The National Park Service (NPS) has embarked on a Special Resource Study to evaluate potential NPS involvement at Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL). In January 1999, the Department of the Army declared approximately 70 buildings and associated land at Fort Hunter Liggett to be excess to their needs, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The NPS expressed possible interest in re-use of 63 of these buildings and lands, and was authorized by Congress in November 1999, to prepare a Special Resource Study to determine the feasibility of NPS involvement at Fort Hunter Liggett.

In addition to examining the excess buildings, the study will determine with the Army whether there are additional value-added opportunities on the 165,000-acre base for increased visitor access and cooperative resource management. The study will also address long-term preservation of FHL's resources in the event that additional portions of the base become excess to the Army's future needs.

During the special resource study process, the NPS will: 

• evaluate the feasibility of managing the 63 buildings and approximately 100 acres that have been declared excess by the Army; 
• evaluate the significance of the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Fort Hunter Liggett; 
• assess the suitability and feasibility of National Park Service involvement with the Army at Fort Hunter Liggett to provide increased visitor use opportunities and cooperative resource management; 
• assess the suitability and feasibility of including future excess Fort Hunter Liggett lands in the National Park System, if any additional portions of FHL are declared excess to military needs in the future; 

make recommendations to Congress regarding any long-term involvement of the National Park Service, which would require authorization by Congress.

The first step in the Special Resource Study process is "scoping", whereby public and agency input is sought on factors that should be considered in the study, including resources, issues, and the range of alternatives that should be considered. The NPS held public scoping meetings at Fort Hunter Liggett and in King City and Salinas on August 2-5, 2000, in order to present information on the study and to listen to public ideas, interests, and concerns. The NPS also posted study information on the study website, and mailed Question and Answer factsheets and scoping comment forms in order to seek further input.

The following concerns, clarifications, and questions, sometimes conflicting, were offered by people attending public scoping sessions conducted in August and through letters and e-mail received to date. The comments are presented as they were recorded at the scoping meetings, but have been reorganized into several categories. The planning team will review and consider all of the comments received to date in developing alternatives for future NPS involvement at Fort Hunter Liggett.

Clarification on Army actions

• Approximately 1/3 of the base building area was determined to be excess to the Army's needs under a partial BRAC realignment
• The Army has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the BRAC realignment 
• Eight of the excess structures are to be transferred to the Navy SeaBees

• The NPS study should be limited to the buildings and associated land declared excess by the Army 
• The NPS study should examine the resources of the entire 165,000 acres of FHL

• There must be no negative effects on training operations
• What impacts would there be on National Guard training from Camp Roberts, or future expansion of training activities?

• Protect cultural resources from impacts associated with increased visitor access. There should be no access to sensitive cultural resources unless protection is guaranteed 
• Provide access for elderly visitors
• Consider extending the same access privileges as those currently enjoyed by hunters and fishermen to other groups such as wildlife photographers, botanists, artists, and naturalists 
• Increased access would necessitate safety measures for existing housing areas 
• Cleanup up of hazardous materials and unexploded ordnance would be required
• Determine visitor carrying capacity 
• Current access is limited by the Army
• Consider restoration of access through FHL along Sulfur Springs Road

The Hacienda

• Army already has partnerships with various hunting/fishing agencies and organizations
• Hunting interests wish to retain access through Los Padres National Forest 
• The Army is closing the primitive campground 01/01/2001 
• The Army will continue to manage the hunting and fishing permits
  

FHL oaks

Protection of resource values

• Much of the area between Mission San Antonio and the National Forest is oak savanna habitat, a valuable and diminishing California wildlife resource
• Long-term preservation of resources is important
• FHL is a valuable resource for researchers and scientists
• Manage buildings on Jolon Road -Tidball Store, Dutton Hotel, etc.
• Jolon is a true ghost town; there is potential for re-creation of Dutton Hotel, the Dance Hall, the school, and Garcia's saloon
• The upper San Antonio River area, specifically the area of the Mission aqueduct, should be a focus of the study. The condition of the Mission aqueduct system should be assessed and interpreted
• Continued protection of archaeological sites and other cultural resources is critical - they are not a "renewable resource"
• Cultural sites are currently protected by difficulty of access
• Information about cultural site locations must be kept secure
• The FHL Historic Preservation Plan is working - sacred sites must not be open to the public
• Concessionaires should maintain scenic and cultural integrity of Hacienda and other properties
• Need to educate public about traditional uses of FHL (hunting, etc.)
• Overlapping eras of history; preservation of "Old California" versus commercialization
• The Salinan Nation will exhibit artifacts at the Tidball Store
• The whole of cultural sites is greater than the sum of the parts

