Schedule
for the Yosemite Valley Plan
Development of the Draft Yosemite Valley Plan is taking longer than we anticipated. Park staff has been developing alternatives for the plan, and is working through the complex issues related to resource preservation and visitor experience. Some of these resource issues include protection of the river system, meadows, California black oak woodlands, wetlands, and archeological sites. Visitor experience issues include lodging, camping, concessions, transportation, and circulation. Further research and analysis is being accomplished for some of these issues, resulting in refinement of alternatives. As the environmental consequences are being assessed, the alternatives are being further revised. Additionally, due to the size of the document that will result from combining the four plans into one, additional preparation and printing time will be required.
For the above reasons, the Draft Yosemite Valley Plan will not be out
during the summer of 1999 as we had expected. Our revised schedule
is:
| Late 1999 | Draft Yosemite Valley Plan/Supplemental EIS will be released for public review and comment. |
| Early 2000 | Public open houses and hearings will be held at various locations. |
| Spring 2000 | Comments received during the formal public comment period will be analyzed and the final Yosemite Valley Plan/Supplemental EIS will be written. |
| Summer 2000 | Final Yosemite Valley Plan/Supplemental EIS will be released. |
| Summer 2000 | Record of Decision is scheduled to be signed by the National Park Service Pacific West Regional Director. Work can now be undertaken to implement the plan. |
Information about the Yosemite Valley Plan is posted on Yosemite's Planning Web Page at www.nps.gov/yose/planning.