Parkplanning and PEPC will be offline for Data Center maintenance from 4 PM MT on Fri., Apr. 19th to as late as 3:00 PM MT on Mon., Apr. 22nd.

The Death Valley Wilderness and Backcountry Stewardship Plan has been accomplished using both the framework provided by the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center and the NPS requirements for environmental analyses consistent with National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Wilderness Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Note that only the U.S. Congress has the authority to designate new wilderness areas or to change boundaries of existing wilderness. This planning effort is to address wilderness already designated by Congress and the use of adjacent backcountry roads and lands as it relates to the NPS responsibilities for resource stewardship and visitor enjoyment of these areas.

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Establish the planning foundation. including team configuration and scope of the plan
Step 2. Describe desired future conditions
Step 3. Gather information, including internal and external scoping
Step 4. Indentify and select indicators
Step 5. Specify standards
Step 6. Zone wilderness and backcountry
Step 7. Develop management action alternatives
Step 8. Analyze impacts of alternatives in environmental assessment
Step 9. public review of environmental assessment
Step 10. analyze public comment
Step 11. prepare final plan and decision document
Step 12. release final plan and decision document to the public *
Step 13. implement plan

The conclusion of the planning process is a completed Wilderness and Backcountry Stewardship Plan with a completed Environmental Assessment and signed decision document.