The Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project requires Federal actions on the project which require an integrated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process be completed by a lead federal agency.  Their respective process would also require a National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 (Section 106) process.  General information can be found on Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) website. 

Two elements of the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project require Federal action from the National Park Service (NPS) who maintains jurisdiction over a standing land settlement agreement and the regulated floor of the Potomac River.  These actions include: 

• A deed modification to remove or adjust the current height restriction within the park necessary to construct the pump station
• A Bed of River Permit to construct the bulkhead and other waterfront improvements
   

Therefore, NPS will serve as the lead Federal agency for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project with the City of Alexandria serving as the applicant. 
 

Specific stakeholders have been specifically identified and invited by NPS to participate in this process as Consulting Parties, including State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, as well as representatives of local government agencies, boards and commissions focused on historic preservation.   Some elements of the process may also require Public Comment. If so, NPS will open publicly accessible portal link to the NPS Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website.

Anticipated Timeline

• June 7, 2024
  • NPS initiated Section 106 Consultation
  • Proposed Area of Potential Effect (APE) Identified
• January 8, 2025
  • Initial plans for a Programmatic Agreement (PA) were shared with the Consulting Parties
• June 4, 2025
  • NPS submitted the Viewshed Analysis to Consulting Parties
• July 7, 2025
  • NPS accepted comments on viewshed analysis from Consulting Parties
• Summer 2025
  • NPS sent out Assessment of Effect
• 30 Days after Assessment of Effect is Received
  • NPS schedules a Consulting Party Meeting
• October 6, 2025
  • Second Consulting Party Meeting
  • NPS will receive and respond to Consulting Party comments on Assessment of Effect at the Consulting Party Meeting
• Next Steps:
  • Following the second Consulting Party Meeting NPS will continue to develop a Programmatic Agreement for further coordination and review by Consulting Parties
  • Within sixty (60) days of the PA execution, the City must develop a draft identification and evaluation plan (Identification Plan)
  • The City will provide a digital copy of the draft Identification Plan, Recovery Plan, Monitoring Plan to the NPS, Alexandria Archaeology, SHPO, and other Consulting Parties for review and comment.
  • All comments must be received within thirty (30) days for each Plan, as listed.

Access to NPS Information

Access to all NEPA/Section 106 permitting application materials is managed by NPS. 

At their discretion and per Federal policy, NPS may open a publicly accessible portal link to the NPS Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website where the public may view project documents and provide formal public comment during a designated Public Comment period.

City-Provided Updates

The City will release electronic notifications and provide updates to the Waterfront Commission and other affiliated commissions on the Consulting Party Process and the Public Comment Period.  This page will be updated as additional project specific information is made available by NPS.