December 31, 2024: Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service (NPS) is temporarily implementing rolling closures to park roads and trails noted below. Closures will restrict all public access and travel ona case-by-case basis from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., December 30, 2024, to February 10, 2025. The closures will be enforced to implement the approved White-tailed Deer Management Plan as described in the Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. During implementation, the closures will be designated by posted signage, roadway gates, and employee and law enforcement officer direction. Violation of closures is prohibited. Temporary closures from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in Fort Dupont Park include:
The temporary closures are necessary for public safety when, as part of the Deer Management Plan, deer reduction actions will occur after dark. Other safety measures will also be in place to protect park visitors and neighbors. These include the use of highly trained biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture who will work under the direction of National Park Service resource management specialists and in coordination with the U.S. Park Police and local law enforcement. Implementing the plan is a critical step toward ensuring the forest can support native plants and animals in a sustainable manner for this and future generations. The temporary closures are not of a nature, magnitude or duration that will result in a "significant alteration in the public use pattern." Other nearby roads will remain open to the public. Because deer management operations will use park roads, these roads will need to be closed to ensure public safety. Although there has been some public controversy regarding deer reduction actions, there is no controversy as to the need for these road closures and other such measures to protect park visitors and neighbors, so these closures are not of a "highly controversial nature." Accordingly, the National Park Service determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register, is unwarranted per 36 C.F.R. § l.5(b). This determination is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial or temporary closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications that have upheld other National Park Service closures and public use limitations to include Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C.1994) affd in part w/o op. 56 F. 3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995); ANSWER Coalition v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 22, 2002), plaintiffs emergency motion for appeal for injunction pending appealed denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curium); Picciotto v United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C. August 6, 2000); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); and Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C. December 7, 1987). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary closure will be made through media advisories, officer and employee directions, roadway gates, and the posting of signs at conspicuous locations in the affected park areas. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request. |
Last updated: February 13, 2025