Olympic National Park plan comments to be posted by end of next month

2006-10-26

Peninsula Daily News

Port Angeles, WA - More than 500 comments were received during a public comment period for the Olympic National Park's draft management plan, the park announced Wednesday.

``We're pleased and very grateful that so many people participated in reviewing and commenting on the draft plan,'' said Superintendent Bill Laitner in a written statement.

The written comments will be available for review at the Olympic National Park Web site, www.nps.gov/olym, by the end of November.

Names and addresses of individuals who commented will be blacked out.

A paper copy of the comment letters will also be available at Olympic National Park headquarters by the end of next month, the statement said.

Those interested in reviewing the letters will be able to make an appointment to do so.

Five hundred individual comment letters were received, along with seven form letters and three petitions.

Of those, 48 were from interest groups, according to the park, while 13 were from businesses, and 16 were from local, state, or federal agencies.

Five tribes also wrote comments.

Laitner said that the comments will be addressed in the final plan, which is to be released late in 2007.

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ONP receives hundreds of comments on master plan

October 26th, 2006 - 5:46am

KONP News

(Port Angeles) -- Olympic National Park officials received more than 500 comments during the recent public review and comment period for the Park's Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. The final plan is scheduled to be released late next year. When complete, the document will be a long-term, comprehensive plan that sets a course for the park for the next 15 to 20 years. The public comment period began when the Draft document was released in mid-June and remained open for 104 days, closing on September 30th. More than 725 printed copies and 150 CD copies of the Draft GMP were distributed. The document was also available at area libraries and posted for online review at the National Park Service website. Five hundred individual comment letters were received, along with seven form letters and three petitions. Along with the hundreds of individuals who responded, 48 interest groups, 13 businesses, 16 local, state, or federal agencies, and five tribes wrote comments about the Draft GMP. The written comments will be available for review at the Olympic National Park website by the end of November. Names and addresses of individuals who commented will be blacked out and will not appear on the website. A paper copy of the comment letters will also be available at Olympic National Park headquarters by the end of November; people interested in reviewing the letters will be able to make an appointment to review the letters. In addition to accepting written comments, the park held nine public open house meetings during August. Nearly 300 people attended these workshops to discuss the plan, learn more about it and provide input.