NARROWSBURG – With the National Park Service (NPS) issuing their substantial conformance review regarding the roughly $40-million Camp FIMFO project in Barryville, the Upper Delaware Council’s (UDC) Project Review Committee gathered on June 13 to find out why their conclusions differed from their federal counterparts.

NPS Superintendent of the Upper Delaware Lindsey Kurnath, alongside NPS Chief of Natural Resources Don Hamilton, announced their preliminary findings in their substantial conformance review presentation before the UDC. 

Before Kurnath introduced their findings, she noted that regional leadership within the NPS had withheld issuing their final determination in order for the NPS to meet with the UDC beforehand.

Kurnath’s slideshow took an in-depth look at the Land and Water Use Guidelines and principles which are set in place to protect the Delaware River when it comes to development, as well as the NPS’s definition of ‘Substantial Conformance.’

Kurnath said that “based on these two elements,” she “cannot recommend that this project substantially conforms.”

Two major infractions that Kurnath highlighted were that, according to the guidelines, “permanent structures or appurtenances on any individual campsite other than tent platforms and concrete pads are strictly prohibited.” The Superintendent noted that the Park Service also has a problem with the proposed individual onsite sewage disposal or water supply system for recreational vehicle campsites.

“As a dedicated partner in the region, we as the National Park Service, want to see all local communities prosper, and I think that goes for any development that happens here,” Kurnath said. “We want it to be balanced and we want to make sure that we are protecting the character that makes this [place] so special.”

The UDC will be holding their next Project Review Committee meeting (6:30 p.m.) and Operations Committee meeting (7:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, June 27 at 211 Bridge St. Narrowsburg.