Elwha Watershed Information Resource

As part of the Elwha River restoration, the National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). These statements contained detailed information on impacts to the environment and proposed alternative actions.

The lead federal agency on a project with potential environmental impacts is required to prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NPS was designated as the lead agency on the Elwha project as part of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act, which was signed by President George H. W. Bush on October 24, 1992.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was established through the NEPA Act. The CEQ oversees NEPA by "gathering information on the conditions and trends in environmental quality; evaluating federal programs in light of the goals established in Title I of the Act; developing and promoting national policies to improve environmental quality; and conducting studies, surveys, research, and analyses relating to ecosystems and environmental quality." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act is required to review and publicly comment on Environmental Impact Statements.

The NEPA process:

• If a proposed project has no significant environmental impacts (according to existing criteria), an EIS is not required.
• If there are no prior criteria to assess a proposed project, the lead federal agency prepares an environmental assessment (EA) to determine if the project would affect the environment.
• If the EA shows significant (that is, adverse) environmental consequences, then the lead agency must write a draft EIS that includes the purpose of the project, environmental consequences, and alternatives. (A federal, state, or local agency may contribute in the NEPA process.)
• The public and other agencies can review and provide comments on the draft EIS during a designated comment period.
• The Environmental Protection Agency is required to review and publicly provide comments on the EIS (under the Clean Air Act).
• After the review period, the lead agency will prepare a final EIS that addresses comments and concerns in the EIS and how these comments were incorporated into the agency's decision making process. It is then reviewed by the EPA for final approval.

The final EIS for the Elwha restoration project calls for the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams to accomplish the tasks stated in the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act: to restore the river's ecosystem and its native anadromous fish runs. The final EIS was prepared by NPS (with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe).

Environmental Impact Statements on the Elwha Ecosystem

The following is a summary list of draft and final environmental impact statements pertaining to the Elwha restoration.

November 2005 - Record of Decision on Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Implementation. Download.

July 2005 - Final SEIS on Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Implementation. Download.

January 2005 - Draft SEIS on Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Implementation. Download.

November 1996 - Final EIS on Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Download.

April 1996 - Draft EIS on Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Download.

June 1995 - Final EIS on Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration. Download.

Additional Information

National Environmental Policy Act. 2005. NEPA Task Force.

National Park Service. 1996. Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration, Draft Environmental Impact Statement. National Park Service, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington, 98362.