Appalachian Trail Park Manager Pamela Underhill announced today that the NPS has completed the final summary report for the environmental assessment for protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail across Saddleback Mountain in Franklin County, Maine. Copies of the document are being distributed to members of the public who commented on the environmental assessment.

According to Underhill, the National Park Service has identified Alternative #2 (which would protect the visual foreground zone of the Appalachian Trail) as its "preferred alternative" in the Summary Report.

Underhill added, "As we emphasized in the report, however, this summary report is not a decision document. Negotiations with the landowner still must ensue prior to the Park Service reaching a final decision. Our decision will be based upon the outcome of those negotiations, the input that we have received from the public, and the information contained in the Environmental Assessment and Summary Report. We remain committed to a solution that both protects the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and takes into account the concerns of the Rangeley region for economic development."

Efforts are underway to schedule a negotiation session with the owners at the earliest available opportunity.

"The summary report provides a detailed analysis of the comments that we received in response to the environmental assessment, " Underhill said.

"The response was overwhelming. We received some 4,500 comments during the public comment period, a pretty clear indication of the strong interest people have in this issue." The 100-page summary report also provides a breakdown of public comments by alternative. Most respondents favored Alternative #1 (which would protect the existing Appalachian Trail experience) or Alternative #3 (which was proposed by the owners of the Saddleback Ski and Lake Preserve).

Copies of the summary report may be obtained by contacting the Park Manager, National Park Service, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry Center, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. 25425.