HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Clallam County Commissioners (2) Board of Clalla
County Commissioners
223 East 4th Street,Suite 4
Port Angeles,WA 98362-3015
360.417.2233 Fax: 360.417.2493
Email jmcentire co.clallam.wam
From the Desk of
COMMISSIONER JIM MCEN77RE
File: A31.49.16.15
MY
6 May 2014 ( 2014
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Ms. Sarah Creachbaum
Superintendent, Olympic National Park
Attention: WSP Preliminary Draft Alternatives
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
RE: Comments on Draft Olympic National Park(ONP) Wilderness Management Plan
Dear Sarah:
Thank you in advance for considering the following comments as you consider updating ONP's back-country
management plan, in the fashion styled above.
As you know, visitors to the park number in the millions annually— not all of them in Clallam County of course,
but in substantial numbers here. These visitors constitute and contribute to a vital component of our County's
economy, namely tourism, and ONP's Wilderness Management Plan must acknowledge that. Specifically,
whatever plan is eventually adopted must not create a scheme whereby it becomes harder for visitors to enjoy
ONP, and therefore, fewer visitors arrive in our county.
In fact, it would be completely consistent with GNP's enabling legislation at 16 U.S.C. 1 et. seq.;Section 4 of
the Wilderness Act (P.L. 88-577 (16 U.S.C. 1133)), and the Washington Park Wilderness Act (P.L. 100-688, 102
STAT. 3961), for the ONP Wilderness Management Plan to actually enhance visitor exposure to wilderness
areas on the North Olympic Peninsula, and in so doing, bring more of them to our area. Indeed, recreation is
squarely within the authorized uses of wilderness areas, as 16 U.S.C. 1133(b) states:
"(b) Agency responsibility for preservation and administration to preserve wilderness character; public
purposes of wilderness areas
"Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each agency administering any area designated as
wilderness shall be responsible for preserving the wilderness character of the area and shall so
administer such area for such other purposes for which it may have been established as also to preserve
its wilderness character. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, wilderness areas shall be devoted
to the up blic poses of recreational scenic scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use."
[emphasis added]
To that end, I ask that another alternative be created, since in my view, all of the alternatives created in the
draft plan point to fewer visitors than at present. That being the case, I favor none of the currently drafted
alternatives due to their obvious, adverse effect on Clallam County's economy.
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Ms. Sarah C[eaChbaU[n
6 May 20[4
Page 2
l appreciate the opportunity Lo provide these comments, and ask that you consider them favorably asyou
fashion DNPs Wilderness Management Plan.
Sincerely d respectfully,
,�Jirn McEntire
Cc: Senator Jim Hargrove �
Representative Kevin Van on
Representative SteveThadnge/
The Honorable Jay Inslee Governor, State of Washington
The Honorable Brian Bon|ender, Secretary, Washington State Department o[Commerce
Board of County Commissioners of Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Mason Counties
Cities of Forks,d'ort Angeles, and Sequim
Oa/|ann County Economic Development Council
Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau
Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission