Lassen Volcanic National Park
Press Re;ease

1/5/2010

Lassen Volcanic National Park Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz would like
to remind the public that seven days remain to comment on  Lassen Peak
Trail Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA).    The EA public review
period opened on December 9, 2009 and will close on January 11, 2010.

The EA can be can be viewed or downloaded from the park’s website at,
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/parkmgmt/index.htm  and comments entered directly
on the NPS planning web site, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lavo.  Paper
copies of this environmental assessment are also available at park
headquarters, the visitor center, and local public libraries.

The Lassen Peak Trail Rehabilitation EA includes three action alternatives
and a “No Action” alternative.  The park is proposing to rehabilitate the
Lassen Peak Trail by rebuilding the entire trail in all action
alternatives, but the trail width and the amenities offered along the trail
vary among alternatives.  Alternatives C and D propose creating 5.5 miles
of new trail through wilderness to link the Lassen Peak Trail to the
Manzanita Lake area.  The following is a brief summary of the alternatives
presented in the EA:
  Alternative A - No Action, would continue existing management, including
    ongoing maintenance and occasional small-scale repair projects along
    the trail. There would be no new trails or other new amenities.


  Alternative B - Minor Changes, would rehabilitate the entire trail and
    return the Lassen Peak Trail to its original width.  There would be no
    new trails, interpretive turnouts or restrooms.


  Alternative C - Modest Improvements in Lassen Peak Trail Visitor
    Experience, is the preferred alternative.  The preferred alternative
    would rehabilitate the entire trail at approximately the current width
    and would add interpretive turnouts. It would create new trails within
    the crater, to the true summit and a connector trail to Manzanita Lake.
    A bathroom would be re-established where there used to be a pit toilet.


  Alternative D - Visitor Use Accommodation, would rehabilitate the trail
    to accommodate more hikers.  The trail would become wider, and
    interpretive turnouts and two restrooms would be added.  New formal
    trails would lead into the crater and to the true summit.  A 5.5 mile
    connector trail to Manzanita Lake would be established.


Under the National Park Service (NPS) Organic Act and General Authorities
Act, as amended, the NPS may not allow the impairment of park resources and
values except as authorized specifically by Congress (NPS Directors Order
55 or DO-55).  Impairment is an impact that, in the professional judgment
of the responsible NPS manager, would harm the integrity of park resources
or values, including the opportunities that otherwise would be present for
the enjoyment of those resources or values.  Park managers have examined
each potential impact of the all alternatives and determined that the
combination of actions provided for in this environmental assessment will
not result in the impairment of any park resources and values.


The park is soliciting public input and comments on this important planning
document.  All comments must be postmarked or transmitted electronically no
later than January 11, 2010.  Written comments may be submitted by letter
to the Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic National Park, P.O. Box 100,
Mineral, CA 96063 or transmitted electronically to lavo_planning@nps.gov .
For more information about this document, contact the park’s planning staff
at the above address or call (530) 595-4444, extensions 5176 or 5170.

For general park information, please call (530) 595-4480 or visit the park
website at www.nps.gov .