Public Input Invited as Olympic NP Begins Planning New Olympic Discovery Trail Segments at Lake Crescent and Sol Duc

Date: July 2, 2010
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Contact: Dave Reynolds, 360-565-2985

Olympic National Park is seeking public input on proposed development of new segments of the Olympic Discovery Trail within the park. The proposed segments, along the north shore of Lake Crescent and near the Sol Duc Road, would provide a universally accessible, multiple-use, non-motorized trail along the general route of the historic Spruce Railroad grade. The proposed new trail segments are all within Olympic National Park.

The National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act.

The EA will fully describe and evaluate the environmental effects of a range of alternatives, including a proposal submitted by Clallam County.

The EA process will conclude with selection of a preferred alternative which could include one of the developed alternatives or could be a combination of elements taken from several of the alternatives.

Interested members of the public are invited to provide input on the proposed project. Comments received during this initial scoping period will be used to help define the issues and concerns to be addressed in the EA and to identify actions that would avoid or minimize impacts to park resources.

"We are pleased to be working with the staff of Clallam County in developing a range of alternatives to extend the Olympic Discovery Trail around Lake Crescent," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "We now invite the public to share their thoughts and ideas, either by attending one of the public meetings or providing comments online."

The park has scheduled two opportunities for public comment and discussion:

Public Workshop

Tuesday, July 20
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Commissioners' Meeting Room
Clallam County Courthouse
223 East Fourth Street, Port Angeles 

Public Site Visit
Saturday, July 24
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
East Trailhead of Spruce Railroad Trail
(located at the end of East Beach Road)

Park staff will be stationed at the trailhead and several locations along the Spruce Railroad Trail to answer questions, discuss ideas and accept public comment.

Comments should be submitted on-line at http://parkplanning.nps.gov, the website for the National Park Service's Planning Environment and Public Comment system.

Comments may also be sent to the following address no later than August 6, 2010.  The EA is slated for release this fall.

Superintendent – Olympic Discovery Trail
Olympic National Park
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Fax: [phone]
Website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov

Commenters should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the NPS cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

The Olympic Discovery Trail is a multi-use, non-motorized trail that will eventually stretch approximately 140 miles from Port Townsend to the Pacific Coast. The Olympic Discovery Trail follows portions of the now defunct Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. About 60 miles are completed, and about 42 of these are administered by Clallam County. Remaining segments are under construction or are in the planning and design phase.

About six miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail are currently under construction by Clallam County. Located within Olympic National Park, this new segment parallels the Camp David Junior Road on the north shore of Lake Crescent and is scheduled for completion later this year.

For more information about this project, people may visit National Park Service's Planning Environment and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov or call the park at 360-565-3004.