The area to be restricted includes Ring Road, the Wall of Names, the Western Overlook Trail,Family Access Road, and Skyline Road. The closure area is indicated on the map below. The impacted closure area is delineated in the above map. It will also be noticed by physicalbarriers and staff. Additionally, at the request of the Secret Service, the National Park Service isimposing a public use limit to temporarily prohibit the below-listed items from the restricted area described above: •Aerosols •Animals other than service/guide animals •Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions (18” by 13” by 7”) •Bicycles •Balloons•Coolers•Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems •Explosives •Glass, thermal, or metal containers •Laser pointers •Mace/Pepper spray •Packages •Recreational motorized mobility devices •Selfie Sticks •Signs exceeding the size restrictions (20’ x 3’ x 1/4") •Structures •Supports for signs and placards •Toy guns •Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards Violation of the temporary closure and public use limits is prohibited. The park closure and restrictions respond to a request from the U.S. Secret Service to provide asecure staging area as well as a secure perimeter with sufficient stand-off distance to protectmultiple park visitors requiring U.S. Secret Service protection on that date. These temporaryrestrictions are also necessary to perform security sweeps of the area and to facilitate securityscreening of persons and equipment. It is the assessment of the NPS that this closure order isnecessary to protect visitors during the Secret Service’s operations given the nature of theiractivities. A copy of the Secret Service’s letter and map dated September 9, 2024, is attached,and incorporated by reference. Less restrictive measures would not suffice because, in theassessment of the Secret Service, lesser measures would jeopardize physical safety and impedethe ability to keep event participants and visitors safe. This temporary closure will not result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Theclosure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, or cultural values; nor requiresignificant modification to the resource management objectives; nor is it of a highlycontroversial nature. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication asrulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. §1.5(b). This is consistentwith earlier partial and temporary park closures or public use limitations, the legal opinion of theOffice of the Solicitor, and applicable case law. Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made throughpublic postings at conspicuous locations, physical barriers, and staff in the affected park areas, aswell as online. Secret Service staff will man checkpoints to screen for prohibited items. Finally,pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request. Approval: /s/ Stephen M. Clark Superintendent |
Last updated: September 11, 2024