What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and why is it part of the GMP?
By preparing a Draft GMP for Governor’s Island National Monument, the NPS is charting and recommending a course for the management of a national park for the next 15–20 years. When a federal agency proposes to take an action, such as spending federal funds or deciding how to manage federal property, the responsible agency must follow the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). For the Draft GMP, the NPS is required to prepare an EIS to meet the requirements of NEPA. The EIS describes the existing environment of the national park prior to taking any action, proposes several alternatives for taking action, and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of implementing each alternative.
