The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides numerous opportunities for public participation, beginning with public scoping. Scoping includes holding public meetings and providing opportunities for the public to comment so that their concerns are identified early and the analysis is focused on important issues. During public scoping, the National Park Service (NPS) encouraged comments on the draft purpose and need, and requested that the public identify topics and concerns that should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Commenters were also encouraged to bring forward any new information that the NPS may not be aware of that would be useful in preparing the EIS. PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED Pursuant to Section 124 of Public Law 111-88, the Secretary of the Interior has the discretionary authority to issue a Special Use Permit for a period of 10 years to Drakes Bay Oyster Company (DBOC) for commercial harvesting and processing of shellfish at Point Reyes National Seashore. The existing Reservation of Use and Occupancy and associated Special Use Permit held by DBOC expires on November 30, 2012. DBOC has submitted a request for the issuance of a new permit upon expiration of the existing permit. On behalf of the Secretary, the NPS will use the NEPA process to engage the public and evaluate the effects of continuing the commercial operation within the national park. The results of the NEPA process will be used to inform the decision of whether a new Special Use Permit should be issued to DBOC for a period of 10 years. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
PUBLIC COMMENT Download the scoping letter (32 KB PDF) for Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special Use Permit Environmental Impact Statement. The preferred method for submitting comments was via the internet through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/pore. From the main page, click on the Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special Use Permit EIS link, then on the “Open for Comment" link, and then follow the directions to comment. You may also have mailed or hand delivered comments to "DBOC SUP EIS c/o Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956". Comments were not be accepted by FAX, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others were not accepted. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – 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. SCOPING MEETINGS Download the posters and handout presented at the scoping meetings: The meetings were scheduled at the following locations: Wednesday October 27, 2010, 6-8 p.m. Thursday October 28, 2010, 6-8 p.m. |
Last updated: October 17, 2021