Planning

Documents Open for Public Review

There are currently no projects with documents open for public review for Padre Island National Seashore.

Other Plans and Projects

An archive of completed projects as well as projects without documents open for comment may be found on the PEPC website.

 

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Public Comments Available for Review

The civic engagement public comments for the PAIS Beach Management Plan pre-NEPA are available to review on the PEPC website.

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Community members talk with a park employee during a pre-NEPA open house event.

NPS Photo/ Kelly Taylor

Planning

The National Park Service (NPS) is required by federal law to engage in transparent planning efforts and to solicit public, agency, and tribal input in decision making. The NPS engages in planning to ensure our decisions are as effective and efficient as possible in carrying out the NPS mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the NPS for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

The National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act and other laws and regulations and NPS policies require that certain procedural steps be taken, and that park staff analyze all plans and project proposals to determine the degree of impacts on the environment. The involvement and input of the interested and affected public is an essential component in this process.

Planning projects in Padre Island National Seashore may include Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, management plans, and decision documents, such as Findings of No Significant Impact and Records of Decision.

Public Participation

Padre Island National Seashore is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws to make a diligent effort to involve the public in decisions and actions of the agency.

The public plays an essential role in taking care of our national parks. Park decision making is vastly improved when the diverse perspectives and ideas from the public are considered. Park planners need and want to hear from you.

 

Why is Commenting Important?

Although park planners and resource managers often have very specialized knowledge of an area, it would be impossible for them to know all the issues of importance to the public, including members of neighboring communities and the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the park — this information needs to come from the public themselves.

 

When a project is open for comment, public participation is solicited through several avenues. Press releases are issued, and in some cases, public meetings may be held.

Public comments frequently come to the park via letters and statements received during public meetings, but public comments are preferred to be made online using the National Park Service's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) system. 

Please Note: PEPC is intended as a clearinghouse for public comments on planning efforts. Comments regarding park operations should not be submitted via PEPC.