Sierra Rec Magazine – NPS Prss Release – SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. November, 2018 – The National Park Service (NPS) at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is seeking Requests for Expression of Interest (RFEI) in the exchange of federally owned, improved residential properties in Wilsonia Historic District within Kings Canyon National Park, for privately owned, unimproved properties within the boundaries of the Parks. This is an opportunity for parties to express interest in making such an exchange with the National Park Service.
The purpose of this RFEI is to solicit responses from individuals who may be interested in exchanging their vacant property within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for one of eleven (11) properties improved with residential cabins located in the Wilsonia Historic District (District) within Kings Canyon National Park.
The NPS objective is to help preserve the residential cabins within the Wilsonia District by offering interested and qualified parties an opportunity to acquire them in exchange for undeveloped land in Wilsonia or other areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. All historic properties that are exchanged through this process are to be maintained in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (see https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf).
- All proposals received between November 15 and January 15, 2019, will be considered by NPS.
- If multiple proposals are received for the same federal property, the NPS will evaluate all of the proposals and select the private property with the highest resource values to the parks.
- If the resource values are deemed equal for the offered private properties, the private property will be selected on a first received, first selected basis.
- The Superintendent will notify in writing each respondent on the status of their proposal by February 15, 2019.
- The NPS may elect to move forward with the exchange, as proposed, or may seek additional information before making a determination on whether to proceed with the proposal.
The land exchanges are part of the implementation of the Plan for the Disposition of NPS-owned Cabins within Wilsonia, approved on February 13, 2014. Legal authority for exchanges at the Parks is contained in the Land & Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCF) (Public Law 88-578, et seq.) (54 U.S.C. 102901).
Established in 1918, Wilsonia is currently comprised of 200 privately owned tracts totaling 58 acres. Most tracts are small, individual cabin sites. Two tracts totaling 19 acres are owned by the Masonic Family Club and are used as a private resort for members of the organization. There are 205 separate structures of more than shed size, 166 of which are single-family dwellings for at least part of the year. A few of the homes are used as year-round residences. Most homes are on one-tenth acre lots.
More information, as well as the Land Exchange Proposal form can be found at the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Website (PEPC) at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/wilsonia, by emailing e-mail us, or calling 559-565-3101.
Completed Land Exchange Proposal forms may be sent via mail to:
Superintendent
Attn: Wilsonia Land Exchange
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700
Forms may also be faxed to (559) 565-4202 or emailed to e-mail us.
All Land Exchange Proposal forms must be transmitted or postmarked by January 15, 2019.
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About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, serve as a prime example of nature’s size, beauty, and diversity. Over 2 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks for the world’s largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/seki or 559-565-3341.
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