CRATERS of the MOON General Management Plan

A visitor study was conducted at the monument by the University of Idaho Cooperative Park Studies Unit during the summer of 1988. The study confirmed general impressions about visitors, their points of origin, and activities while at Craters of the Moon. Those surveyed were asked "If you were planning for the future management of Craters of the Moon National Monument, what would you propose?" The suggestions were quite wide-ranging; however, it would be inaccurate to say that visitors identified major problem areas since many of the comments were made by one or two persons. All comments were considered when the alternatives were developed.

As part of the scoping process, a public meeting was held in Burley, Idaho, in July 1988 to discuss the park expansion proposal and receive input from the public for the general management plan. Virtually all comments addressed park expansion. It was agreed that further attempts at public meetings in the region would prove futile as long as the expanded park issue remained.

The draft General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for Craters of the Moon National Monument was open for public review and comment from December 23, 1991, until February 7, 1992. Draft copies were mailed to 100 individuals and organizations. A press release was sent to all area media, and two television stations and three local news papers reported on the plan. Written comments were accepted until February 17 to allow for delay of mail.

To offer the public an opportunity for informal discussion of the alternatives and the draft plan, open houses were conducted in Arco, Burley, Idaho Falls, and Ketchum in January 1992. A total of 20 persons attended the four meetings, at which comments were generally favorable. Participants were encouraged to send written comments to the superintendent.

Special briefings on the draft plan were conducted for the Bureau of Land Management, the Idaho Conservation League, the Sierra Club, the Butte County commissioners, the Lost River Joint Chamber of Commerce, and the staffs of Senators Steve Symms and Larry Craig. Congressman Richard Stallings and his staff were briefed directly.

Nine comment letters were received, of which seven supported the proposed plan and two opposed it on the grounds of cost. The letters are on file at monument headquarters. Where appropriate, the plan has been modified in response to comments received in letters and at open houses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS