Superintendent Invites Comment on Proposed Dog Rule

Editor’s note: As a courtesy to our E-Ventures readers, the Parks Conservancy is providing this letter to the general public from the General Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), a unit of the National Park Service. The National Park Service wants to spread the word about this important period of public review and comment. The National Park Service is the official rule-making entity for the GGNRA and the Parks Conservancy has no role in forming park policy or in soliciting or receiving public comment. Therefore, the views and opinions expressed in this letter or on linked websites are those of the National Park Service.

Dear Friends of Golden Gate National Recreation Area:

I am pleased to announce the release of the Proposed Rule for Dog Management in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) for 60-day public review through April 23, 2016. This is an important step in the process to develop a federal rule on dog walking in the GGNRA.

The Proposed Rule would amend the park’s special regulation to designate 22 locations for dog walking in the GGNRA. It is based on the Preferred Alternative described in the Draft Dog Management Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that was reviewed and commented on by the public in 2013/14.

The Proposed Rule would designate where and how people would be able to enjoy the park with their dogs—both on- and off-leash—as well as places that would be dog-free. It would define terms like “voice and sight control” that are essential to dog management.

If ultimately implemented, the rule would ensure the protection of the park’s natural and cultural resources and continue to provide recreational opportunities for a wide variety of park users.  Comments on the Proposed Rule, along with comments previously received on the SEIS, will be used in developing the final plan and final rule, which are expected later this year.

GGNRA recognizes well-managed dog walking as a healthy and popular way to enjoy park lands.  Under the Proposed Rule, the GGNRA would remain the most dog-friendly national park and the only national park in the United States to allow off-leash voice and sight control dog walking.

Under the Proposed Rule, off-leash dog walking would be allowed in seven areas in five different park locations, including Fort Funston, the most popular dog walking area in the park. Dog walking would be allowed on almost one-third of the park’s beach mileage, mostly off-leash, and one-third of the park’s trail mileage would be available for visitors to walk their dogs on leash. There would also be dog-free beach and picnic area options. Specific areas would be identified for commercial dog walking.

Public Meetings
Please join us at a public meeting in Marin, San Francisco, or San Mateo County to discuss the Proposed Rule, ask questions, and learn about the public comment and planning process. Click here for meeting details. If your organization would like us to speak at your next meeting about the Proposed Rule, please call us at (415) 561-4728.

Where to find and comment on the Proposed Rule
To download a copy of the Proposed Rule, please visit www.xxxx(HOTLINK). If you have questions about the Proposed Rule or would like to request a hard copy, please call (415) 561-4728 or email the park at goga_dogmgt@nps.gov .

Please note that comments on the Proposed Rule will be accepted until April 23, 2016 at www.xxxx(HOTLINK), or via letter to: Superintendent, GGNRA, Dog Management Proposed Rule, Building 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco, California, 94123.

Your comments on the Proposed Rule will play an important role in the development of the final plan and rule. We welcome your participation in the process.

Sincerely,

Christine Lehnertz
Superintendent