Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven hosted National Park Service (NPS) Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost in North Dakota this week to discuss the management of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s (TRNP) wild horses and progress on repairs to the scenic loop in the park's south unit.

Hoeven emphasized to Director Frost and Acting TRNP Superintendent Nancy Finley the importance of transparency with the public as future management plans for the wild horse herd are developed. He urged NPS officials to collaborate with stakeholders, experts, and advocates in North Dakota to ensure that public interest is adequately considered in maintaining a healthy, genetically-diverse herd. This effort builds upon a commitment Hoeven recently secured from Interior Assistant Secretary for Parks Shannon Estenoz.

Regarding repairs to the scenic loop, which failed due to erosion in 2019, Hoeven has worked with NPS and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) leadership to advance these efforts. The senator helped fund the 6.15-mile reconstruction through the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation he sponsored as part of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Under this law, $47.5 million has been secured for repairs that include protections against future erosion, with completion expected this fall.

“Director Frost’s visit to North Dakota is a great opportunity to address major priorities for the Theodore Roosevelt National Park,” said Hoeven. “This includes the future management plans for the park’s historic wild horse herd and the ongoing repairs of the scenic loop, which we’ve been working to advance for nearly five years and funded to the tune of more than $47 million through the Restore Our Parks Act.”

Earlier this year, Hoeven announced an agreement with NPS to terminate its proposed removal of horses at TRNP under an environmental assessment process initiated in 2022. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he passed a provision directing NPS to maintain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.” Additionally, he secured a 30-day extension of public comment on proposed options for managing the herd and advanced this priority with NPS officials including Director Charles Sams.

Hoeven reiterated his commitment: “We’ve been working hard to ensure NPS maintains a healthy, genetically-viable herd while encouraging engagement with local experts and stakeholders and being transparent about this process.”