Public Can Review and Comment on Exotic Plant Management Plan Online

Date: January 21, 2011
Contact: Adam Prato, [phone]

WEST BRANCH, IOWA—The National Park Service is beginning the development of an Exotic Plant Management Plan and an Environmental Assessment (EA) that includes Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. The EA will address management of the park’s natural areas that are home to native plant communities. Particular attention will be placed on eradication, control, and containment of exotic (nonnative) invasive plants. A similar planning effort, for a Vegetation Management Plan for Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, will resume upon the findings of this EA. The Exotic Plant Management will be incorporated into the overall Vegetation Management Plan for Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

The public may review and comment on the project online though PEPC (Planning, Environment and Public Comment), the online collaborative tool that gives the public unprecedented, easy access to documents used in developing and tracking projects within the National Park Service. The project is titled #31771 Heartland Exotic Plant Management Plan and may be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=31771. Comments may also be sent by mail to: Superintendent, Herbert Hoover NHS, P.O. Box 607, West Branch, IA 52358.

“The National Park Service relies heavily on feedback from the public to guide its stewardship of America’s great natural and cultural resources,” said Pete Swisher, acting superintendent of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. “PEPC makes it easy for people to track projects at a nearby park or a favorite park several time zones away. It gives the public unprecedented access.”

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.