Andy Fitz
01-28-2006, 01:30 PM
Last year, the Department of Natural Resources announced it was going to develop new regulations to address recreation on DNR-managed lands. A number of Washington crags are on DNR land, including Little Si, the “Far Side” at Exit 38, and the Bat Cave cliffs near Bellingham. DNR asking the public to help “scope” an environmental impact statement to accompany its rulemaking.
We wrote a letter on behalf of the WCC (copied below) that asked DNR to include climbing in the scope of the EIS. That way, when the new rules are adopted, climbing doesn’t get left out. I recently got DNR’s response to all the scoping comments it received. Here’s the cover message with a link to the responsiveness summary:
This is to advise you that the Responsive Summary for the following project has been issued and is available for review on DNR's website at:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/sepa
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intends to revise Chapter 332-52 WAC regarding recreation and public access on DNR-managed lands.
The lead agency has identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS:
1. General rules: apply to the use of fire, firearms and alcohol on public lands.
2. Road Use: describes general rules governing vehicle use on DNR-managed roads; included in this category, the use of recreation vehicles on roads is described.
3. Developed Recreation Facilities: will address any DNR-built site, trail or structure on public land for recreational purposes. Specific rules for campgrounds and water recreation sites are outlined in this category.
4. Organized Events: general rules for organized events are included within this category.
5. Dispersed Recreation: includes recreation that occurs on DNR-managed lands but that is outside the boundaries of developed recreation facilities and trails. Specific examples in this category are: hunting, fishing, recreational target shooting and recreational harvest of forest products for personal use.
6. Directing Access: includes such topics as road closures, lease land closures and/or temporary closures on leased land, compliance with signage and self-registration.
7. Volunteer Contributions: means gift or donations given to DNR.
8. Four categories with the existing rules which will remain, but may be updated, include: 1) Milwaukee Road Corridor, 2) Enforcement, 3) Penalties, and 4) Effective Dates.
And here’s what we wrote DNR:
On behalf of the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC), please accept our comments regarding the scope of issues to be considered in DNR’s proposal to revise its recreation management regulations. The WCC is a Washington non-profit corporation that promotes access to rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering in Washington. We are affiliated with the Access Fund (a national organization that works to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment).
Our primary concern is that rock climbing be identified as a significant activity on DNR-managed lands (and therefore be included within your SEPA analysis). Significant rock climbing areas on DNR-managed land include: Little Si (King County, located within the Mt. Si NRCA); portions of the “Exit 38” cliffs (King County, located near Exit 38 off Interstate 90); and the “Bat Cave” cliffs (a.k.a. “Chuckanut Cliffs” or “Oyster Dome”) (Skagit County, located on Blanchard Mountain). We also believe that a significant limestone climbing area known as “China Bend,” (in Ferry County, near the Columbia River); an emerging “bouldering” area at Bald Mountain (Skagit County, near Lake Cavanaugh); and the Walker Valley boulders (Skagit County, also near Lake Cavanaugh) may also lie on DNR-managed land. This listing is by no means inclusive of all climbing on DNR-managed land.
Of the above areas, the Little Si climbing area is perhaps the most popular. Climbers have worked closely with DNR land managers to ensure that climbing is compatible with the management aims of the Mt. Si NRCA. As a result, climbing is recognized as a legitimate and accepted use in both the NRCA’s Management Plan (June 1997) and Public Use Plan (June 1997).
Please include the WCC on your SEPA and rulemaking contact lists. Please also consider us as a resource if you have any questions regarding climbing while developing your SEPA analysis and draft rules. We look forward to working with you on this effort.
We wrote a letter on behalf of the WCC (copied below) that asked DNR to include climbing in the scope of the EIS. That way, when the new rules are adopted, climbing doesn’t get left out. I recently got DNR’s response to all the scoping comments it received. Here’s the cover message with a link to the responsiveness summary:
This is to advise you that the Responsive Summary for the following project has been issued and is available for review on DNR's website at:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/sepa
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intends to revise Chapter 332-52 WAC regarding recreation and public access on DNR-managed lands.
The lead agency has identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS:
1. General rules: apply to the use of fire, firearms and alcohol on public lands.
2. Road Use: describes general rules governing vehicle use on DNR-managed roads; included in this category, the use of recreation vehicles on roads is described.
3. Developed Recreation Facilities: will address any DNR-built site, trail or structure on public land for recreational purposes. Specific rules for campgrounds and water recreation sites are outlined in this category.
4. Organized Events: general rules for organized events are included within this category.
5. Dispersed Recreation: includes recreation that occurs on DNR-managed lands but that is outside the boundaries of developed recreation facilities and trails. Specific examples in this category are: hunting, fishing, recreational target shooting and recreational harvest of forest products for personal use.
6. Directing Access: includes such topics as road closures, lease land closures and/or temporary closures on leased land, compliance with signage and self-registration.
7. Volunteer Contributions: means gift or donations given to DNR.
8. Four categories with the existing rules which will remain, but may be updated, include: 1) Milwaukee Road Corridor, 2) Enforcement, 3) Penalties, and 4) Effective Dates.
And here’s what we wrote DNR:
On behalf of the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC), please accept our comments regarding the scope of issues to be considered in DNR’s proposal to revise its recreation management regulations. The WCC is a Washington non-profit corporation that promotes access to rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering in Washington. We are affiliated with the Access Fund (a national organization that works to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment).
Our primary concern is that rock climbing be identified as a significant activity on DNR-managed lands (and therefore be included within your SEPA analysis). Significant rock climbing areas on DNR-managed land include: Little Si (King County, located within the Mt. Si NRCA); portions of the “Exit 38” cliffs (King County, located near Exit 38 off Interstate 90); and the “Bat Cave” cliffs (a.k.a. “Chuckanut Cliffs” or “Oyster Dome”) (Skagit County, located on Blanchard Mountain). We also believe that a significant limestone climbing area known as “China Bend,” (in Ferry County, near the Columbia River); an emerging “bouldering” area at Bald Mountain (Skagit County, near Lake Cavanaugh); and the Walker Valley boulders (Skagit County, also near Lake Cavanaugh) may also lie on DNR-managed land. This listing is by no means inclusive of all climbing on DNR-managed land.
Of the above areas, the Little Si climbing area is perhaps the most popular. Climbers have worked closely with DNR land managers to ensure that climbing is compatible with the management aims of the Mt. Si NRCA. As a result, climbing is recognized as a legitimate and accepted use in both the NRCA’s Management Plan (June 1997) and Public Use Plan (June 1997).
Please include the WCC on your SEPA and rulemaking contact lists. Please also consider us as a resource if you have any questions regarding climbing while developing your SEPA analysis and draft rules. We look forward to working with you on this effort.