Update
on the CRMP Planning Process
January 30, 2004
To
the many people interested in the Grand Canyon:
The
National Park Service (NPS) is planning to release the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Colorado
River Management Plan (CRMP) for public review and comment
in May 2004. The NPS will seek public comment on the
Draft EIS once a notice of availability has been posted
in the Federal Register. A schedule of public meetings
will be announced following release of the draft.
The
Draft EIS will analyze a full range of reasonable alternatives
as well as a draft preferred alternative for managing
recreational use on the Colorado River from Lees Ferry
to Lake Mead.
Issues
being addressed in the planning effort include, but
are not limited to:
•
the range of services and opportunities provided to
the public,
•
appropriate levels of visitor use consistent with natural
and cultural resource protection and preservation mandates,
•
allocation of use between commercial and non-commercial
groups,
•
level of motorized versus non-motorized raft use,
•
non-commercial river permit system, and
•
continued use of helicopters to transport river passengers
from the Colorado River near Whitmore Wash.
Public
and stakeholder involvement has been and continues to
be very important in this planning process. Information
relating to the release of the Draft EIS and how the
public can be fully involved in the process will be
provided in a variety of ways including postings on
the park's website at www.nps.gov/grca/crmp.
The
NPS is committed to completing a final NEPA compliance
document by December 31, 2004. We appreciate your interest
in Grand Canyon National Park and look forward to your
continued participation in the revision of the CRMP.
Sincerely,
Rick
Ernenwein
CRMP Planning Team Leader
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