WHAT:  The federal four-state Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission’s Management Plan provides a description of Gullah Geechee people and culture and a brief historical overview. In addition, the Plan highlights examples of important cultural resources throughout the Corridor, summarizes the natural resources of the Corridor, discusses land ownership and land cover, and briefly touches on the socioeconomic conditions within the Corridor.  The Plan also provides readers with a basic level of information about the Corridor to facilitate a better understanding of the future implementation that is outlined in the management approach.  The Commission’s implementation theme is “Enlighten and Empower Gullah Geechee People to Sustain the Culture.”

WHERE: Management Plan copies can be viewed electronically at www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org<http://www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org/> or at libraries throughout the Corridor.

WHEN: The 30-day Public Review Period is July 18 – August 17, 2012.  Written comments may be submitted by any one of two methods:  1) visiting the PEPC (National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment) Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/guge, or 2) mailing: Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, c/o Commission Chairman, 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482.

WHY: Comments will be reviewed and utilized to fine-tune the Commission’s implementation efforts.  The Commission plans to forward the Management Plan to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for approval by early fall 2012.