Study Process

A special resource study is prepared when the National Park Service is requested by Congress to study an area for possible inclusion in the national park system. In a special resource study, a proposed addition to the national park system receives a favorable recommendation from the National Park Service only if it meets all of the following criteria:

• it possesses nationally significant natural or cultural resources;
• it is a suitable addition to the system;
• it is a feasible addition to the system; and
• it requires direct NPS management, instead of alternative protection by other public agencies or the private sector.

Click on the following steps to learn more about the process:

1 Public Start-up of Study Process (Scoping)
2 Resource Analysis: Significance and Suitability
3 Feasibility Analysis
4 Develop Alternatives-- we are here
5 Analyze Environmental Impacts
6 Draft Report
7 Final Report / Transmittal to Congress

Project Schedule: