Public Comment Period Extended on Plan to Replace Administrative Facilities at Stehekin

Date: December 12, 2014
Contact: Julie Cowen, Project Lead and Acting Facility Manager, 360-854-7261

Sedro Woolley, WA –In response to public input, the review period for the “Replacement of Administrative Facilities at Stehekin Environmental Assessment (EA)" will be extended through January 20, 2015. The EA, as well as the proposed rate structure for waste collection can be found on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SMFRP.

The purpose of the proposed action is to provide cost-effective and sustainable maintenance, fire operations, and housing critical to Lake Chelan National Recreation Area operations outside of environmentally sensitive areas. The proposed action is needed to remove the existing facilities from the Stehekin River’s floodplain, because the existing facilities are inefficient to operate and maintain, and a long-term solution for solid waste disposal must be identified and implemented. 

Existing maintenance and fire facilities would be removed from the floodplain and channel migration zone of the Stehekin River, allowing the lots to be restored to more natural conditions. In accordance with the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area General Management Plan and Final Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, new maintenance facilities would be consolidated in an area near the airstrip and would include shuttle bus storage and maintenance; equipment; a repair building; a fire cache and dorm; helicopter pad; hazardous materials, propane, and gasoline storage; and a solid waste compaction/recycling transfer facility. One single-family house would be built in one of three potential locations in the Stehekin Valley. The Environmental Assessment analyzed the impacts of a No Action Alternative and three action alternatives. Each action alternative includes a different layout for the new maintenance facility at the Stehekin Airstrip site, in combination with a different housing site. 

The Environmental Assessment identifies a Preferred Alternative and an Environmentally Preferable Alternative.

Comments may be submitted electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SMFRP or through the regular mail or by hand delivery directly to: Superintendent’s Office, ATTN: Stehekin Administrative Facilities EA, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. 

www.nps.gov/noca