Yosemite National Park Announces the Release of the Wawona Wastewater Treatment System Rehabilitation Project Environmental Assessment

Yosemite National Park announces the release of the Wawona Wastewater Treatment System Rehabilitation Project Environmental Assessment (EA). The public comment period for the EA is open until December 9, 2018. This EA describes and analyzes two action alternatives to address deferred maintenance, improve visitor experience, and improve the operational efficiency of the Wawona Wastewater Treatment System. The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) would:

• Provide central sewage treatment for Wawona Campground
• Upgrade the Wawona Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated sewage conveyance infrastructure
• Improve the existing spray effluent disposal system and construct sub-surface effluent disposal trenches at the Big Trees Lodge Golf Course
• Eventually replace the vault toilet at the South Fork Picnic Area with a flush toilet restroom (pending funding availability)

Yosemite will host a public meeting on November 16, 2018, as part of by the Wawona Town Planning Advisory Committee meeting in Wawona, to provide an opportunity to learn more about the project and environmental analysis. The meeting will begin at 9am at the Wawona Community Center (7915 Chilnualna Falls Road).

Public participation is an important element of the planning process and we welcome your comments. Please share your written comments by December 9, 2018 via one of the following methods:

Online (preferred method) through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/WWTP

You may also mail comments (post-marked by December 9, 2018) to:

Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Wawona Wastewater System EA
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

To request printed documents (available in limited quantity) call +1 209 379-1221 or by email. The park will review comments after the public comment period closes and draft a decision document after the conclusion of agency consultation. The final decision document is expected by February 2019.

This rehabilitation project implements actions prescribed in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. Construction for the project is planned to begin in late-summer 2019.