Public Comment Invite on Dune Proposal

Date: November 9, 2012
Contact: Karl Pierce, 915-828-3251 ext 2300
Contact: Janet Coles, 915-828-3251 ext 2400

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to enhance visitor amenities at the Salt Basin Dunes, in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, to improve visitor access and encourage increased visitor experiences in this scenic and ecologically unique area. The public, organizations and other agencies are invited to review and comment upon the Environmental Assessment (EA) describing and analyzing the proposal. The Environmental Assessment (EA) is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and can be found at the NPS planning site https://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/gumo. Visitor access to the Salt Basin Dunes has been addressed in the park's Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (February 2008), which may also be found at the NPS planning site.

The proposed new facilities will be located on the west side of the park at the Salt Basin Dunes, which includes the second largest gypsum dune field in the United States, as well as cultural sites, wildlife and plant life. The area was added to the national park in 1998 and has been accessible to the public on a limited basis. The new facilities will provide better access, more parking, a vault toilet, a picnic shelter and informative signs.

The 30-day review and comment period starts November 9, 2012 and continues through December 10, 2012, and comments may be submitted during that time, via the electronic public comment form on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) System at https://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/gumo/, which is the preferred method, however comments may also be handdelivered or mailed to Superintendent, Attention Salt Basin Dunes Enhance Access, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, 400 Pine Canyon Drive, Salt Flat, Texas 79847. Please direct any questions to Janet Coles, Chief, Resource Management, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, 400 Pine Canyon Drive, Salt Flat, TX 79847, Tel. [phone] x2400, email: [e-mail].

Notice Regarding Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, or other personal identifying information of respondents who provide that information, available for public review following the conclusion of the environmental assessment process. Individuals may request that the NPS withhold their name, address, telephone number, email address and/or other personal identifying information from public disclosure. If you wish to do this, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. Commentators using the website can make such a request by checking the box "keep my contact information private." NPS will honor such request to the extent allowable by law, but you should be aware that the NPS may still be required to disclose your name, address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We will make all submissions from organizations, businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses available for public inspection in their entirety.