99--AVAILABILITY OF COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATIONS WITHIN CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Under the authority of Public Law 105-391 (Section 418) the National Park Service announces the limited availability of Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) within Channel Islands National Park for the following service: Sea Kayak Guide and Outfitter Service, Scorpion Area, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, Three (3) CUAs to be issued following a competitive selection process based on resource protection, ability to operate safely, realative experience, and the submission of an Operating Plan. Each authorization will be issued for the period of April 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. The park's Scorpion Area is well known for sea kayaking, a popular visitor activity that centers around Scorpion Beach on eastern Santa Cruz Island. This location is a world class destination for sea kayaking because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, nearby camping, readily available concessionaire boat transportation service and a spectacular shoreline with beautiful sea cave and cliffs to explore. Please see the park's website athttp://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/kayaking.htm for more information regarding Santa Cruz Island and this popular visitor activity. The primary operating season runs Many through October. Each CUA holder will be required to meet a minimum operational level of 400 client days annually. General conditions include: (1) No more than one CUA per activity, will be issued to an applicant (inclusive of its individual owners and employees). However, Applicants can apply for and receive CUA's for more than one activity. (2) Each Sea Kayak Guide and Outfitter, Scorpion Area CUA is valid for 21 months (After periodic assessment is made, new limitations may be set or the CUA may be terminated.) All Channel Islands National Park CUA activities must begin and end outside of the Park boundary, are for the incidental use of park area resources, and may not authorize solicitation of customers, sales, or payment for commercial services to take place within the park area; all of these activities must occur outside of the park area. All applications must be received no later than 3:00p.m., Friday, March 20, 2009, to be eligible for the CUA. Applications will be ranked by experience and resource protection. CUA Application Instructions and Materials are availble on the Park's web site at: http://www.nps.gov/chis/parkmgmt/commercial-use-authorizations.htm. Further CUA information and requirements may be obtained by contacting: Jack Fitzgerald, Chief Ranger, (805)658-5717, Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001.