Hopewell Furnace NHS is inviting you to read and comment on Hopewell Furnace NHS Trail Plan Environmental Assessment and Assessment of Effect. The comment period ends at close of business July 20. You can download the document and comment at the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) here:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=81654
Within PEPC, please click on the ‘Open for Comment’ link to review the document and provide comment.
Your input is important! I hope you can take the time to provide feedback.
Through this trail plan, the National Park Service (NPS) is exploring options to improve wayfinding, trail use information, and trail connections the park, including the existing approximately 12-mile network of pedestrian and equestrian trails. Some park trails are connected to trails within the surrounding French Creek State Park and Natural Lands’ Crow’s Nest Preserve. There also has been a recent growth of regional trail networks in the Schuylkill River area. This trail plan is needed because the park does not have a full understanding of the existing trail network, including conditions of trail surfaces and signage, maintenance needs, clarity of existing connections to surrounding public lands, and opportunities for connections that expand the visitor experience while protecting park cultural and natural resources.
This document was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This environmental assessment/assessment of effect evaluates the impacts of a no-action alternative and two action alternatives. The no-action alternative would include the continuation of current trail management. The action alternatives would include different options for improved wayfinding, connectivity, and bicycle use in the park. The alternatives would result in both beneficial and adverse impacts on visitor use and experience, cultural landscape and historic structures, and archeological resources. These impacts would be associated with changes in trail use, new trails, changes in historic appearance, ground-disturbing activities, and construction activities.
Many thanks for your assistance with this important project!