John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Environmental Assessment for Proposed Clarno Ranger Station Released for Public Comment

Date: March 30, 2016
Contact: Superintendent

KIMBERLY –  John Day Fossil Beds National Monument released an environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed ranger station/office in the Clarno Unit of the monument.  Public comments will be accepted until April 10, 2016. 

The Clarno Unit is located in Wheeler County approximately 18 miles west of the town of Fossil, Oregon.

A new ranger station is needed because of the current substandard condition of the water treatment building as a ranger office and vehicle storage area, including the lack of site security and safety features, and the inadequate size of the building to serve needed functions for visitor services and resource protection. The new ranger station would: improve operational efficiency for interdisciplinary staff; enhance resource protection; meet or exceed health and safety standards, and building codes; enhance visitor experience and safety; and provide visitors with a clearly identifiable emergency point of contact.

The environmental assessment describes and analyzes three alternatives for construction of the ranger station, including: Alternative 1) No Action (Continue Current Management: Retain Existing Functions at Water Treatment/Well Building); Alternative 2) Construct New Ranger Station Adjacent to Palisades Picnic Area (preferred/proposed action); and Alternative 3: Construct Ranger Station South of Camp Hancock.  

Superintendent Shelley Hall stated “We are excited to hear the public’s comments about this proposed facility that will better serve park visitors to the Clarno Unit, as well as providing a more productive location for staff to work”

The EA is available on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/clarnorangerstationor by calling the monument at [phone]. Those wishing to provide comments should submit them in writing as soon as possible, but no later than April 11, 2016 via the web, mail or e-mail as follows: 

Web: NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website:https://parkplanning.nps.gov/clarnorangerstation

Mail: Superintendent, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848

Email: e-mail us

Note: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Anonymous comments will not be accepted.

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