Re: Comment Period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan

Yosemite News Release
June 4, 2008
For Immediate Release

Yosemite National Park Announces the Public Comment Period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment

Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to the integrity of National Park Service lands. Non-native plants invade an estimated 4,600 acres of federal land in the United States every day, and already infest millions of acres in the national parks. Fortunately, Yosemite National Park is at the early stages of invasion, with less than 1% of the landmass within the Park contaminated with invasive plants. Unfortunately, 177 non-native plant taxa have already established within Park borders, many with the potential to spread rapidly. The purpose of this Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment for Yosemite National Park is to evaluate a range of alternatives to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive plants into uninfested areas of the park, and quickly and effectively eradicate new infestations.

The public comment period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment will open on Friday, June 13, 2008 and will run through Sunday, July 13, 2008. The plan is available on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/invasive.htm. A public meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the monthly Open House in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium. Additionally, park representatives will be available at the El Portal Planning Advisory Meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7pm in the Clark Community Hall.

Written scoping comments should be postmarked no later than July 13, 2008. Comments can be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, email, and through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting system.

To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit written comments:

Mail:

Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Invasive Plant Management Plan
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389

Fax: 209/379-1294

Email: YOSE_planning@nps.gov

PEPC: http://parkplanning.nps.gov

For more information on park planning efforts, visit the website at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt.htm.

(-NPS-)

Tuesday, July 8: Public meeting for the Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment for Yosemite
National Park

Although the El Portal Town Planning Committee meeting has been cancelled, a public meeting and presentation on the Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment, which was on the agenda for the previously scheduled meeting, will still take place. Park specialists will present an informative slide presentation and take your questions regarding the plan. Please join us at the Clark Community Hall in El Portal from 7:00-8:00pm on Tuesday, July 8 to find out more about the battle against invasive plants in Yosemite and the alternatives proposed in the plan.

Copies of the plan and comment forms will be available.The public comment period on the Environmental Assessment runs from June 13, 2008 through July 13, 2008.

Invasive Human Management Plan also was cancelled