Public Review and Comment Period Extended for Olympic National Park Draft General Management Plan

Date: August 18, 2006
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

The public review and comment period for the Olympic National Park Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GMP/EIS) has been extended for an additional two weeks, Superintendent Bill Laitner announced today.

“We recognize that summer is a busy time for people and that the Olympic Draft GMP/EIS is a lengthy document,” said Superintendent Laitner. “We read and consider every comment we receive and hope that an extra two weeks will give more people a chance to review and comment on the plan.”

The public comment period is now open through September 30, 2006. The Draft GMP/EIS was released in mid-June for public review and comment; the original 90-day public comment has been extended by 14 days. 

People interested in reviewing the draft plan may visit the National Park Service planning website. A printed or CD version of the document by calling [phone].

Comments may be mailed or faxed to:

Olympic National Park General Management Plan

National Park Service

Denver Service Center

P.O. Box 25287

Denver, Colorado 80225

Fax: [phone]

Comments may also be emailed to e-mail us or submitted online by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/olym. Comments must be postmarked on or before September 30, 2006.

A total of nine public open house meetings have been scheduled for people to make oral and written comments about the plan. Five meetings have already been held; four more are scheduled for next week and are listed below.

Carrie Blake Park – Guy Cole Hall 202 North Blake Street Sequim, WA 360-683-4139	August 21	5 pm to 8 pm
Central Kitsap High School Cafeteria 3700 NW Anderson Hill Road Silverdale, WA 360-662-2400	August 22	5 pm to 8 pm
Shelton Civic Center 525 West Cota Street Shelton, WA 360-426-2842	August 23	5 pm to 8 pm
Seattle REI 222 Yale Avenue, North Seattle, WA 206-223-1944	August 24	5 pm to 8 pm

When complete, the GMP/EIS will be a long-term, comprehensive plan that sets a course for the park over the next 15 to 20 years. The document describes several proposed alternatives for managing the park, including the National Park Service’s draft preferred alternative. The environmental impacts of each proposed alternative are also analyzed. The Draft GMP/EIS contains extensive information about current conditions in Olympic National Park, including visitor facilities and access, natural and cultural resources and the park’s role within the surrounding region

The NPS draft preferred alternative aims to protect natural and cultural resources while improving visitor experiences and was developed using components of the other alternatives and the extensive public input provided earlier in the planning process. 

For more information about the Olympic National Park Draft GMP/EIS, people may call the park at 360-565-3004.

- NPS -