Notice of Public Review for Hewlett Field Access Road Environmental Assessment

Date: April 19, 2010
Contact: Visitor Contact Station, 678-538-1200

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) would like to invite the public and interested parties to comment on the recently completed draft Environmental Assessment entitled Hewlett Field Access Road Environmental Assessment. The purpose of the Project is to provide concessionaires and park visitors an improved public access road to Hewlett Field and the boat launch area. This project would provide a well-designed, sustainable access road to the Hewlett Field area of the Island Ford Unit of the park. The current access road is gravel, poorly routed, and used only as an emergency/administrative access to the field. The project also includes grading and improvements to a portion of the walking trail near the visitors contact station.

Two alternatives are addressed in the EA. The Existing Access Road/No Action alternative would continue the use of the limited access existing road. The Access Road and Trail Improvement alternative (preferred alternative) would provide an alternative route west of the existing access road that has a reduced slope and improved access and turn around area. The Project would allow concessionaires and other members of the public access to Hewlett Field to drop off canoes and rafts near the boat launch area. The Access Road and Trail Improvement alternative would also include grading and paving a portion of the walking trail located near the Visitor Contact Station to provide improved wheelchair access to Hewlett Field and the boat launch area.

The Environmental Assessment may be viewed at the following locations:

• Park Headquarters - 1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
• The NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website -https://parkplanning.nps.gov
• Sandy Springs Regional Library - 395 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

You may submit comments on the document by mail to: Superintendent, CRNRA, 1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, through the PEPC website listed above or e-mail us. Please be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly available. While you can ask to have your identity withheld, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection. The public comment period is open from April 19, 2010 through May 10, 2010.