New River Gorge (NERI) NPS General Management Plan - Need Your Comments Please
The New River Gorge National River is putting the finishing touches on their General Management Plan (GMP) and your online comments would be greatly appreciated. A GMP identifies the overall direction for the future management of the park in the next 15-20 years. Comments that are supportive of BASE jumping could be used to steer NERI and other park guidelines in a positive direction for our sport. Either way, you get the opportunity to voice your opinion on many aspects of the park and provide comments, ideas, etc. For those of you who don't know, NERI rents us the landing zone for Bridge Day ($2500 for 6 hours!) since the mid-1980's. NERI is one of the few National Parks that has issued permits for parachuting and they've arrested the most BASE jumpers out of all 391 parks.
In 2004, I sent a letter to NERI asking to be involved in their planning process. A month later, I received a response from the NERI Superintendent confirming that I'd be included on their mailing list. Ironically, I was excluded from their mailing list, but later found out about their GMP on my own. After sending a letter to NERI in January 2008 outlining their "oversight", I received the quickest response I've ever seen from the NPS. I have read their GMP and recently provided comments (see below).
The ABP was the driving force behind me writing the initial request to be involved in the NERI planning process in 2004. At the direction of the ABP, many ABP BOD members such as myself were asked to write letters to countless "jumpable" National Parks asking to be a part of their next GMP. Now that the time has finally come to be involved in the process, the ABP recently declined to offer any assistance with the NERI GMP. I strongly believe that the ABP is making a big mistake in not being involved with this GMP. NERI is the only park that permits BASE jumping and they're a model for other parks, yet the ABP declines to help? Unfortunate....
Some of the comments I submitted are technical in nature and are usually tied to long-term goals. Other comments, such as item #1 below, are in response to suggestions from NPS Washington in which each park must incorporate BASE jumping in their planning process in order to permit BASE jumping without a "director's waiver" from Washington. Regardless of how involved you are in the fight to jump in National parks, your comments could help. You can use my comments as a guideline or come up with your own. Tell them that it costs to much to rent the LZ, or that we need more camping near the bridge, or simply that you're a BASE jumper and you want to jump MORE! It's up to you to provide feedback on a GMP that could slowly change the way BASE jumping is perceived and conducted in National Parks.
Please read the GMP and provide online comments by February 28, 2008.
New River Gorge General Management Plan
Online Comment Form
Here are my comments submitted today:
First and foremost, I would like to express my disappointment in NERI's failure to notify me of this General Management Plan (GMP). Despite my August 20, 2004 written request to NERI and then-Superintendent Calvin Hite's written confirmation on September 9, 2004, I was left off your distribution list until notifying NERI again in January 2008. See http://vertical-visions.com/...4-09-09_NERI_GMP.gif. Even though the NERI GMP is nearly complete, I trust that my comments will be digested in their entirety.
My thoughts on the GMP:
1) NERI should state that BASE jumping is an appropriate activity within the park in their General Management Plan (GMP). Special Use Permits have been issued to BASE jumpers at Bridge Day for decades, clearly indicating that parachuting is not considered "inappropriate". An estmated 20,000+ legal BASE jumps have occurred on NERI property since the mid-1980's. Acknowledgment of BASE jumping as an appropriate activity would also simplify the permit process by negating the need for a director's waiver. From the 2006 NPS Management Policies:
8.2.2.7 Parachuting
Parachuting (or BASE jumping), whether from an aircraft, structure, or natural feature, is generally prohibited by 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3). However, if determined through a park planning process to be an appropriate activity, it may be allowed pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit.
2) NERI should include a provision for permitting certain types of parachute jumps that may occur outside of Bridge Day (commercials, test jumps, special stunts) without having to consult Washington for approval. For example, the Bridge Day Rappelling Coordinator wanted to set up a 3500' highline this year from the NRGB down to the smaller bridge. As the Bridge Day BASE Jumping Coordinator, I was afraid their ropes may become a safety hazard for parachutists and I requested test jumps to insure the safety of all 450+ BASE jumpers that attend Bridge Day each year. Chief Ranger Gary Hartley was noticeably disturbed by the concept and he reported that Washington would have to approve it (highly unlikely). Implementing item #1 above would solve this problem by permitting the NERI Superintendent to approve all parachute jumps.
3) NERI should address the issue of legal BASE jumps performed from the New River Gorge Bridge onto privately owned property NEAR the park. While the NPS has no jurisdiction in situations such as this, it is possible that jumpers may land in the New River during emergency situations. It is my understanding that both the NPS and the State of West Virginia claim jurisdiction over the New River. It is my belief that the NPS should not enforce 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3) in emergency situations such as this. In addition, the threat of arrest if a jumper lands in the New River would only cause additional injuries as jumpers will inevitably do everything possible to reach private land.
4) NERI should include "Bridge Day BASE Jumping" as part of NPS stories that are told to park visitors.
5) NERI should be cautious in considering areas for Wilderness Designation in the future. Under the 1964 Wilderness Act, "mechanical transport" is prohibited. The NPS recently began claiming that parachutes are considered mechanical transport, despite the fact that there is nothing "mechanical" about my parachute and the nylon fabric that decelerates my decent. Attempts to restrict parachuting through ambiguous terms will only force jumpers and park visitors to reject positive changes such as Wilderness Designations. With this being said, I disapprove of any Wilderness Designations until the NPS allows parachuting in Wilderness Areas.
6) BASE jumpers want to work with NERI and the entire NPS to lawfully and safely permit parachuting within the park system.
7) NERI should implement Alternative #3 because the park desperately needs a through park trail. Additional camping opportunites near Fayette Station and the New River Gorge Bridge would also be welcome.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on your GMP. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or need assistance in implenting any of the above ideas. As a BASE jumper and a park visitor, I have a vested interest in helping to improve the New River Gorge National River.
