Planning milestones for development of the Cape Lookout National Seashore Interim Protected Species Management Plan are listed below. The National Park Service will follow steps outlined by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure that this planning effort is an inclusive public process.

Public involvement will be a critical part of the planning and development of the Interim Protected Species Management Plan. Opportunities will be provided for individuals, representatives of civic groups, public agencies, and governing bodies to offer comments, submit written material, ask questions regarding the proposed project, as well as become informed of the schedule for future events in the process.

It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for public review following the close of public comment periods. However, individual respondents may request that the NPS withhold their name and/or address from the record, which the NPS will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish for your name and/or address to be withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment.

We look forward to your participation and input.


Step 1. Public Scoping for Issues and Alternatives – Public Meetings November 8 and 9.
Step 2. Refine Alternatives, Identify Impacts, Select Preferred Alternative, and Prepare Draft Strategy/Environmental Document
Step 3. Public Review of Draft Strategy/Environmental Document (30-day public comment period anticipated to start in January 2006)
Step 4. Analysis of Public Comment
Step 5. Prepare Final Strategy/Decision Document
Step 6. Completion of Biological Opinion by US Fish & Wildlife Service
Step 7. Release Final Strategy/Decision Document and Implement Plan (anticipated mid-March 2006)