Cumberland Island Land Exchange

Wild Cumberland opposes what the National Park Service has most recently proposed for Cumberland Island.

The provided resources below will get you caught up on each of the agency’s proposed land exchanges in detail and, hopefully, offer the context you need to evaluate them for yourself.

Wild Cumberland – Land Exchange Town Hall Slide Deck

Links to More Information:

Land Exchange Town Hall Video

What We Cover:

• The stated purpose of the plan
• Helpful terms
• Overviews of the 4 individual land exchanges
• What is missing from the documents
• Maps that show the full scope of the proposed land exchange
• How Cumberland Island compares to other national parks in this type of land exchange situation
• Wild Cumberland’s position
• How to comment on the NPS proposal
• and what’s next!
• plus we have a great Q&A session that covers a lot more!

Submitting Your Public Comments  – DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 20!

WHERE & HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS:

Electronically:
Click the link below to go to the NPS website where you can leave your comments.

Click Here to Get to the NPS Land Exchange Comment Page

By Mail:

Cumberland Island National Seashore
101 Wheeler Street 
St. Marys, GA 31558

Tips On Writing Your Comments

Start with a brief opening statement and explain your personal connection. Share a personal story or experience that identifies your connection to Cumberland Island, Wilderness, and/or public lands. If applicable, mention relevant affiliations, such as community organizations or environmental groups. 

Example: “I oppose the proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island because…”

Make your key arguments. Summarize your strongest arguments and concerns. Provide evidence, documentation, or data that supports your position or relates to the decision-making criteria, if available.

Example: “As a XXX, I [ cherish / value ] XXXX”. 

Make a clear conclusion. Use this opportunity to reiterate your opposition and express a desire for XXX that XXXX.

Example: “We must XXX”. 

General Tips

• Make sure to include all your concerns, because any concerns you do not raise at the commenting stage can be considered “waived.”
• Provide contact information if you are comfortable (this adds credibility).
• Proofread for clarity, spelling, & grammar.
• Save a copy of your comments (print to PDF or screenshot). 
• Share a copy of your comments with any of the organizations you are affiliated with, if you mentioned them.

The NPS indicated that the most “useful” types of public comments include:

• Alternative approaches and ideas for addressing the purpose and need for the project.
• The range of environmental issues that need to be considered.
• Other potential projects or actions that might affect or be affected by this project.
• Likes & dislikes about the concept of these proposed land exchanges.
• Information on how you use the Seashore and how a land exchange might affect that use.

Sample Public Comment Letter

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed land exchanges for Cumberland Island National Seashore. I am [ introduce yourself or your group ]. Offer a few sentences about your background, your credentials, and why this matters to you. If you are commenting because you live in St Marys, for example, mention how close your home is to the Wilderness: “I have lived in St Marys, Georgia, for twenty years, and my home is less than three miles from Cumberland Island and its Wilderness.”

I would like to [ state the purpose of your comment ]. In other words – do you oppose the proposal outright? Are you asking the agency to consider additional information? Make sure to state what you want the agency to do! You might say “I would like to ask that you XXX, for the following reasons:”

1. [ First (your “most important”) reason why the agency should do what you want. ]

Keep each reason a separate number or bullet point. Include all the information you have that supports this point. (It’s okay for each point to require several paragraphs, or even pages.) Reference any sources, like newspaper articles or scientific research, that support your position. You can include a list of your sources at the end of your letter.

2. [ Second reason why the agency should do what you want. ]

3. [ Put as many reasons as you have, but try to order them from most important to least important. ]

Therefore, [ re-state what you want the agency to do, like deny the permit or choose an alternative site. ].

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed land exchanges for Cumberland Island National Seashore. 

Add your sources here.