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<DIV>The National Park Service has re-released the Shenandoah Rock Outcrop
Management Plan Environmental Assessment and Climbing Guidelines for public
comment. You can find the document on line at: </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkId=274&projectId=19298&documentID=25100">http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkId=274&projectId=19298&documentID=25100</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>While reorganized, it is substantively the same as the assessment released
a year ago, but withdrawn for "technical" reasons. <STRONG>The Virginia
Native Plant Society supports Alternative C: Emphasis on Natural Resource
Protection.</STRONG> While the NPS Preferred Alternative B: Balance
between Natural Resource Protection and Visitor Use goes a long way toward
reducing human impacts, <STRONG>"state rare plant and lichen populations would
continue to be vulnerable to damage and loss..." </STRONG>under this
alternative. Specific impacts of the preferred alternative can be found on
page 89. The growing climate crisis will make plant communities even
more vulnerable. Please take the time to comment on this management plan
and climbing guidelines and support Alternative C before December 19. We
will share the final VNPS comments before that date. The NPS announcement
is below.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>National Park Service Seeks Comments on Environmental
Assessment for Rock<BR>
Outcrop Management Plan<BR><BR>Park
Superintendent Martha Bogle announced today that the public is invited<BR>to
review and comment on the revised Shenandoah National Park “Rock
Outcrop<BR>Management Plan (ROMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA),
including<BR>Climbing Management Guidelines.<BR><BR>The EA has been prepared in
compliance with the National Environmental<BR>Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the
decision framework for the following:<BR><BR> Analysis of a
reasonable range of alternatives to meet management<BR>
objectives;<BR> evaluation of potential issues and impacts to
natural and cultural<BR> resources and values and the human
environment; and<BR> identification of mitigation measures to lessen
the degree of those<BR> impacts.<BR><BR>Shenandoah National Park has
completed an extensive three-year project to<BR>inventory the natural resources
of and assess recreation use and impacts to<BR>rock outcrops and cliff areas in
the park. The result is a Rock Outcrop<BR>Management Plan and Climbing
Management Guidelines that meet the park’s<BR>mission goal to preserve resources
and allow recreation activities at an<BR>acceptable level of impact. The
plans are based on scientific inventories<BR>and research, with involvement of
hikers, climbers, nature enthusiasts and<BR>other park supporters who could be
affected by park management decisions.<BR><BR>The National Park Service
encourages public participation through the NEPA<BR>process. The public
has the opportunity to comment on the EA until<BR>December 19, 2008. The
EA is available for review and comment on-line at<BR>the National Park Service
park planning website<BR>http://parkplanning.nps.gov/shen where comments may be
posted on-line, or<BR>comments can be sent to : Superintendent, Shenandoah
National Park,<BR>Attention: ROMP EA, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA,
22835.<BR>Requests for a printed copy of the EA can also be made by
calling<BR>540-999-3300. Printed copies of the EA are available for review
at park<BR>headquarters.<BR><BR>The National Park Service released the original
ROMP EA on October 1, 2007,<BR>but suspended review of that document almost
three weeks later due to<BR>technical problems. Comments received from the
public last October have<BR>been retained and will be considered by park
staff.<BR><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="5bf96df1b2765067cd41876838e0b72c"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. <a href="http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010">Try it now</a>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>