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For instance, the Sierra Club does not support an expanded corral area south of Frijole Ranch; dredging of Manzanita Spring; extended hours in McKittrick Canyon after dark; improved access to a seep on the McKittrick Nature Trail; construction of bridges across McKittrick Canyon; overnight use of the Pratt Cabin; restrooms and potable water system at Pratt Cabin; concessionaire operations for camping and horse facilities; improving the Meadow Nature Trail; new picnic area at Dog Canyon; new trail between Manzanita Ridge between the Tejas and Bush Mountain Trails; upgrading of recreational vehicle camping facilities; expanded corral for commercial packers or a horse concession in Dog Canyon; the large development proposed for the Salt Basin Dunes; a road from Williams Ranch to the west boundary of the park; the commercialization via corporate partnerships of the expansion of the Ship-on-the-Desert facilities; additional trails in Wilderness; etc. On page 104, Concept, where will the new trails that NPS mentions be What is their length What would be the environmental impacts of doing this The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. On page 111, Management of Human Disturbed Ecosystems and Exotic Species, the Sierra Club supports removing or killing all aoudad sheep. What does “aggressive exotic plan control”; “eradicating target species of exotic plants throughout the park (which species are targeted)”; and “aggressive monitoring and mitigation measures” mean The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. On page 111, Management of Wetland and Aquatic Environments, what does “The trail at Smith Spring would be improved” mean The Sierra Club found the trail to Smith Spring in good condition and not in need of improvement. The public and decisionmakers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. On page 111, Management of Research Natural Areas, what are the RNA’s that are being referred to How many are they Where are they located How many acres is each one What are the environmental impacts of visitors using these areas The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. On page 112, Historic Structures and Landscapes, NPS talks about preservation, stabilization, and rehabilitation of significant resources. How will NPS ensure that historic structure activities adhere to the overarching Wilderness Act requirements and prohibitions How will Wilderness character be protected The public and decisionmakers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. 22
On page 113, Visitor Experience, NPS proposes degrading Wilderness so “More visitors would be able to develop an understanding and experience of solitude because of the improved ease of access to some currently more remote areas of the park”. Wilderness needs to be visited on its terms not ours. We are not supposed to provide “ease of access”. NPS in essence proposes the degrade Wilderness to educate people to respect Wilderness. NPS teaches the wrong lesson. How will Wilderness character and abiding by the Wilderness Act be accomplished in this way The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. On pages 113-114, Visitor Access, the Sierra Club does not support “increased horse use” and “Overnight horse use” because this will result in more user conflicts; more destruction of geological features; more biological and ecological damage (like introduction of exotic plants); and more soil erosion and sedimentation. On pages 114-115, Hiking Trails, Trailheads, and Horse Use, the Sierra Club is concerned that NPS does not state what the environmental impacts will be of each of the proposed trails; what are the impacts on Wilderness character; and what are the impacts of implementation on the Wilderness Act. Some of the trails NPS talks about are not identified, their length not stated, and their location not provided. The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand Alternative C. The Sierra Club agrees that shuttle system makes sense in GMNP. The Sierra Club does not support a horse concession in GMNP including Frijole Ranch and Dog Canyon. On pages 116-117, Costs, the Sierra Club supports the employment of additional fulltime employees in GMNP for law enforcement, resource protection, and interpretation. 45) Page 118, Implementation, NPS states “The park would prioritize implementation to focus on visitor experience and safety, resource protection …”. Resource protection should be prioritized and implemented first over any other goal. What does this statement mean The public and decision-makers need this information so they can review, comment on, and understand its proposal. 46) Page 118, Implementation, the Sierra Club is very concerned about NPS’s constant reference to concessions and other privatization type operations. For instance NPS states “To fully implement the general management plan, the National Park Service, would consider other mechanisms, including partnerships and providing some visitor serves through a concession operation … Concession operations would be considered for actions determined to be necessary and appropriate commercial visitor services and would be implemented in accordance with a commercial services plan”. It is obvious, from the efforts of the Bush Administration, that this means privatizing the public “Commons” via corporate control of public resources. The Sierra Club is very 23
Page 1 and 2: Lone Star Chapter June 13, 2008 Mr.
Page 3 and 4: used with a non-motorized and mecha
Page 5 and 6: GMP/EIS as an issue topic. The NPS
Page 7 and 8: 10) Page 19, Ensure Organizational
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Page 13 and 14: people since this is a loss and dow
Page 15 and 16: 42) Pages 79-93, Preferred Alternat
Page 17 and 18: area be The public and decision-mak
Page 19 and 20: On page 93, Costs, the Sierra Club
Page 21: On pages 99-100, Management of Rese
Page 25 and 26: “achieving a balance between popu
Page 27 and 28: 67) Page 213, Introduction, pages 2
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Page 31 and 32: Therefore, the following words or p
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Page 37 and 38: 70) Page 214, Mining and Drilling,
Page 39 and 40: 88) Page 235, Paleontological Resou
Page 41 and 42: would hire more seasonal and term p
Page 43 and 44: 115) Page 248, Wildlife, NPS states
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Page 51 and 52: 4. Employment of at least 40 people
Page 53 and 54: 180) Page 278, Historic Structures,
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