National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior	Fort Clatsop National Memorial	92343 Fort Clatsop Road Astoria OR 97103 503-861-2471 phone 503-861-2585 fax superintendent_focl@nps.gov

Fort Clatsop National Memorial News Release

Date: July 23, 2003
For Immediate Release

National Park Service Releases
Lower Columbia Lewis and Clark Sites
Draft Boundary Study and Environmental Assessment
For Public Review

Chip Jenkins, Superintendent of Fort Clatsop National Memorial and David Nicandri, Director of Washington State Historical Society announce the release of the Draft Boundary for the Lower Columbia Lewis and Clark Sites Draft Boundary Study and Environmental Assessment for public review. The public comment period is from July 24 through August 30, 2003. The draft study evaluates the significance of three Lewis and Clark sites on the north shore of the Columbia River for potential inclusion into Fort Clatsop National Memorial. The three sites are Megler Safety Rest Area (Clark's Dismal Nitch), Station Camp, and Fort Canby State Park.

The U.S. Congress directed the National Park Service to study these sites for potential inclusion into the National Park System. This draft study serves two purposes; first the study assesses the national significance of these sites and determines whether these sites are suitable and feasible additions to Fort Clatsop National Memorial. Second, the draft study presents four management alternatives and the associated environmental consequences.

This draft study has been prepared by the National Park Service in cooperation with the Washington State Historical Society, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Washington Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of General Administration, and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department. Using public input from this review the National Park Service will select a preferred management alternative and complete a final study. The Secretary of Interior will transmit the final study to the U.S. Congress. The final study is expected to be available for submittal to Congress by the Secretary of the Interior by the fall of 2003.

A Public Open House and Workshop will be held at Columbia State Park, near Ilwaco WA, on Wednesday, August 6, 2003. The Open House will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the Workshop will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Written comments should be submitted no later than August 20, 2003 and sent to: Superintendent Fort Clatsop National Memorial, ATTN: Feasibility Study, 92343 Fort Clatsop Road, Astoria OR 97103 or via email to superintendent_focl@nps.gov The draft study is available online at www.nps.gov/focl

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