Mount Rainier National Park Seeks Public Review of Camp Muir Rehabilitation Plan Environmental Assessment

Date: July 27, 2012
Contact: Karen Thompson, Environmental Protection Specialist, 360-569-6507

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Randy King has announced that an environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared for the Camp Muir Rehabilitation Plan. The analysis provided in the EA considers potential impacts and benefits of proposed alternatives intended to rehabilitate the Camp Muir Historic District, which is located in Mount Rainier National Park. Historic structures would be retained, and non-historic structures would be replaced or removed. The functions of structures would be optimized to improve visitor and employee safety while protecting natural resources, adjacent Wilderness, and the National Historic Landmark District.

Camp Muir is the primary base camp for west-side ascents tot he summit of Mount Rainier. The annual number of climbers has ranged from approximately 9,000 to 11,000 since 2001, with as many as 500 climbers and day hikers visiting Camp Muir per day during peak months of July and August. the popularity of Camp Muir and extreme environmental conditions contribute to the deterioration of structures and challenge Park managers in their efforts to maintain the site and protect resources.

Four alternatives were analyzed in this EA: Alternative 1 (No Action); Alternative 2, representing minimum development in which structures that are not historic would be removed; Alternative 3, in which non-historic structures are replaced with new structures compatible with the Historic District near their current locations; and Alternative 4, which also replaces non-historic structures with new compatible structures, but with a modified spatial arrangement.

The park is inviting comments from individuals, organizations and other agencies, and is holding three public meetings, which will be held during August in Ashford (Mount Rainier National Park Headquarters-Education Center, August 9), Tacoma (Tacoma Mountaineers, August 6) and Seattle (REI, August 1). Please check the website below for the dates, times, and venues. The EA is available electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/muirea where you may post your comments. You may also mail your comments to: Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, 55210 238th Ave. E., Ashford, Washington, 98304. Please provide comments no later than September 10, 2012.

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. Although 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.

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