Monday, Aug 6, 2007
The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division, is proposing to repair and rehabilitate the North Unit Scenic Drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, McKenzie County, North Dakota.
Under the NPS preferred alternative, proposed work includes: resurfacing the road with asphalt pavement; installing, replacing, or relining culverts where necessary; cleaning roadside ditches; installing guardrails as needed; and stabilizing the banks of Squaw Creek adjacent to Juniper Campground. An 850-foot-long segment of the roadway in Cedar Canyon would be excavated and rebuilt, with under-drains installed to eliminate damage from water seepage. Parking areas and pedestrian walkways would be reconfigured slightly, repaved, and leveled to meet the standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to provide the decision-making framework that 1) explores a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates potential issues and impacts to park natural and cultural resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree of extent of these impacts.
Comments on this EA may be submitted to the park through several means. Reviewers with internet access are encouraged to submit comments directly into the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) database at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/. Documents relevant to the park and the road repair project are available at this site for public review. They are listed along with instructions on how to provide comment in the PEPC database. Alternatively, reviewers may send comments by fax to 701-623-4840, mail or deliver them in person to the park, or e-mail comments to thro_forum@nps.gov.
To receive a hard copy of the EA or receive additional information about the project, contact Chief of Resource Management Bill Whitworth by telephone at 701-623-4730 extension 3407 or via e-mail at bill_whitworth@nps.gov. Copies of the EA are also available by writing: Superintendent, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, P.O. Box 7, Medora, ND 58645.
The EA will be available for public review for thirty days and comments must be provided no later than August 14, 2007.
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