Washington – The National Park Service (NPS) is accepting public scoping comments on an Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (plan/EA) for 15 national parks in the greater Washington DC region.

Date: May 11, 2015
Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7177

Washington – The National Park Service (NPS) is accepting public scoping comments on an Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (plan/EA) for 15 national parks in the greater Washington DC region. The plan/EA will identify long-term strategies to reduce impacts and threats from invasive plants, and will provide opportunities for restoring native plant communities and historic landscapes. Comments are being accepted through June 10, 2015 and can be submitted online.

Scoping is the first phase in developing the plan. These comments will provide the NPS with the public’s concerns and issues regarding the project’s purpose, need and objectives and its potential effects on park resources, visitor experiences or park operations. After public scoping concludes the NPS will release a draft plan/EA for public review and comment before a final decision is made.

How to Comment
Members of the public and organizations are encouraged to provide comments online through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website, which is used by the agency to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process. From the project website, navigate the menu on the left hand side of the page to Document List, then IPMP/EA, and Comment on Document.

Comments may also be submitted in writing to:

National Park Service
National Capital Region
c/o Mark Frey, Exotic Plant Management Team Liaison 4598 MacArthur Blvd NW
Washington, DC 20007

Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by June 10, 2015 to receive consideration. Please be aware that the entire comment, including personal identifying information such as address, phone number, and e-mail address, may be made publicly available. Requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.

More About the Project
Invasive species issues in the following parks will be addressed in this plan.

• Antietam National Battlefield (MD)
• Catoctin Mountain Park (MD)
• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (DC, MD, WV)
• George Washington Memorial Parkway (DC, MD, VA)
• Greenbelt Park (MD)
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV, VA, MD)
• Manassas National Battlefield (VA)
• Monocacy National Battlefield (MD)
• National Capital Parks-East (DC, MD)
• National Mall and Memorial Parks (DC)
• Piscataway Park (MD)
• Prince William Forest Park (VA)
• Rock Creek Park (DC)
• President's Park (DC)
• Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (VA)