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Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7177 Washington –The National Park Service (NPS), is accepting public scoping comments through Feb. 19on preliminary alternatives for the Georgetown Non-motorized Boathouse Zone Development Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan/EA). The NPS will hold a public meeting on Feb. 4 to discuss the project, which will study options for levels of development and services to support non-motorized water and recreational use along the Georgetown Waterfront. This scoping period is the first phase in developing the Plan/EA. Public comments will help identify any issues or concerns with the proposed project so that the NPS can appropriately consider them in the preparation of the EA. The NPS will release a final Plan/EA for public review and comment before a final decision is made.
Public Meetings
The NPS will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. at the Palisades Public Library at 4901 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. During this open house, the project team will be available to discuss the purpose and need, site characteristics, preliminary alternatives and other project information. A newsletter that describes the preliminary alternatives is available at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/nmbzeanewsletter.
The public scoping meeting will also provide an opportunity for project consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 is the process by which federal agencies evaluate effects on historic resources that are eligible for or listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
How to Comment
Members of the public and organizations are encouraged to provide comments online through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/nmbzea, which used by the agency to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process.
Comments may also be submitted in writing to: Tammy Stidham, Chief, Planning, Compliance & GIS, National Capital Region, National Park Service, ATTN: Georgetown Non-motorized Boathouse Zone Development Plan, 1100 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20242
Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by February 19, 2015 to receive consideration. Please be aware that the entire comment submitted –including personal identifying information such as address, phone number, e-mail address –may be made publicly available. Requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.
About the Project
The purpose of this project is establish a Potomac River recreation zone that more fully supports non-motorized recreation, increases the public's access to the river, improves functionality of the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) as it connects to the Georgetown Waterfront Park and respects the historic character, natural resources and existing recreational use of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Rock Creek Park. Non-motorized boating facilities are needed in Georgetown due to limited public access points for these activities along the waterfront. Increased popularity for non-motorized water sports like canoeing, kayaking, rowing and paddle boarding, and insufficient capacity at current boathouse facilities that provide access to the river and amenities like boat rental, storage and docks. The current configuration of the CCT and its connection to Georgetown does not provide safe and compatible access for pedestrians and bicyclists with motorized vehicles to and through the "zone."
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Last updated: April 10, 2015