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Contact: Penny Wagner, 360-565-3005
Comments on Geotechnical Investigation Accepted Through April 1
PORT ANGELES, WA: The National Park Service invites the public to review and provide input on developing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for an Olympic Hot Springs Road Geotechnical Investigation.
The preliminary alternatives can be reviewed at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OHSgeoscoping. The park’s purpose in taking action is to assess subsurface conditions of the Olympic Hot Springs Road. This action would determine the feasibility of the potential relocation of a portion of the road outside of the floodplain. The analysis of a potential relocation would occur in a subsequent environmental assessment that would address long-term planning for the Olympic Hot Springs Road.
The NPS proposes two alternatives for examination in the Geotechnical Investigation EA. The no action alternative would maintain current management practices along the Olympic Hot Springs Road. A subsequent EA to analyze the potential relocation of a one mile section of the Olympic Hot Springs Road would not be needed nor completed.
The second preliminary alternative is to conduct a geotechnical investigation. Approximately 28 borings would be drilled within the existing roadway and off-road along a one mile stretch of the slope east of Olympic Hot Springs Road to investigate subsurface conditions. Access to the off-road test boring sites would require constructing an access path up to ten feet wide and approximately 4,800 feet long. The path would start about 1,000 feet north of the Elwha Ranger Station and end about 800 feet north of the Sanders Creek temporary bridge. A 300 foot long path may also be constructed on the north side of the bridge to gain access to one boring location. Monitoring instruments would be installed at the off-road test boring sites to collect data and monitor slope stability for one year. The data would be used to determine the feasibility of a potential relocation of this one-mile section of Olympic Hot Springs Road out of the floodplain. There may be multiple trail closures needed for up to 3-days each to facilitate drilling operations in the vicinity of the public access trail.
The preliminary alternatives are available for review and comment at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OHSgeoscoping. Comments can also be mailed or hand-delivered to: Superintendent, Olympic National Park – OHS Road Geotechnical Investigation Scoping, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Comments submitted by phone or email will not be accepted. Comments submitted by individuals or organizations on behalf of other individuals or organizations also will not be accepted.
You should be aware that your entire comment – including personal identifying information such as your address, phone number, and email address – 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.
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Last updated: March 16, 2018