BUSHKILL –  The National Park Service has received a request to extend the public scoping comment period for the Susquehanna to Roseland Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), scheduled to end on March 5. Due to the high level of public interest in the project and importance of public opinion to help determine the development of the EIS, the National Park Service has decided to accept the request and extend the public scoping comment period for 7 days, ending on March 12, 2010.

Public participation is specifically required in the preparation of an EIS. The EIS will analyze a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives; evaluate potential issues and impacts to the resources and values of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail park units, and identify mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.

There are numerous ways for the public to provide comments on the public scoping phase of the planning process, including leaving a message on the Park Planning Information Telephone Line (570-426-2491), submitting comments online through a link on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment site, http://parkplanning.nps.gov (select Appalachian NST or Delaware Water Gap NRA), or by mailing comments to:

National Park Service
Attention: DEWA PPL EIS Planning Team
Denver Service Center-Planning Division
P.O. Box 25287
Denver, CO 80225-0287

Your comments will be considered as we develop the EIS. Please note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record. We will make all submissions from organizations, businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses available for public inspection in their entirety. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this at the beginning of your comment.