For those commenting on the Fort Stanton plan, there's a few things of
which you should be aware. If you already have submitted your comments,
you may want to review and possibly amend them in light of the following:
Things to consider from a planning/NEPA perspective
Even though the draft plan has neatly parsed various actions and
activities into separate alternatives, these actions/activities do not
have to stay with a particular alternative. The agency looks at and
evaluates a reasonable range of alternatives and then can select (much
like making selections from a Chinese menu) activities and actions from
any alternative and combine them into a final plan for the area. In fact
activities do not have to be spelled out specifically, the plan can
include them as long as they are within the range of activities
considered in the NEPA document. An example might be sites for a new
campground. If the draft plan considers 5 sites in one alternative, 10
in another alternative, and 25 in another alternative; the final plan
could have any number from 5-25. Therefore, if there is a particular
action or activity you feel is incompatible with the intent of the
designation or contrary to conservation of the environment, say so. _Do
not rely on the fact it is not in the preferred alternative_.
When making comments, remember, you do not get a vote. You need to make
substantive comments regarding concerns and objections. Have and state
reasons for comments both good and bad that will cause a reconsideration
of the proposal and sway agency opinion one way or another. Simply
saying you don't like something is not helpful and will not get the
attention you think is warranted.
Part of the reason these things are in the public venue is that agencies
don't necessarily have a lock on articulating all or even the best
avenues. They can, and do, overlook things or make bad proposals.
Remember, you will be living with for a long time whatever is the
outcome of this process.
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