Cedar Breaks National Monument (CEBR) is beginning an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential impacts from the proposed construction of a Ranger Station at the Monument. The EA will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), other pertinent laws, regulations, and National Park Service policies.
The proposed project would be to construct a 3,200 square foot building that would be built primarily to serve visitors through offering an indoor program / meeting space for interpretive programs and to serve as a classroom space for students and school groups and for other community and visitor outreach activities. The ranger station would also serve as a base of operations and visitor contact for law enforcement, search and rescue and emergency medical activities. The facility would also provide office space for Monument staff and park volunteers who serve visitors as campground hosts, present interpretive programs, collect fees, monitor and manage the parks natural and cultural resources and for general park operations.
Portions of the building are proposed to be winterized so that it can be occupied year round; greatly increasing the potential for staff and volunteer presence during the winter months. Several locations have been proposed for the building. Two of the following locations would likely be analyzed in detail in the EA: near the caretakers cabin, near the existing Visitor Center (closer to the main road), or near the entrance to the campground.
While providing office space is a secondary function of the building, it should be noted that no “official” office space currently exists at the Monument. Since the late 1970’s park staff has used a 290 square foot seasonal efficiency apartment and a portion of a 214 square foot converted 1940’s era generator shed for office space. These areas are very small and lack the basic qualities needed to perform office tasks (adequate desk space, computer and telephone infrastructure, storage for files, secure spaces for counting and storing money, firearms etc.). In the shed, every effort has been made to make it rodent-proof; but it continues to pose a health hazard to those who occupy the space; there is only one exit and no restroom facilities available. Using the efficiency apartment for office space takes away valuable housing for seasonal employees, limiting the ability for the Monument to hire needed staff.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is located at over 10,000 feet in elevation and exhibits ever changing weather phenomena typical of these elevations.
Which means the weather can change dramatically and turn inclement at any time. Because the Monument does not have a visitor program area that is covered or enclosed or large enough to hold a group of people, interpretive programs must be canceled when severe weather occurs. This disappoints visitors who in many cases have traveled a great distance to experience this spectacular park, as well as interpretive staff who spend many hours preparing educational and thought provoking programs for them to enjoy.
The National Park Service (NPS) encourages public participation throughout the NEPA process. If you wish to submit comments during scoping we encourage you to do so online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cebr, select the link for Cedar Breaks Ranger Station EA. Comments may also be mailed to:
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Attn: Ranger Station EA
2390 W Hwy 56, Suite 11
Cedar City, UT 84720
Please submit all comments before May 18, 2009.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We appreciate your input on this project. If you have any questions, please contact Superintendent Paul Roelandt at 435-586-9451 ext. 21 or by e-mail at paul_roelandt@nps.gov.
