News Release

National Park Service Requests Review of the Desert View Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site Plan/Environmental Assessment at Grand Canyon National Park

Double rainbow by Desert View Watchtower 10/22/2018

NPS/Grace Lily

News Release Date: October 25, 2018

Contact: Kari Cobb, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, AZ- The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public review of a site plan/environmental assessment that proposes to modify facilities at Desert View to create an Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site.
 
Located at the southeast edge of Grand Canyon National Park, Desert View is at the east entrance to the park. Desert View provides many visitors with their first introduction and orientation to some of the park's most significant resources, including the Desert View Watchtower and its surrounding historic district. The area also offers spectacular views of the Painted Desert and the Little Colorado River Gorge.
 
Given the significance of the site, its infrastructure, and proximity to neighboring tribal lands, the NPS is proposing to transform Desert View from a traditional scenic overlook and visitor services area into an Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site. This will provide opportunities for first-voice cultural interpretation from associated American Indian Tribes-including cultural demonstrations-and enhance visitor orientation to the cultural significance of the site and park while helping inform visitors about tourism opportunities on surrounding tribal lands.
 
To accomplish these goals, the NPS is proposing modifications to existing infrastructure, relocation of underutilized facilities, and potential new construction within the existing developed footprint at Desert View. Additional information, including a newsletter on the specifics of the proposed action is available on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/DesertViewICHS. Interested parties can participate in the following public review meetings:
 
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
6 pm to 8 pm
                DoubleTree Hotel Flagstaff
                1175 West Route 66
                Flagstaff, AZ 86001
 
Thursday, November 8, 2018
                4 pm to 6 pm
                Shrine of the Ages Auditorium
                20 S. Entrance Road
                Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
 
A webinar is scheduled for Thursday, November 8 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. For additional information about the webinar visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/DesertViewICHS.
 
Public comments on the proposed action will be accepted for 30 days (closing November 24, 2018). During this time, any individual or group can submit scoping comments electronically at the PEPC website, in person at public review meetings, or via mail to Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, Attn: Desert View EA, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. The preferred method for submitting comments is on the PEPC website listed above.
 
Following the public review period, the NPS will consider all feedback and make a final decision as to which alternative (or variation of an alternative) will be implemented. This final decision document, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), will be reviewed by the superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park and, if appropriate, approved by the NPS Intermountain Regional Director.
 
The NPS is working cooperatively with a number of partners, including representatives from the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, Zuni, and Yavapai-Apache tribes, the Grand Canyon Association, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and park concessioners.   

 

-NPS-