NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS DOG MANAGEMENT IN THE GGNRA

The San Francisco SPCA is a member of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee which is currently holding meetings to provide a new Dog Management Plan for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to help resolve the contentious issue of dogwalking for certain areas within the GGNRA.

The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, an independent agency overseeing the process in San Francisco, appointed a team of neutral assessors to facilitate the process. Under their guidance, a Committee of stakeholders has been assembled. These stakeholders and their representatives include environmental groups, wildlife groups, dog walking groups and other animal welfare organizations.

The Committee will be holding public hearings for up to two years. If, or when, the Committee reaches a consensus on recommendations, these recommendations will be integrated into an accompanying environmental impact statement (EIS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. If no consensus is reached by the Committee, the current regulations may stay in place, or new regulations will be drafted by the GGNRA.

The SF/SPCA is committed to the Negotiated Rulemaking Process as an impartial method of reaching consensus on the issue of dog management in the GGNRA.

Responsible Dog Ownership and the GGNRA Video by The Crissy Field Dog Group