Public Input Sought on Draft Environmental Assessment for Construction at Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park has available for public review and comment a draft Environmental Assessment on the construction of a new building complex within the Cedar Pass Developed Area, located in Jackson County. This assessment is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The building complex will consist of a new fire cache, resource management storage building, and museum storage building with associated parking and utilities. The building complex will be built in stages, as funding becomes available. These buildings are intended for administrative use and will not generally be open to the public. The proposed building site is approximately 1.5 acres of relatively flat prairie located between the Park Housing Area and the Maintenance Facility adjacent to the Maintenance Road. The site is not visible from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Buildings will be situated for maximum shielding by Badlands buttes so that they are not easily visible from the Cedar Pass road or overlooks. Buildings and utilities will be constructed according to standard building codes.

To review a copy of the Environmental Assessment Contact Linda Williams at (605) 433-5265 or email her at linda_williams@nps.gov. Reviewers are invited to submit in writing any issues or concerns regarding this proposed development. Please direct comments to Superintendent, Badlands National Park P.O. Box 6 Interior, SD 57750 or email to BADL_Planning@nps.gov Comments must be received by August 14, 2002 to receive consideration. Once the environmental assessment is finalized, it will be available from the park upon request.

If you have any questions regarding this project, contact Chief of Natural Resource Management Brian Kenner at (605) 433-5260.