YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park has announced the release of the Big Oak Flat Welcome Center Complex Environmental Assessment (EA).
The public comment period for the EA is open until Dec. 20. The EA describes and analyzes one action alternative to improve visitor experience, address deferred maintenance, improve safety, and increase operational efficiency at the Big Oak Flat Welcome Center Complex.
The preferred alternative would:
- Construct a new welcome center to unify visitor services to replace the existing facilities
- Construct a new adequately sized comfort station to replace the aging, undersized one
- Construct a plaza with informational materials to connect the new welcome center and comfort station
- Reconfigure the existing parking lot and construct a small staff parking area to improve safety
- Install a sewer to connect the welcome center to the Hodgdon community septic system
- Decommission the aging septic system currently serving the welcome center complex
- Provide the option for the addition of a water tank and access road at a later date
Yosemite will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the private dining room at the Rush Creek Lodge, 34001 California Highway 120 in Groveland, to provide an opportunity to learn more about the project and the environmental analysis.
“Public participation is an important element of the planning process and we welcome your comments,” say park officials.
Please share your written comments by Dec. 20, via one of the following methods:
• Online (preferred method) through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BigOakFlatEntrance
• You may also mail comments (post-marked by Dec. 9) to:
Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Big Oak Flat Welcome Center Complex
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
To request printed documents (available in limited quantity) call (209) 379-1221 or e-mail yose_planning@nps.gov. The park will review comments after the public comment period closes and draft a decision document after the conclusion of agency consultation. The final decision document is expected by February 2019.
Construction for the project is planned to begin in the fall of 2019.
