Environmental Assessment - Public Comment Period

During the summer of 2024, the National Park Service (NPS) solicited public input as part of the development of a plan to develop an Environmental Assessment (EA) that would allow the park to remove feral swine and nilgai from Padre Island National Seashore. A draft EA has been developed and is ready for public review. The NPS will be accepting public comments on the draft Feral Exotic Invasive Species Management Plan and Environmental Assessment from October 15 - November 15, 2024.

Resources management staff in Padre Island National Seashore are observing increasing numbers of feral swine/pigs at the Seashore, despite attempts at culling invasive swine through a 2021 categorial exclusion in 2022 and 2024. Concern is high about the impact of invasive swine upon threatened and endangered species and their habitat at the Seashore.

The NPS prepared the EA to analyze potential impacts of the proposed actions for feral swine removal in Padre Island which includes information received from the public during the civic engagement period earlier this year. This EA evaluates two alternatives: one where feral swine are removed on a case-by-case basis and the preferred alternative with a more comprehensive approach for feral swine removal that includes a thorough monitoring program. In order to protect seashore resources, staff identified a need to review and analyze impacts from both alternatives on the following topics: special status wildlife species, wildlife, human health and safety, recreation and visitor use, soils, water resources, and cultural resources. The seashore looks forward to all comments from members of the public on the alternatives, their impacts to resources, or any other concept in the draft EA. The most helpful comments are those that reference a specific topic or section in the draft EA and give staff ideas to consider that help achieve the mission of protecting all resources and visitor experiences at Padre Island.

The public can review and comment on this EA online at:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PadreExoticInvasivePlanning

Comments can also be mailed to:
RE: Feral Exotic Invasive Management Plan EA
PO Box 181300
Corpus Christi, TX 78480

The public is also invited to join any of three in-person, open house listening sessions to provide feedback about the feral exotic invasive species management plan at the seashore.

One meeting will be held at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Mission San José
6701 San José Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78214
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Another meeting will be held at the Texas State Aquarium
2710 N. Shoreline Boulevard
Corpus Christi, Texas 78402
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

The third meeting will be held at Seashore Learning Center's Rip Tide Gym
15801 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

All meetings will have the same content.

Commenters should be aware that their entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters may ask that their identifying information be withheld from public view, the NPS cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Document Content:

Draft EA for Feral Exotic Invasive Species Management Plan at PAIS.pdf   (4.7 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.