Questions from the Jay Selectboard Meeting

Jay Selectboard members wanted to know who had precedence if there was a conflict with a project proposed on a designated Wild and Scenic river.

I answered that the only time that the National Park Service would have veto power, and therefore precedence would be under the “Section 7 Review” of projects which are federally permitted or funded (all or in part), construction/development projects, and directly related to the river and are believed would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which the river was designated.  Most often, Section 7 review results in the NPS and the Advisory Committee making recommendations for variations in proposed projects which would balance development with the protection of the outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs) for which the river was designated.  Their veto power has never been used in any of New England’s Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers.