Park Planning

The National Park Service is required by the NPS Organic Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to plan and make informed decisions that help preserve park resources and values. The NPS carries out this responsibility by preparing studies and involving the public before making decisions that will affect the environment.

Planning projects at Lake Mead National Recreation Area include Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, management plans and decision documents, such as Findings of No Significant Impact and Records of Decision. Ongoing and recently completed planning projects can be found on the National Park Service Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website. The PEPC site makes it easy for you to review planning and environmental documents and allows you to post your comments on documents open for public comment.

Current Open Comments
Current Plans
Archived Plans

Management plans ensure park managers are guided by law, regulation, science and public input when ensuring the mission of the park is accomplished. The park's mission is governed by both the National Park Service Organic Act and the legislation that created Lake Mead National Recreation Area known as enabling legislation.

General Management Plan Amendment/Low-Water Plan/Environmental Assessment (December 2018)

General Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Assessment (September 2005)

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Glossary of Terms

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An EIS is prepared when a proposed action or alternatives have the potential for significant effect on the human environment.

Environmental Assessment (EA)
An EA is prepared to determine whether the impact of a proposed action or alternatives could be significant.

Record of Decision (ROD)
The document that is prepared to substantiate a decision based on an EIS. It includes a statement of the decision made, a detailed discussion of decision rationale, and the reasons for not adopting all mitigation measures analyzed, if applicable.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
A determination based on an EA and other factors in the public planning record for a proposal that, if implemented, would have no significant impact on the human environment.

Scoping
The procedure by which an agency identifies important issues and determines the extent of analysis necessary for an informed decision on a proposed action. Scoping, an integral part of environmental analysis, includes early involvement of interested and affected public, as well as internal and external agency contacts. Although formal scoping occurs for a specific time period, we welcome your comments on projects while we are in the process of preparing plans.

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Historic Preservation

Separate from NEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. The public’s views are essential to our decision making in regards to the many historic properties within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. As required by 36 CFR Part 800.2(d), the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, when the National Park Service plans projects that involve historic preservation, the park uses PEPC to seek public input.

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