For Immediate Release: February 17, 1999

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

Interior Department Announces Cumberland Island Agreement
Historic agreement protects wilderness and preserves the
future of Cumberland Island National Seashore

Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish Wildlife and Parks Don Barry today announced an agreement that establishes the framework for protection of the natural and cultural resources of Cumberland Island National Seashore. Implementation of the agreement begins immediately to complete acquisition of the Greyfield North tract on Cumberland Island.

The agreement announced today between the National Park Service (NPS) and 15 organizations with varied interest in Cumberland Island, settles several months of intense negotiations that would allow for compatible management of the historic structures and wilderness area at Cumberland Island National Seashore. In signing the agreement, Assistant Secretary Barry said, "This agreement reflects our strong support for managing natural and cultural resources and a new level of commitment for protecting and preserving the historic structures and sites on the Seashore."

Under the agreement, NPS has committed new funding for historic preservation work on the island, including $1.8 million in fiscal year 1999, for the restoration of the Plum Orchard Mansion, and new interpretive signs and education materials. The agreement also provides for establishment of a Cumberland Island Committee of the NPS Advisory Board; regularly scheduled and public announced access to Plum Orchard, and other historic resources on the North End of the island; plans for managing both wilderness area and the cultural and historic resources of the Seashore; construction of a new Parallel Trail from the Sea Camp dock to the North End; and total visitor capacity for the Seashore will remain at 300 per day.

In 1984, Congress designated a significant portion of the natural area of the Seashore as wilderness, requiring a management framework that has been perceived to constrain proper care of and access to the historic resources of the island. The agreement announced today addresses those concerns and provides access to historic structures while preserving the character of the surrounding wilderness.

The agreement deals with the important issue of access, including a new dock for boating access on the North End. It also allows for limited vehicular access on some of the island's roads which are traveled by residents of the island and park service personnel. The limited vehicular access along the roads would produce no net increase impact on the area's surrounding wilderness and allow visitors access to some historic sites.

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