October 2017 - NPS Permanently Withdraws the GGNRA Dog Plan
October 19, 2017: The National Park Service releases its dog plan investigation report into NPS staff use of private email accounts and announces that it is permanently withdrawing the proposed dog rule for GGNRA, ending its more than decade-long effort to severely restrict recreational dog walking in this urban recreation area.
Click here to read the NPS announcement.
Click here to read the Save Our Recreation press release.
January 2017 - NPS Suspends the GGNRA Dog Plan Pending Investigation
On January 10, 2017 the National Park Service issued a public statement saying that it is suspending its final decision on the dog plan for Golden Gate National Recreation Area pending an agency investigation into staff use of personal email for agency business in the dog management planning process. The emails were brought to light via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit brought by Bay Area recreation and dog groups including Coastside DOG. Learn more at WoofieLeaks.com.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier is calling on the Department of Interior Inspector General to conduct a full and public inquiry into this matter and for the National Park Service to rescind the GGNRA Dog Management Plan. (Click here to read the full press release.)
SFGate: (1/9): Park Service delays GGNRA dog management plan
SF Examiner (1/10): Park Service puts proposed GGNRA dog rules on hold
San Jose Mercury News (1/10): National Park Service delays new dog restrictions
KPIX-TV online (1/10): New GGNRA Dog Walking Rules On Hold In Wake Of ‘WoofieLeaks’ Documents
Half Moon Bay Review (1/12): Park Service Pulls Dog Rule after Emails Reveal Alleged Bias
National Park Service Releases its Final Plan for Dog Walking in the GGNRA (12/8/16)
On December 8, 2016, the National Park Service released its Final Environmental Impact Statement outlining the agency's proposed final plan for dog walking in Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Currently, the Park Service is planning to sign the Record of Decision on January 10, 2017. Although the National Park Service is touting the plan as a compromise, it is far from a compromise. Right now dog walking is only allowed on 1% of GGNRA lands. The Park Service's plan would cut current off-leash dog walking areas in GGNRA by 90% and on-leash areas by more than 50%.
Coastside DOG and our partners are continuing to fight this highly restrictive plan.
Final Public Comment Period on the GGNRA Dog Management Plan
On February 23, 2016 the National Park Service released its Proposed Rule for dog management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The 90-day public comment period on the proposed rule ended on May 25, 2016. 4,106 public comments were submitted. In the public comments, people opposed the dog rule 3 to 1.