessary to keep a security light on site, but this project will move the light closer to the roadway, which will illuminate the sign-in area and the roadway. This will require the installation of a new pole and the moving of the existing light to the new pole. All electric connections would be aerial. The new pole will require a hole 6-feet deep by 18 inches diameter. Since the pole would be exactly 100 feet from the existing, no guide wires would be needed. Some branches from an adjacent tree will need to be trimmed for this project. The location for the new pole is within disturbed soil and will not impact the historic setting of the canal.
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.13 – Upgrading or adding new overhead utility facilities on existing poles, or on replacement poles that do not change existing pole line configurations.
The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Streamlined Review Process #9 – Maintenance or Replacement of Non-Historic Utility Lines, Transmission Lines, and Fences.