In all planning and strategy development, the National Park Service (NPS) seeks input from its stakeholders. The Environmental Assessment (EA) process allows opportunities for public dialogue about NPS management issues and strengthens ties with stakeholders. By engaging people with traditional, cultural or ethnic ties to NPS lands, and other partners and stakeholders, the NPS broadens its perspective on stewardship of public trust resources. Public involvement exemplifies the NPS desire to conduct the management of public resources in an open and inclusive manner.

Each park will determine the best civic engagement activities to fulfill the external scoping and to advertise the public comment period. Parks will publish documents for public communication and meetings, using the tools available in this Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) software. The parks will update entries into PEPC and determine which park specific documents would be helpful to the public.

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define purpose and need/develop preliminary alternatives
Step 2. Parks conduct external scoping
Step 3. Refine alternatives
Step 4. Identify environmental impacts and select preferred alternative
Step 5. Prepare draft plan/environmental document
Step 6. Tribal and agency consultation -- review of draft EPMP/EA
Step 7. Public review of draft plan/environmental document
Step 8. Analysis of public comment
Step 9. Prepare final plan/decision document
Step 10. Release final plan/decision document to the public *

A list of the individuals and organizations contacted by each park in conjunction with the preparation and review of this EA and plan will be provided by the parks for inclusion in the EA.
Results of public comment will be analyzed by the Exotic Plant Management Team and included in the final EA.