Environmental Assessments available for Review

Date: April 13, 2010
Contact: Sarah Haas, 435.834.4753

Environmental Assessments for Bryce Canyon National Park’s Wildlife Viewing Pullouts Project and Vegetation Management Plan Available for Public Review

Bryce Canyon National Park Acting Superintendent Jacque Lavelle announced that the Environmental Assessments (EAs) for the park’s Wildlife Viewing Pullouts Project and Vegetation Management Plan have been completed and are available for public review and comment.

 

Proposed Wildlife Viewing Pullout near East Creek Meadow

NPS

Wildlife Viewing Pullouts Project

The Wildlife Viewing Pullouts EA evaluates the beneficial and adverse impacts that the construction of five permanent viewing areas along the park's main road may have on the natural and cultural resources located in the area of the proposed project. By focusing on the effects of the construction of wildlife viewing pullouts on park resources, the environmental assessment provides information which will allow the park to better protect and conserve the existing natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

In January 2009, the park solicited help from the public in identifying issues associated with the development of wildlife viewing pullouts in the park and in developing alternatives to consider during the EA process. The National Park Service (NPS) used information gathered from the public; Federal, State and local agencies; and data generated by the NPS to complete the EA. The EA analyzes Alternative A - a no action alternative, Alternative B - the agency’s preferred alternative to construct five wildlife viewing pullouts, and Alternative C - a modified version of the action alternative that reduces the number of wildlife viewing pullouts constructed to avoid impacts to the federally listed Utah prairie dog.

 

Proposed Wildlife Viewing Pullout near East Creek Meadow (larger view)

nps

 

Rock Columbine - Part of the Vegetation Management plan

NPS

Vegetation Management Plan

The Vegetation Management Plan EA evaluates the beneficial and adverse impacts which implementation of a comprehensive strategy to manage exotic plant species and conserve natural vegetative communities in the park may have on the natural and cultural resources of Bryce Canyon. Focusing on the effects of exotic plant removal, plant rehabilitation activities, and rare plant monitoring/conservation efforts, this environmental assessment provides information which will allow the park to better protect and conserve the existing natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of present and future generations while implementing activities to preserve and restore native plant communities.

In January 2009, the park solicited help from the public in identifying issues associated with the development of a vegetation management plan in the park and in identifying alternatives to consider during the EA process. The NPS used information gathered from the public; Federal, State and local agencies; and data generated by the NPS to complete the EA. The EA analyzes a no action alternative, an action alternative that would allow for vegetation management utilizing a broad-scale integrated pest management approach (NPS Preferred Alternative), and a modified action alternative that restricts certain exotic plant control methods.

----------

We invite the public to comment on either or both EAs. The documents are available on our website at https://www.nps.gov/brca/ under management documents and also on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) webpage at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/. If you would like to receive a paper document, please contact the park at [phone].

Copies of the EAs will be available for review at the following Utah public libraries: Panguitch, Salt Lake City and at the Tropic Centennial Hall. Copies are also available for review at the following university/college libraries: Southern Utah University, Cedar City; Brigham Young University, Provo; University of Utah, Salt Lake City; and Utah State University, Logan.

The comment review period for both EAs is April 13 – May 15, 2010. Comments may be mailed to: Superintendent, Attn: Wildlife Viewing Pullouts Project EA and/or Vegetation Management Plan EA, Bryce Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 640201, Bryce Canyon, UT 84764. You may also submit comments by e-mail to the Superintendent or through the PEPC webpage.

Please be aware that names and addresses of respondents may be released if requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Anonymous comments may be included in the public record.