Paradise Road closed w/o prior notice Mon 11.25

NEPA?

National Environmental Policy Act. Every major decision and every management plan must be subject to environmental and socioeconomic analyses and public review and comment; all comments and concerns must be addressed adequately before a final decision is reached and that decision may be appealed. If the process is not followed, the agency can be taken to court and stopped. NEPA, the National Forest Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act paralyzed the Forest Service when they alienated a significant portion of the public; even a management decision to ecologically thin 20-30 acres could result in comments and appeals costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The public outcries against the Forest Service resulted in every National Forest having oversight by a board of state and local public officials and interest groups; Mt. Rainier needs this. I don't believe MRNP even has a valid, legal management plan and the General Management Plan is does have is not being followed.

Washington has SEPA and it has been used effectively by the public in insisting state agencies fully address their concerns.

Throughout my career I have had the pleasure of supervising many interns. I am forever telling them that they must understand the difference between action based on personal philosophy, ethics, the law, procedure, policy and best practice. Occasionally,all factors converge and support very solid action, but the majority of the time one or more factors are in conflict. Right now, it feels like the road to Paradise is being managed based wholly on personal philosophy. The policy has been set forth and procedures developed from this personal philosophy without much consideration given to law, ethics and best practice. This is why I feel so helpless in affecting change in this circumstance. It is very difficult to change an entrenched personal philosophy without the support of the other factors.

National Environmental Policy Act.  Every major decision and every management plan must be subject to environmental and socioeconomic analyses and public review and comment; all comments and concerns must be addressed adequately before a final decision is reached and that decision may be appealed.  If the process is not followed, the agency can be taken to court and stopped.  NEPA, the National Forest Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act paralyzed the Forest Service when they alienated a significant portion of the public; even a management decision to ecologically thin 20-30 acres could result in comments and appeals costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The public outcries against the Forest Service resulted in every National Forest having oversight by a board of state and local public officials and interest groups; Mt. Rainier needs this.  I don't believe MRNP even has a valid, legal management plan and the General Management Plan is does have is not being followed.

Washington has SEPA and it has been used effectively by the public in insisting state agencies fully address their concerns.

If you honestly believe that park practices about opening the road above Longmire are a violation of NEPA -- then shouldn't follow the same path used to influence the forest service ? I.E use the courts to force them to follow law and policy? Kickstarter might be one way to raise funds to hire attorneys.

Employees or guides?

http://www.nps.gov/webcams-mora/east.jpg?201411011314

Monday 2/10/2014
Just the opposite of what one would reasonably expect after this trying season.
NWAC avy forcast for High(red )
Winter storm advisory
Going from cold to warm after a period of cold snow.
Longmire gate to paradise opens at 10:25

Now I know this sets them up for being able to say "damned if we do and damned if we don't" but hey The do and don't are never in the right columns.

???

Monday  2/10/2014
Just the opposite of what one would reasonably expect after this trying season.
NWAC avy forcast for High(red )
Winter storm advisory
Going from cold to warm after a period of cold snow.
Longmire gate to paradise opens at 10:25

Now I know this sets them up for being able to say  "damned if we do and damned if we don't" but hey The do and don't are never in the right columns.

???

Wow, when I posted the above web cam shot, it didn't even occur to me that the gate was opened. How it could be closed all day yesterday, but open today is mind boggling. There is absolutely no logical rhyme or reason to this.