Mount Rainier Commercial Services Plan- Meeting

[hikerwa]

don't know if this has been posted, but it is tonight at the Moutaineers Clubhouse. come voice your opinion, good, bad, or ugly.

 

 

Commercial Services Plan/EA Comments Sought

 

 

Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announced today that the Commercial Services Plan/Environmental Assessment (EA) for Mount Rainier National Park is now available for public review. “The Commercial Service Plan will guide commercial activities at Mount Rainier National Park for the next five to ten years,” Uberuaga said. “We look forward to hearing the public’s responses to it. The plan’s preferred alternatives create new opportunities for visitors to enjoy the park, as well as increase resource protection. That’s a winning combination.”

 

The plan offers four separate alternatives in the categories of guided climbing, guided wilderness use, and guided alpine wilderness use. It offers two alternatives for managing other commercial services such as guided day trips, commercial group camping, firewood sales and towing. The alternatives also establish new limits on the level of commercial use in the park to ensure opportunities for all visitors.

 

More information and copies of the plan and environmental assessment are available by calling (360) 569-2211, ext. 2301/2303 or by accessing the park’s website located at http://www.nps.gov/mora/current/park_mgt.htm.

 

Interested individuals and community groups are invited to join the Superintendent and other park staff at one of four public meetings held to debut the plan/environmental assessment: • Yakima (Sept. 16, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) Double Tree Inn 1507 North 1st Street • Tacoma (Sept. 18, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) Washington St. History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue • Ashford (Sept. 23, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) Location to be determined • Seattle (Oct. 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) Mountaineers Clubhouse, 300 3rd Avenue West

 

Besides attending one of the public meetings, comments can be sent to: Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, Commercial Services Plan, Tahoma Woods, Star Route, Ashford, Washington 98304-9751. Comments will also be accepted via e-mail at: mora_commercial_services@nps.gov.

 

All written public comments must be postmarked by November 25, 2003.

 

-NPS-

[catbirdseat]

Note the last sceduled meeting is tonight at 6:30 pm at the Mountaineers clubhouse in Seattle, 300 3rd West.

[pete_a]

I went to the meeting last night and it was very informative. The park staff that was at the meeting definitely deserves praise for having these meetings to get the public's input.

I'd really recommend that anyone who has strong feelings about the future of guiding on Rainier send in written comments on the commercial services plan. The plan can be found here (I don't think the link in the previous thread works): http://www.nps.gov/mora/current/park_mgt.htm#CSP

 

I think it would be good if more independent climbers chimed in on the issues....there were a lot of folks at the meeting last night that were pro-guiding; owners of services, clients, and guides, and their comments seemed to outweigh those who felt that most independent climbers would probably prefer that there are non-commerical zones (like Liberty Ridge to name just one) and non-commercial days at high camps for the Kautz and Emmons (friday and saturday nights).

 

[To_The_Top]

Stuck late at work last night

I wanted to go and have been to previous ones, voicing the independent climbers needs up there. Thanks for the link.