PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT FOR FUTURE OF SAGE CREEK CAMPGROUND, BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Badlands National Park is hosting two public meetings to gather input on the future for Sage Creek Campground, located in the northwest corner of the park, approximately nineteen miles southwest of Wall, South Dakota. Meetings will be held as follows:

Wall Community Center Tuesday, September 4th, 7 to 9 p.m.

Black Hills Visitor Center Wednesday, September 5th, 7 to 9 p.m.

Badlands National Park is considering redevelopment of the campground that is currently considered "primitive" because it is accessed by a gravel road, has no designated campsites, no water, and vault toilets. Currently, there are no limits on the number of campers and no travel restrictions within the inner loop. The campground is available year round at no charge to the visiting public.

It is the park's intent to redesign Sage Creek Campground in order to provide a limited amenity campground to accommodate a diversity of users seeking access to the backcountry while protecting park resources and providing a safe visitor experience. The setting and design will provide opportunities for a sense of solitude and close connections to the surrounding landscape by offering an alternate to fully developed camping and a threshold for backcountry recreation. Any facility development and visitor use will be managed to minimize impacts to associated natural and cultural resources. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Badlands National Park is initiating an Environmental Assessment to consider redevelopment of this visitor facility that is located on the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp of the 1930s. The Environmental Assessment will analyze program alternatives and their impacts to the natural and cultural resources of the park.

Specific questions to be answered by the public:

· What aspects of the campground do you enjoy?

· Why did you choose this campground?

· What would you change about the campground?

· Under what circumstances would you be willing to pay a camping fee? (Examples: Provision of drinking water, availability of campground hosts)

Written comments should be sent by September 30, 2001 to:

Superintendent

Badlands National Park

P.O. Box 6

Interior, South Dakota 57750

Emailed comments to: Badl_planning@nps.gov

To learn more about Badlands National Park and its resources, virtual visitors should go to http://www.nps.gov/badl/ Click on IN DEPTH to get to the park's expanded website or call (605) 433 - 5361 and request a copy of The Prairie Preamble, the park's activity guide.