Hurricane Ridge Road is closed today because of a slow but continuous rockfall onto the road,Olympic National Park officials said. If necessary, the road may remain closed longer, but park staff are currently assessing the situation and studying alternatives for reopening the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

"With a steady stream of gravel mixed with large rocks rolling and bouncing onto the road, safety concerns dictate this temporary closure," said Sue McGill, deputy park superintendent, in a news release.

The slide, which followed a winter avalanche chute, is located just
above the road's third and highest tunnel, about nine miles south of Port
Angeles, and originates on a steep slope high above the road. Falling
rocks were observed on Saturday, continuing through the day on Sunday and
leading rangers to close the road Sunday afternoon.

Park staff is working with the Federal Highway Administration to assess the situation and will fly over the site today to better inspect the summit and upper slope of the rockfall chute.

For information about alternative destinations within the park, people may go to the park Web site or call the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130. The recorded Road and Weather Hotline is updated throughout the day with changes and can be reached by calling 360-565-3131.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission is schedule to interview Wednesday and Thursday candidates for the department director position.

There are six candidates being interviewed. The candidate names and personal information are confidential, according to a commission spokeswoman.

The six were recommended by the state Department of Personnel as the top qualifiers based on the job recruitment announcement and job description approved by the commission a few months ago.

According to the notice from the commission’s office, the public is not permitted to attend the interviews, which will be conducted during executive session.

The public portions of this meeting will be recorded and the audio will be posted on the Internet by the day after adjournment. To listen to the audio afterwards, visit www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.

The commission began its search for a new director earlier this summer, after the Legislature met and finalized budgets. Phil Anderson has been serving as the interim director since Jeff Koenings stepped down last December.