News Release

Ozark National Scenic Riverways Announces Extension of the Public Comment Period for the Roads and Trails Plan Preliminary Alternatives

Date: December 12, 2017
Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

VAN BUREN, MO: Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Larry Johnson announces today that the public comment period for the Preliminary Alternatives for the Roads and Trails Management Plan will be extended through January 15, 2018. This one-month extension of the comment period will allow additional opportunity for the public to review and provide comment during the holiday season. The Preliminary Alternatives may be reviewed online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. Comments may be submitted at this website through January 15.  

The Preliminary Alternatives include detailed maps illustrating a No-Action Alternative and two Action Alternatives. A Preliminary Alternatives Newsletter accompanies the maps and provides a description of each alternative. The No-Action Alternative reflects a continuation of the current management practices within the Riverways, as established in the 2015 General Management Plan. The two Action Alternatives were developed from public and stakeholder feedback, as well as National Park Service staff input. The Action Alternatives represent alternative approaches to roads and trails management throughout the Riverways and represent the diversity of suggestions received during the public scoping process.  

Hard copies of the maps are available for review at the public libraries in several local communities, including: Van Buren, Eminence, Winona, Mountain View, Summersville, Salem, Ellington, Ellsinore, Grandin, Doniphan, Poplar Bluff and Rolla. Maps will also be available for review at park headquarters in Van Buren, located at 404 Watercress Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The comments will be analyzed to determine possible changes and help inform the selection of the National Park Service’s preferred alternative. The preferred alternative will be presented in the Draft Roads and Trails Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, which is expected to be released for public review and comment in approximately 18 months.

The public is encouraged to provide comments online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. Comments will also be accepted through the mail to:

Superintendent 
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
P. O. Box 490
Van Buren, Missouri 63965

As always, we look forward to hearing from the public and encourage all to visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar or our Facebook page for further updates. For more information, please contact Dena Matteson at [phone] or e-mail us.  

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

-NPS-

 

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