The National Park Service gave formal notice yesterday that it will prepare the documents required under the National Environmental Policy Act to decide the future of ranching and elk management in the Point Reyes National Seashore and northern reaches of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a process that must wrap up by 2021, per federal court order. The park provided the public with a picture of the six possible management alternatives for the ranchlands last fall, but the notice of intent filed this week officially kicked off the planning process—which includes the preparation of an amendment to the seashore’s general management plan and an associated environmental impact statement. The public has until Nov. 30 to submit comments, and there will be two public meetings to discuss the park’s notice: on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the West Marin School Gym and at the same time the next day at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito. The notice of intent largely shows the same management strategies the park proposed last fall and received public comment on, though the agency has provided further detail and made some important changes and additions. A more detailed report will appear in next week’s edition. To view the notice of intent and the park’s newsletter, and to make comments, visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=91640.