The National Park Service released an environmental assessment (EA) for the final disposition of the Enchanted Valley Chalet for public review on July 2, 2020. Due to the many complexities experienced by the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, the comment period is being extended through August 31. This EA, which incorporates responses to comments received during the public scoping process in 2016, evaluates impacts of the proposed project on cultural and natural resources, wilderness character, and visitor use and experience.

The EA is available for review and comment on the project planning website at parkplanning.nps.gov/ONPEVCEA2. Comments may be submitted directly on this site by clicking on “Open for Comment” and following the links to review the document and submit a comment. Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. MDT on Monday, August 31, 2020.

The National Park Service (NPS) hosted a virtual public meeting on July 15 where Olympic National Park staff conducted a presentation on the EA followed by a question and answer session. The presentation and a recording of the meeting are available on the project planning website.

The purpose of the project is to determine the final disposition of the Enchanted Valley Chalet, located 13 miles up the Quinault River from the Graves Creek Trailhead within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The Chalet rests on the active floodplain of the Quinault River.

In early 2014, the bank had come to within 18 inches of the Chalet. At that time, the park prepared a concise EA for the “Temporary Relocation of the Enchanted Valley Chalet for the Protection of the East Fork Quinault River.” In September 2014, the Chalet was temporarily moved approximately 100 feet from the riverbank until a long-term decision could be reached through the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act processes. The Chalet currently remains on the steel I-beams that were used to move it and is closed to public and administrative use. The bank has once again eroded to within approximately 5 feet of the nearest corner of the Chalet, and the nearest portion of the river channel is about 10 feet from the bank.

The EA analyzes three options which include a no-action (current management) alternative, to dismantle and remove the Chalet, or relocate the Chalet to another location on the terrace. The NPS preferred alternative is to dismantle and remove the Chalet.

Comments on the EA can also be mailed or hand-delivered to: Olympic National Park, Attn: Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum, Enchanted Valley Chalet EA, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362.

Comments submitted by phone or email will not be accepted. Comments submitted on behalf of other individuals will also not be accepted.

You should be aware that your entire comment – including personal identifying information such as your address, phone number, and email address – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.