The National Park Service (NPS) has released the draft Porter Brickyard
Trail Environmental Assessment for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and is
seeking public comment.
Each unit of the
national park system is driven by federal enabling legislation and this
assessment is needed to ensure that the Porter Brickyard Trail, when built,
is in harmony with the legislative intent of Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore.
The Porter
Brickyard Environmental Assessment evaluates three possible alternatives in
depth. These alternatives explore a range of options for the route of the
trail through the National Lakeshore, so that park purposes and objectives
are met, park resources protected, and impacts minimized. All alternatives
are consistent with applicable NPS laws, policies, and regulations.
A written copy
of the Porter Brickyard Trail Environmental Assessment is available in three
different formats: •At http://parkplanning.nps.gov/indu
•A CD of the
document. Write Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Attention: Eric Ehn,
Management Assistant, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road Porter, Indiana
46304-1299.
•Hard copies of
the document are also available for review at the Dorothy Buell Memorial
Visitor Center at Indiana Route 49 and US Highway 20; and at Indiana Dunes
National Lakeshore Headquarters at 1100 North Mineral Springs Road in
Porter, Indiana.
The best way to
comment on the Environmental Assessment is to use the electronic form
located at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/indu.
The comment
period closed on Oct. 17 and comments must be postmarked no later than Oct.
17.
If you cannot
use the electronic form, you may mail or drop off a hard copy comment form
and/or letter to: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Attention: Eric Ehn,
Management Assistant, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road Porter, Indiana
46304-1299.
The
Environmental Assessment has three alternatives under consideration.
•Alternative A
(No Action): No new multi-use trail will be developed.
•Alternative B:
The Field-Forest Route.
•Alternative C:
Locate the trail along road rights of way.
Each alternative
addresses the potential environmental impacts to the park’s historic
structures; cultural landscapes; archeological resources; soils, air, and
water quality; vegetation; wildlife and wildlife habitat; sensitive and rare
species; recreation resources; visitor use and experience; park operations;
and socioeconomic conditions.
The preferred
alternative, Alternative B, proposes a route which would avoid a forested
wetland north of Oak Hill Road and would place the trail in the old field
west of park headquarters. The route would continue north and re-enter the
woods in an area which bypasses the wetland and larger old tress. It would
then continue north from there to U.S. Highway 12 and to the Calumet Trail.
Alternative B is
“preferred because it would best protect the integrity of the natural
resources, while providing for a multi-use trail benefiting the broadest
range of park visitors,” NPS said.
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