Yosemite National Park has announced the release of the Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment for public review. Public comments regarding the Environmental Assessment will be taken from Aug. 9, to Sept. 17, 2010.

The public is invited to submit written ideas regarding this planning effort. The Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment can be downloaded at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/ vista.htm. To learn more about scenic vistas, visit www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/ scenic-vistas.htm.

The purpose of the Scenic Vista Management Plan is to develop a systematic program to protect and restore Yosemite’s important viewpoints, vistas, and the natural processes that created them. The plan will replace the Park’s current case by case approach and will enable and guide management actions by the National Park Service.

Yosemite has been involved in vista clearing since the 1850’s on a case by case basis. This strategy has resulted in the loss of several famous scenic viewpoints. For example, two-thirds of the meadows in Yosemite Valley have been lost to unnatural conifer encroachment.

The Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment describes five alternative approaches for prioritizing and reestablishing scenic vistas. The development of a framework for management actions will ensure that the natural and cultural resources and values of Yosemite National Park remain unimpaired.

Specifically, the plan will outline replacement of current viewpoints with new viewpoints featuring similar perspectives, as well as describe which methods of vegetation clearing are appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to submit comments about the Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment can do so by the following means: mail: Superintendent, Attn: Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389; Fax: (209) 379-1294; email: Yose_Planning@ nps.gov; Access PEPC (Planning, Environment, and Public Comment) on the Web at: http://parkplanning. nps.gov/yose. Click on the “open for comments” link at the top of the page. Click on “Scenic Vista Management Plan Environmental Assessment” link and enter a comment.