09/12/2007
9/13/2007
Shenandoah National Park is nearing completion of the final draft Rock Outcrop Management Plan (ROMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA). This plan includes a Climbing Management Plan and will affect climbing areas such as Old Rag, Little Stony Man, and others.
The EA is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to analyze potential issues and impacts to natural and cultural resources, values, and the human environment as well as identifying mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of those impacts. The final draft ROMP/Climbing Management Guidelines and EA will likely be available for 30 days starting in late September.
For additional information and to comment, see www.snpclimbersalliance.blogspot.com/ or https://cms.ner.nps.gov/shen/parknews/newsreleases.htm. Contact Thomson Ling [email protected] for more details.
Great Falls Park
In September 2005, the National Park Service (NPS) released a draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Great Falls Park, Virginia. The draft Plan contained proposals with potentially serious implications for climbing at Great Falls, including cliff closures and required permits for climbing and anchor installation. These proposed restrictions are excessive considering the current level of impact that climbers have on the park. Recently, the NPS has indicated that the revised General Management Plan for Great Falls has been approved for printing. It is likely this will be available in October/November 2007.
For more information, see www.friendsofgreatfalls.com/ or contact Friends of Great Falls Chairman Simon Carr at [email protected]; (301) 320 5035.