North Rim Campground Rehabilitation

Finding of No Significant Impact
June 2003

This FONSI covers two projects on the North Rim: Campground Rehabilitation and Water Distribution System Improvements.

This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is available as a PDF file. PDF files retain the look and feel of the original document (including typography, page layout, and graphics).

The PDF file can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or newer). If you plan on printing the file, it may print faster if you download it to your computer. To view a PDF in your browser window, click on the file link and the Acrobat Reader plug-in will automatically load and display the file. To download a PDF to your computer, right-click on the PDF link and choose the "Save Link/Target As" option from the drop-down menu. After saving the file to your computer, click on its alias/icon and Acrobat Reader will launch and open the PDF for viewing and/or printing. PDF file - FONSI EA/AEF North Rim Campground Rehabilitation & Water Distribution System Improvements - 287kb

Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect
March 2003

This EA covers two projects on the North Rim: Campground Rehabilitation and Water Distribution System Improvements.

Grand Canyon National Park proposes to rehabilitate the North Rim campground including actions such as resurfacing roads, removing the existing fee collection kiosk and replacing it with a larger fee collection station near the existing parking area, rehabilitating existing restrooms, and constructing new restrooms in the group site. Grand Canyon National Park also proposes to improve the North Rim water distribution system, including the establishment of a fire protection system by replacing undersized and leaking antiquated piping, adding or replacing fire hydrants where necessary, upgrading a pressure booster (pumping) station, and connecting existing reclaimed water piping hydraulically to the potable water system. The campground proposal is needed to address poor road conditions, a registration kiosk that is too small and does not meet current needs, vehicle stacking in front of the camper store and vehicle exit from the campground, and inadequate restroom facilities. The water distribution system proposal is needed to address inadequacies in delivery volume and pressure throughout the potable water distribution system, leaking pipes and an inadequate number of fire hydrants.

This Environmental Assessment evaluates three alternatives for addressing the purpose and need for action, including a no action alternative and two action alternatives. Both action alternatives include upgrading the existing water distribution system through replacement of existing piping, use of the existing reclaimed pipeline for potable water for the fire protection system, installation of a new pumping station, replacement of some fire hydrants and the addition of some new fire hydrants. Both alternatives also include repaving roads within the campground, rehabilitating five existing campsites into universally accessible campsites, campground restroom and walkway rehabilitation, and construction of one comfort station and one vault toilet at the group site. The primary difference between the action alternatives is the way in which the campground entry is addressed. Alternative B also includes reconfiguration of the campground entrance to include construction of a new entrance and exit, removal of the existing campground kiosk and replacement with a new drive-up fee collection kiosk, and construction of four new tent campsite spurs. Alternative C includes the removal of the existing campground kiosk and the construction of a new walk-up registration building adjacent to the existing parking area, while maintaining the current campground entrance configuration.

Neither action alternative would have measurable impacts to air quality, soundscape, floodplains and wetlands, environmental justice, prime and unique farmland, or the socioeconomic environment. Both action alternatives would result in negligible to minor adverse impacts to soils and water, minor adverse impacts to general wildlife populations, negligible to minor adverse impacts to special status species, and minor to moderate impacts to visitor experience and park operations that would be beneficial in the long-term, but adverse in the short-term during construction. Both action alternatives would result in minor to moderate beneficial impacts to historic structures with improvements in the fire protection system and campground restroom facilities. Alternative B would result in the loss of integrity of the historic campground entrance road, while Alternative C preserves this historic configuration. Alternative B would result in the removal of approximately 41 - 58 trees while Alternative C would result in the removal of approximately 14 - 28 trees. Public Comment period for the EA/AEF ended April 30, 2003.

PDF file - EA/AEF North Rim Campground Rehabilitation & Water Distribution System Improvements - 2.9mb

Scoping Letter
November 2000

On November 29, 2000 the National Park Service sent out a Scoping Letter seeking comments on proposed North Rim projects. The purpose of the scoping letter was to describe the initial proposed action for several projects and to solicit comments from those who might have had issues or concerns regarding the proposal before the environmental analysis for the project was begun. Public comment for the Scoping Letter ended January 8, 2001.

PDF file - Comments on proposed North Rim projects, general scoping letter - 454kb