Electronic Newsletter, April 19, 2005

Yosemite Falls in Winter

NPS Photo

April 19, 2005

Final Merced River Plan/SEIS Released in June

In late June 2005, the National Park Service is expected to release the Final Merced Wild and Scenic River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS). The document will be available in printed hard copy, on CD ROM, or can be viewed on the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/yose/planning.

To receive the final document, please submit your request no later than April 30, 2005. You can send your request via e-mail us. You may also fax your request to 209/379-1294 or send by mail to Yosemite Planning, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389. Be sure to specify if you want the hard copy or CD ROM.

This winter, approximately 150 organizations and members of the public commented on the draft document via letter, fax, email, and in testimony taken at public meetings. With the information gained from these comments, the National Park Service is now preparing the final version. Included will be a section describing how the plan changed from the draft to final version as a result of comments. Those wishing to see the National Park Service’s responses can consult the “Summary of Public Comments and Responses,” presented as an appendix in the final document. In the coming weeks, all comment letters and transcripts from testimony regarding the draft plan will be posted to the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/yose/planning/mrp/revision (names and addresses will be removed to maintain privacy).

In accordance to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), release of the Final Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS will be followed by a 30-day period of no action. Afterwards, the Superintendent will select and recommend an alternative to the Director of the National Park Service’s Pacific West Region. If approved, it could be signed as the Record of Decision by mid-summer 2005.

For more information regarding this and other projects occurring in Yosemite National Park, visit www.nps.gov/yose/planning.