Time Period for Public Input Extended Until January 2, 2012

The National Park Service is extending the deadline for public comment on four preliminary alternatives that detail a future vision for the park. As part of an on-going effort to develop a General Management Plan and a Wilderness Study and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/Wilderness Study/EIS), written and on-line comments will continue to be received through January 2, 2012. Federal law requires formal publication of a notice in the Federal Register detailing the park's intent to expand the scope of the project to include the Wilderness Study. Once this notice is published, the public will be notified on park and project websites of the exact deadline for the end of the comment period.

As part of this expanded scope, additional public input related to wilderness is also being requested during the review period for GMP preliminary alternatives.

NPS Photo

The Park received hundreds of comments during the open houses held in April 2009.

The GMP/Wilderness Study will document a management vision for the entire park, including Kahuku, and serve as a guidebook for the future. The NPS has included a wilderness study to analyze whether NPS-managed lands within the park should be recommended for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. As part of this added scope of the project, additional public input related to wilderness is being requested during review of the preliminary alternatives.

The preliminary alternatives developed by the park planning team are based on previous public comments, federal law and NPS policy, as well as the professional knowledge of park staff. The alternatives detail a menu of topics including conservation of the park's natural resources and cultural significance, location of visitor and operations facilities, new or connecting trails, sustainable and climate-friendly operations, education, research, and visitor access and services at the Kahuku Unit. Wilderness eligible lands in Kahuku are also discussed.

Please see GMP newsletter #3 for a description of the preliminary alternatives and wilderness study.

How to Comment ?

There are several ways for the public to offer comments on the GMP preliminary alternatives and wilderness study outside the "talk story" sessions:

• Fill out comment form available in the newsletter
• Submit comments on-line through a link on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment site, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/havo
• Mail comments to: Cindy Orlando, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718

Comments should be received by January 2, 2012 to be considered in the preparation of the future Draft GMP/Wilderness Study and Environmental Impact Statement expected to be available for review in 2012 - 2013.

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How do I get involved?

To receive information on the planning process, e-mail us, or review our newsletters:

GMP Newsletter #1 Public Scoping, Spring 2009 (pdf-1.42MB)

GMP Newsletter #2 Summary of Public Comments, Winter 2010 (pdf-1.85MB)

Detailed Record of Public Comments (pdf-147KB)

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What is a General Management Plan?

A General Management Plan will answer "What kind of place do we want this park to be?" It will serve as a guidebook for the future to help managers make decisions about how to protect resources, what levels and types of uses are appropriate, what facilities should be developed and how people should access the park. Everything in the plan must be consistent with the park's purpose and significance and the legislation that established the National Park Service in 1916, providing for protection of the park's natural and cultural resources while inviting appropriate visitor use and enjoyment of the park.

The plan will not include detailed building designs or be able to guarantee funding, but it will serve as a blueprint that the NPS intends to follow for the next 15-20 years. The GMP will not include an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the various alternatives will be analyzed in the EIS.

What is a Wilderness Study?

Lands and waters found to possess the characteristics and values of wilderness are formally studied for possible recommendation to Congress for wilderness designation. The Wilderness Study for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will take a fresh look at wilderness potential in the park, particularly Kahuku. Wilderness potential is based on the four qualities of wilderness character and values which are defined in the 1964 Wilderness Act and include: Untrammeled, Natural, Undeveloped, Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation. The GMP/Wilderness Study will develop a range of alternatives that could result in recommendations that may alter the existing boundaries of the park’s 130,950 acres of designated wilderness. The combined GMP/Wilderness Study will be supported by a single environmental impact statement (EIS). Any new federal designation of wilderness would require an act of Congress.

Questions or Comments?

• For more information, call Park Planner Lora Gale at (808) 985-6303