Public Scoping for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments’ Integrated Pest Management Plan/Environmental Assessment

Date: February 13, 2012
Contact: Sharon Kim, 928-649-6195 X226

National Park ServiceNews Release

For Immediate Release - February 13, 2012
Sharon Kim, Chief, Division of Resource Management, 928-649-6195 x226

Public Scoping for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments' Integrated Pest Management Plan/Environmental Assessment

The National Park Service is reinitiating public scoping for the Integrated Pest Management Plan/Environmental Assessment (EA) for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. In March 2009, the National Park Service requested input on a multi-park (Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Tonto National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, and Tuzigoot National Monument) Integrated Pest Management Plan/Environmental Assessment. We have retained the comments related to the Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments at this time, but are reopening public scoping for a two-park Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments' Integrated Pest Management Plan/Environmental Assessment as the original multi-park environmental assessment was never completed. This new two-park environmental assessment is expected to be released in the spring/summer 2012 and will finalize the NEPA process for this proposed program.

The primary focus for this Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan and environmental assessment will be the management of vertebrate and invertebrate pest species at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. The objectives of this plan and environmental assessment will be to help preserve prehistoric and historic structures, museum resources, and stored artifacts, as well as assist with the protection of the health and safety of staff and visitors in developed areas, public and administrative buildings, and park housing. This plan will not focus on invasive plant management, as this subject has been addressed by the 2007 Invasive Plant Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments.

The monuments are encouraging public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project; once during this project scoping period and again following release of the EA. Through this public scoping, we invite the public to submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the proposed project. Please send comments through the "Open for Comments" link at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/moca. If you are not able to submit comments electronically through this website, you may submit written comments direct to Montezuma Castle National Monument, P.O. Box 219, Camp Verde, AZ 86322. Please provide comments by March 13 in order to insure that they are included for consideration during the preparation of the EA. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Kim, Chief of Resources, at [phone], x 226.

--NPS--