No Significant Impact Findings for the Zion South Entrance Monument Site Reconfiguration Project

SPRINGDALE, UT - Zion National Park is proposing to redesign the South Entrance Monument site and adjacent parking area in order to enhance visitor safety, expand cultural resource protection measures and help mitigate factors contributing to vehicle congestion experienced at the South Entrance. The monument has become a renowned park feature, enjoyed by travelers from around the globe and is a favored backdrop for millions of visitors’ photographs at the entrance for over 80 years. The proposed project would move the monument approximately 28 feet east from its original location but would remain in-line with the park boundary. A monument plaza would be installed around the relocation site as well as a walkway on the eastern edge of the monument parking area. The monument parking area would also be restructured.

The Park will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide a decision-making framework that explores a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, evaluates potential issues and impacts to Park resources and values, and identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The NPS encourages public participation during the NEPA process. At this time, the public is invited to help identify concerns and to express any ideas or comments regarding the reconfiguration of the South Entrance Monument site.

To provide comment online or to get additional information on the proposed project, please visit the NPS planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/zion. You can also comment through the U.S. mail by writing to: Superintendent, Attention: South Entrance Monument EA, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767. Please submit comments by December 28, 2016.

Thanks eeek. We take a picture of ourselves next to the monument and then our car in front of it on every trip.

South entrance? I thought there was an East and a West. Which one is South?

Springdale is the South entrance. Kolob Canyon is the Northwest entrance.

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SPRINGDALE, UT - Zion National Park announces the signing of the South Entrance Monument Site Reconfiguration Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI records the decision of the National Park Service (NPS) to redesign the South Entrance Monument site and adjacent parking area. The project is being done to enhance visitor safety, expand cultural resource protection measures and help mitigate factors contributing to vehicle congestion experienced at the South Entrance (described as Alternative B in the Environmental Assessment (EA) released for public review in April 2017). The FONSI, EA, and Errata documents are available on the NPS Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.

The proposed project will move the monument approximately 28 feet east from its original location but will remain in-line with the park boundary. A monument plaza will be installed around the relocation site, as well as a walkway on the eastern edge of the monument parking area. The monument parking area will also be restructured to facilitate short-term parking.

Within the public scoping period for the South Entrance Monument Site Reconfiguration EA from November 28, 2016 to December 30, 2016, fourteen scoping letters were received and considered by park staff. The EA was release for public review on April 17, 2017, and the NPS accepted comments through May 17, 2017. Twenty three comment letters were received. All comments on the EA were reviewed by park staff and were considered in the development of the FONSI and Errata sheets.

Requests for digital or hardcopies of the FONSI are available on a limited basis. Requests can be submitted to: Superintendent, Zion National Park ATTN: South Entrance Monument Reconfiguration FONSI, 1 Zion Park Blvd., State Route 9, Springdale, UT 84767; or email at e-mail us at https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=518CD4B5A2D4BDB381AB2CBFEB18A1A84589798C53BB9C93561EA0841BF688AFDDB155A585&r=/zion/learn/news/semon_6_29_17.htm.