Electronic Newsletter, Half Dome EA Webinar Scheduled

Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Webinar and Open House
We invite you to join us on February 10, 2012 at 1 pm PST for a webinar or February 29, 2012 at 1 pm for our regularly scheduled open house. Both the webinar and the open house will feature a presentation on The Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Environmental Assessment. There will also be opportunities to ask our Wilderness Manager and project managers questions about the plan and the 2012 interim permit system.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) presents environmental analysis of five alternatives, including the Preferred Alternative. Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, would retain the cable system and continue managing the Half Dome Trail as it was through 2009, with no permits required. This action violates National Park Service (NPS) policy and will not be considered. Under Alternative B, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 400 hikers per day. Under Alternative C, the Preferred Alternative, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 300 hikers per day. Under Alternative D, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 140 hikers per day. Under Alternative E, the park would remove the cable system from Half Dome. If approved, the perferred alternative will be implemented for the 2013 hiking season.

We consider all public comments in making a decision. So get informed and get involved by:

• Downloading a copy of the environmental assessment at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/HalfDomeEA. Hard copies or CDs of the EA may be requested by emailing e-mail us.
• Registering for the webinar on February 10 at 1 pm, visit yose.webex.com.
• Attending the open house on Wednesday, February 29 from 1-4 pm in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium. The presentation will begin at 2 pm. Entrance fees will be waived for open house attendees.
• Commenting online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/HalfDomeEA. You may also mail your comments to P.O. Box 577 Yosemite, California 95389, c/o Superintendent, ATTN: Half Dome Plan; or send a facsimile to [phone].

The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan FONSI Now Available
A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is now available for The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/AhwahneeRehab.