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Contact: Christopher Stubbs, 301-714-2210
Potomac, Md. - The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to construct a proposed offshore submerged channel intake in the Potomac River for water supply at the Potomac Water Filtration Plant (WFP). Some components of the Potomac WFP are located within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal NHP) and therefore WSSC is seeking a construction Special Use Permit from the NPS. The park's enabling legislation recognizes the potential need for utility projects to cross the park and provides the Secretary authority to permit crossings "if such crossings are not in conflict with the purposes of the park and are in accord with any requirements found necessary to preserve park values" Public Law 91-644, Section 5 (b), 1971. The EA provides a decision-making framework that analyzes reasonable alternatives to meet the objectives of the proposal, evaluates potential issues and impacts to resources and values, and identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree and extent of these impacts. An Assessment of Effect (AOE) document was also prepared for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 procedures. The EA and AOE are available for review on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website https://parkplanning.nps.gov. Under "Choose a Park" click on "Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park" and follow the link to Potomac Submerged Channel Intake Environmental Assessment. Comments may be submitted electronically via the website. Written comments should be mailed to Christopher J. Stubbs, Chief, Division of Resources Management, C&O Canal NHP 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Comments must be received by August 14, 2016. NPS and WSSC also invite you to attend a public meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Potomac Community Library (Medium Room), 10101 Glenolden DR, Potomac, MD, 20854.The meeting will consist of a brief presentation and an open house format to provide you with opportunities to discuss your interests and concerns with NPS staff. Please send comments by August 14, 2016. Please be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be publically available at any time.Although, you may request in your comment that we withhold your personal information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. |
Last updated: July 1, 2016