The National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration are asking the public to provide their thoughts on a proposal for an air tour management plan for Olympic National Park.
The plan would authorize up to 64 air tours per year over Olympic on a defined route, not including military overflights, NPS reports.
"We encourage anyone who is interested in commercial air tours over the park to share their thoughts on the proposed plan," Olympic National Park Superintendent Sara Creachbaum said. "The draft plan is based on current operations and reported air tour levels at Olympic National Park. Its purpose is to ensure that park resource values, including natural sounds, wilderness character, visitor experiences, wildlife, and other natural and cultural resources are protected."
The NPS reports that public feedback is open through August 28 through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website.
Olympic is one of 24 national parks developing a new air tour management plan, NPS stated in a press release.
The 24 parks consist of locations in 14 states and include Arches National Park of Utah, Badlands National Park of South Dakota, Bandelier National Monument of New Mexico, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park of Hawaii.
Olympic encompasses approximately 1 million acres, several different ecosystems, expansive wilderness and over 70 miles of coastline. The park also features glacier-capped mountains.
For more information about the air tour management plan and for a full list of parks, visit the NPS website by clicking here.
For more information on how the FAA is supporting the air tour management plan, click here.
