Archive for the ‘Environmental Assessment’ Category

Smokies seeks comments on elk management

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seeking public comment on the Park's plans to transition the management of its elk herd from an experiment to a long-term management strategy. Under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the public has 30 days to provide comments before the National Park Service can make a decision. Comments will be accepted through September 27th.

Elk were first released in the national park in 2001 as an experiment to determine whether they could re-populate the lands within the Smokies after a nearly 200-year absence. The Park and biologists from the University of Tennessee have been gathering data to assess the long-term viability of elk in the Smokies, along with evaluating the impacts of elk on the Park's natural and cultural resources, as well as their interaction with humans both in the Park and on surrounding lands.

Based upon the slow growth in numbers from 52 to about 125, including 25 new calves in 2010, officials have concluded that a sustainable elk population over the long term is viable. The Environmental Assessment is being performed to evaluate alternative strategies for making the transition from the management practices employed during the experiment release phase to a long-term elk management program.

The plan the park prefers would require less intensive monitoring of elk and would mean state and tribal wildlife agencies would handle issues with the animals outside the 500,000-acre park.

The public is invited to make comments, online, by clicking here, or sending written comments to:

Superintendent
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Environmental Assessment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smokies, comments, elk management | Comments Off

Smokies seeks input on Tremont improvements

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Park officials from the Great Smokies are seeking public input on proposed improvements to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.

With the release of the Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment, Park managers are inviting written or electronic public comments on the proposal during a 30-day review process. Comments are due by April 15.

Tremont’s 10-acre campus, located 3 miles south of Townsend, provides in-depth environmental educational experiences for youths and adults in a residential setting. The Institute is a non-profit partner with the Park and is managed by its own board of directors.

The purpose of the plan is to address the deteriorating conditions of the aging facilities on the Tremont campus. According to officials, the 40-plus year old buildings and infrastructure are inadequate to meet current and future programs.

The Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment document identifies 5 different approaches for improvements to the campus, and analyzes impacts on the natural and cultural resources, as well as the projected cost of each alternative ranging from $5.9 million to $51 million.

The Park's preferred option is Alternative C. The following are the five options:

Alternative A would be no changes.

Alternative B calls for limited modifications to the activity center/dining area and dormitory with upgrades to the heating and air condition systems and waste water treatment plant.

Alternative C proposes to rehabilitate or reconstruct the institute’s existing dormitory in its current location. It also plans upgrades to rest room facilities, renovations to optimize classroom and office space, moderate site improvements, and improvements to the institute’s aesthetic appearance. The estimated cost of the improvements is between $5.9 million and $12 million depending upon the extent of the dormitory project improvements.

Alternative D includes moderate site redevelopment that calls for the construction of two new dormitories with renovations to the administration building and staff housing.

Alternative E consists of complete site redevelopment, including construction of all the main buildings: two dormitories, administration building, dining hall and staff housing.

The full document has been posted and is available for public review and comment by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Posted in Development Concept Plan, Environmental Assessment, Great Smoky Mountains Institute, Tremont | Comments Off