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Contact: Penny Wagner, 360-565-3005
Public Meeting Set for December 13; Comments Accepted Through January 6
PORT ANGELES, WA: Preliminary alternatives for the Olympic Hot Springs Road Long-Term Access Environmental Assessment (EA) are now available through January 6, 2019 for a public review and comment period. The upcoming EA will analyze various options including a no action (current management) alternative, modifying the current roadway, or relocating it outside the floodplain—one of which will be implemented in 2021.
The preliminary alternatives are available for review and comment on the project planning website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/OHSREA. Comments may be submitted directly on this site by clicking on "Open for Comment" and following the links to review the document and submit a comment. Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. MST on Sunday, January 6, 2019.
During the public comment period, the National Park Service (NPS) will host an in-person public meeting. At the meeting, Olympic National Park and Federal Highways (FHWA) staff will be available to discuss the outcomes to date from the recent geotechnical investigation, the purpose and need for the long-term access EA, and present the three preliminary alternatives.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Thursday, December 13 at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, 401 East First Street in Port Angeles, Washington 98362. The presentation will begin at 5:30 pm followed by an open house.
“Long term, sustainable public access in the Elwha Valley is our goal,” said acting park superintendent Lee Taylor. “We appreciate the public’s participation in the planning process.”
The first step in the planning and compliance process was to complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a geotechnical investigation in order to determine the engineering feasibility of a potential road relocation. That EA was completed and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was released in late September. The geotechnical investigation and installation of monitoring instruments occurred over the last two months. At the upcoming public meeting, park and FHWA staff will discuss the initial outcomes of the geotechnical investigation as well as continued monitoring for slope stability and to inform potential road alignment and design.
Comments on the preliminary alternatives can also be mailed or hand-delivered to: Olympic National Park, Attn: Acting Superintendent Lee Taylor, Olympic Hot Springs Road Long-Term Access EA, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362.
Comments submitted by phone or email will not be accepted. Comments submitted on behalf of other individuals (either by organizations or individuals) 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: December 3, 2018