News Release

The National Park Service Seeks Public Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan Amendment for Point Reyes National Seashore and the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Date: August 8, 2019
Contact: Melanie Gunn, 415-464-5131

POINT REYES STATION, Calif. — The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) Amendment addressing all lands currently under agricultural lease/permit within Point Reyes National Seashore and the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The GMP Amendment evaluates the long term uses of more than 28,000 acres in coastal Marin County.

The draft EIS is available for a 45-day public review and comment period under the National Environmental Policy Act. This comment period will also satisfy the public involvement requirement under the National Historic Preservation Act. The draft EIS analyzes six alternatives from 20-year agricultural lease/permits with diversification and increased operational flexibility, to reduced ranching, no dairy ranching, and no ranching alternatives. This plan also addresses long term tule elk management in the agricultural lease/permit areas of the park.

The NPS preferred alternative allows existing ranch families to continue beef and dairy operations with 20-year lease/permits. Tule elk in the Drakes Beach area would be managed at a viable population threshold that is also compatible with authorized ranching. The NPS would implement a subzoning framework that protects park resources, maintains ranching, and allows opportunities for operational flexibility and diversification. The preferred alternative also identifies opportunities to improve the visitor experience and a framework for managing visitor capacity. The preferred alternative supports the NPS's ability to maintain historic resources and cultural landscapes that are integral to the Point Reyes Peninsula Dairy Ranches Historic District and Olema Valley Dairy Ranches Historic District.

The 45-day public review and comment period is open until September 23. The NPS will host two public meetings during the comment period. The meetings will be identical in format and are intended to share information and gather public comments on the draft EIS. The meetings are scheduled for late August at the following locations:

Tuesday, August 27, 2019
5–7 pm
West Marin School Gym
Point Reyes Station, CA

Wednesday, August 28, 2019
5–7 pm
Bay Model Visitor Center
Sausalito, CA

Comments may be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/poregmpa, at one of the public meetings, or by mailing or hand delivering comments to:

GMP Amendment c/o Superintendent
Point Reyes National Seashore
1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

For more information, please see our GMP Amendment Frequently Asked Questions page, our GMP Amendment website, or Point Reyes National Seashore's website.

-NPS-