The National Park Service (NPS) is starting a 30-day civic engagement period to share information and gather public input on a proposed project to rehabilitate a wastewater collection system and treatment plant located in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park.
The NPS will host a virtual public meeting Wednesday, April 30, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. to share information and answer questions about the project.
The high number of visitors to the Paradise area has put significant stress on Paradise’s outdated wastewater collection system and treatment plant, which were constructed in the 1960s, according to a news release. The improvement and modernization of the system and plant will enhance the visitor experience in Paradise by improving resource protection, operational efficiency, staff safety and visitor services to accommodate sustainable levels of current and future visitor use, according to the news release.
Public input will be accepted through the project website at https://shorturl.at/HsuUc. Comments will be accepted through May 15. The NPS will use the information obtained during this early planning civic engagement period to refine the scope of the project, develop a reasonable range of alternatives and ensure that planners have the necessary information to move forward in the planning process.
Additional opportunities to provide input on the proposed project will be available in the future. After park staff have developed a range of alternatives and can analyze potential impacts, the NPS will begin the second phase of planning with the intent of publishing a draft environmental assessment for public comment in the fall of 2025.
According to the NPS website, visitation to Mount Rainier National Park has increased by approximately 40% in the last 10 years, propelling a need to manage resources to meet that growth. If approved, project construction would be anticipated to start in 2027, and the duration of construction is anticipated to be four years.
To learn more about the project, visit https://shorturl.at/VmieF.
