The Zion National Park Soundscape Management Plan (SMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for a 30-day public review and comment period. The purpose of this plan is (1) to link soundscape management to the existing park management direction, (2) to define the existing ambient soundscape, (3) to provide objectives and standards for future management of the sound environment, and (4) to identify potential management actions designed to ensure that soundscape objectives and standards are met so that natural soundscapes are protected for present and future generations.
The public is invited to provide comments on the proposed plan and EA. Comments will be accepted until Sept. 3, 2010. A copy of the EA can be found on the National Park planning website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/zion. Comments can be recorded on the same website or can be mailed to: Zion National Park, Attn: SMP/EA, Springdale, UT 84767.
The public is also invited to participate in open house sessions where park staff will be available to provide information on the plan, answer questions, and take comments. The first open house will be held in Springdale, UT on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010 at the Canyon Community Center, 126 Lion Blvd. beginning at 6:00 p.m. The second open house will be held in Kanab, UT on Friday, Aug. 20, 2010 at the Kanab City Library, 374 N. Main beginning at 5:30 p.m.
To learn more about natural sounds and the National Park Service soundscape management program, please visit the following website: www.nature.nps.gov/natural sounds.
Before including address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment - including personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