• Another retail facility like the Jolon General Store is needed
• The Fire Academy can continue to use facilities
• There is high demand for Hacienda rooms, food, and souvenirs - should advertise their availability
• Housing opportunities for USFS employees
• Lease excess facilities back to the Army
• Hacienda could be a stop on regional wine tour
• There is interpretive potential with the Hacienda connection to Hearst Castle
• Opportunities for schools to study history
• Roadside turnouts or wayside interpretation
• Removal of visually intrusive buildings, such as the tin barn fire station and some of the motel-style housing units; no additional buildings should be built
• Continue opportunity for hunting and fishing
• Hiking trails to connect to Los Padres National Forest
• Rehabilitate damaged lands
• Concern about drug rehabilitation and homeless shelter use of excess facilities if NPS doesn't take them

• A new model of public use of military land is needed
• Involve local people in decision making
• Partnerships with California Department of Fish and Game and US Fish and Wildlife Service are in place
• USFS has interest in former USFS lands that were transferred to FHL, if determined excess in future by the Army
• Potential for California Department of Parks and Recreation operation of Hacienda
• Coordination with Monterey County's proposed San Antonio Historic District Plan
• Continuation of Salinan Nation lease on the Tidball Store
• National Historic Landmark nomination of additional sites/district should be re-addressed

• The Army has done a good job protecting resources at FHL
• What types of management possibilities will be considered in the study?
• What would "cooperative management" mean?
• What potential value would be added by a NPS presence on the base?
• Will there be any changes to the Hacienda or limitations on use? Will there be a "tie-in" with San Simeon Hearst Castle?
• Future use and management of Hacienda will require financial backing for restoration and repairs
• There are access limitations to Hacienda under the current concessionaire operation
• Future concessionaires
• Infrastructure investment is needed at Tidball Store
• Continued maintenance of excess housing
• Safety: law enforcement staff needed to support increased visitor use
• Firearms control vs. hunting activities
• Investment requirements for excess property - is this a "turn-key" operation?
• There is unexploded ordnance on the post, and there may be other hazardous materials. What are the potential clean-up costs, and who would be responsible for this?
• Will NPS operate the excess facilities?
• Who would use the excess housing and who would determine who stays there?
• Prescribed burns are effective for fire management
• Eradication program is needed for yellow starthistle
• Website for training, visitor, hunting and fishing coordination

Oak savanna along Jolon Road

Potential impacts

• Impacts on the local economy
• Does the NPS study include road networks and the associated pollution and congestion?
• Impacts of park designation on regional infrastructure, such as increased costs of road maintenance associated with increased visitor use
• Impacts of increased visitation on Mission San Antonio de Padua

• Avoid boarding up excessed buildings as at Fort Ord
• Comparison to Presidio closure: do not evict existing occupants
• Compare to other parks with historic structures and lodging
• Removal of unneeded buildings
  

Sources of information

• A Hearst Castle Collection book will soon be available
• The Army inventory of plants and animals should be included in the study
• Landscape architecture students at Cal Poly prepared a historic preservation study for Jolon Valley titled Path to the Past
• Publication titled Entrada details Hispanic presence and interpretation in the National Park System
• The San Antonio Valley Historical Association has archives on cultural resources in the study area, which are slated to be housed at a museum in King City
• San Luis Obispo Historical Society
• Refer to Fort Hunter Liggett Historic Preservation Plan
• Friends of Historical San Antonio Mission
• Natural Reserve System offers expertise in creating research opportunities
• Monterey County Agriculture Commission
• California Cattlemen's Association
• Salinan Nation
• US Forest Service
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Conservation organizations: Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, California Native Plants Society, Environmental Defense Center, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO)

• Access to The Indians via Arroyo Seco Road
• Monterey County has special use permits for Arroyo Seco access route
• Reconstruction of San Lucas/Lockwood Road
• Road access from Bryson to connect with road to San Simeon estate
• Road to Jolon is too steep

Tule elk at FHL