Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

DEVILS TOWER, WYOMING - The National Park Service has just released a new General Management Plan (GMP) for Devils Tower National Monument (WY). Known by many other names, Devils Tower is sacred to various Native American tribes, but each year, nearly half a million visitors come to explore its beauty, and with this increased popularity, Devils Tower is being "loved to death."

Traffic congestion, increased development, and recreational rock climbing on the tower are impacting the monument's unique cultural and natural assets. For this reason, a new GMP for Devils Tower has been written to consider management alternatives and related environment impacts on park operations, visitor experience, and conservation of the monument's unique natural and cultural values.

Public comments on the draft GMP are being accepted through September 30, 2001. Your comments will help the National Park Service manage these sacred lands for the next 15-20 years.

Take action! Please visit NPACA's Take Action, Action Alerts to send your comments in now! For more information, please contact pborneman@npca.org or qmckew@npca.org. You can learn more about the sacred nature of Devils Tower National Monument by visiting NPS ~ Devils Tower National Monument web site. If you don't have web access, sample letters and contact information are given below.

You can send your letters with ease through NPCA's Take Action Center. If you don't have web access, a sample letter and contact information is given below. You can get details on the information for your members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121. For assistance send an email to TakeAction@npca.org.

Reminder: Please use the letter as a guideline - it is far more effective for letters to be placed into your own words. If you have special feelings or have experiences with any of the parks or issues, please mention them in your letters. Thanks for all you do to protect our national parks!

Guide the future of Devils Tower National Monument:
Send your comments, by September 30, 2001, to the
Devils Tower National Monument Planning Team.

DETO Planning Team
Devils Tower National Monument
P.O. Box 10
Devils Tower, WY 82714
E-mail: deto_planning@nps.gov

Dear Devils Tower Management Team:

Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Devils Tower National Monument.

It appears that the preferred alternative, Alternative 3, best represents the changes and enhancements required to protect the resource and improve visitor experience. However, the plan seriously lacks direction and detail in two key areas:

1) Proposed changes in orientation and interpretation need greater detail. Designation of Devils Tower National Monument was not based upon its rock climbing challenges, but rather upon its deep cultural significance, unique geological assets, and natural landscape.

2) The shuttle transit system is a splendid improvement, one that is being explored and implemented in other park units around the country. Such a system however, should take into account other excellent alternatives to vehicles such as bicycles. The Plan needs to specify how bicycles fit into the proposed transit system. Thank you for the opportunity to submit my comments. I appreciate the ability to help you manage America's priceless treasures, and would like to receive updates as the process continues.