Editor's note: The following is an unedited release from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will continue accepting comments through July 12 on a proposal to increase fees at frontcountry campgrounds and picnic pavilions along with proposed changes to the management of three campgrounds by adding them to the national reservation system through Recreation.gov. The proposal, titled “Recreational Fee Proposal Information Document,” has been available for public review since May 26. The comment process has been amended to allow anonymous comments.
The park held informational open houses on June 20 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and on June 23 at Park Headquarters where the public was invited to learn more about the proposal and submit written comments. Over 60 comments have been received to date. It is not necessary to re-submit these comments. Park officials recently learned that anonymous comments could be accepted through the National Park Service’s Planning, Environmental and Public Comment (PEPC) website. In order to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to comment on the proposal, officials have extended the comment period for an additional 14 days. All comments, including those made anonymously, will be accepted.
Details of the proposal may be found at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grsm under “Proposal to Increase Fees at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” Online comments are accepted at this website. Written comments will also be accepted by mail or e-mail addressed as follows:
• Mail: Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Attn: Proposal to Increase Fees, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
• E-mail: [email protected]
Comments
Yeah. And they will stuff the ballots with employee comments indicating that they love the fee, meanwhile the public comments, the true, non NPS comments, will overwhelm them in the NO direction.
And they will proceed to implement this fee but at a "reduced" rate. The thing that makes FLREA this biggest piece of garbage legislation ever passed is that the NPS only has to conduct public comments. They are in no way bound to honor them and have said publicly, and I quote, "Public comments do not constitute a poll".
At least they told the truth about that one. In their backcountry fee comments, the public "poll" was 85% opposed. And the fee proceeded undeterred by pesky taxpayer discontent. So with the frontcountry comments we will see the same thing.
Cash is cut of the same cloth as Jarvis. At least he has the right name to work for this agency. Ca$$hius Ca$sh. He should watch what is happening to the president of the moustache club.