[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 241 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76055-76056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29513]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the White-tailed Deer
Management Plan, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD
AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the White-tailed Deer Management Plan, Catoctin Mountain
Park, Maryland.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the
availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the White-
tailed Deer Management Plan (FEIS) for Catoctin Mountain Park in
Thurmont, Maryland. The plan will support forest regeneration and
provide for long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of
native species and cultural landscapes at Catoctin Mountain Park. The
document describes four management alternatives which include a no
action alternative (continue existing management) and three action
alternatives, one of which was identified as the preferred alternative.
DATES: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the White-tailed
Deer Management Plan was on public review from December 1, 2006,
through February 2, 2007. Responses to public comments received during
that review are addressed in the FEIS. A 30-day no-action period will
follow the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability of
the FEIS. After the 30-day no-action period, a Record of Decision will
be signed that will document NPS approval of the FEIS and identify the
selected alternative for implementation.
ADDRESSES: The FEIS will be available for public review online at the
National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC)
Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cato by selecting ``Deer
Management Plan for Catoctin Mountain Park.'' Bound copies of the FEIS
will also be available at the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center
which is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 77 and Park
Central Road, and at Catoctin Mountain Park Headquarters which is
located approximately two miles west of Thurmont on Maryland Route 77.
Copies will also be available at the C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110
East Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701; the Thurmont Regional
Library, 76 East Moser Road, Thurmont, Maryland 21788; the Washington
County Free Library, 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, Maryland
21740; and the Smithsburg Library, 66 West Water Street, Smithsburg,
Maryland 21783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Loncosky, Park Biologist, at
Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, Maryland 21788,
by
[[Page 76056]]
telephone at (301) 416-0536, or by e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS evaluates four alternatives for
managing white-tailed deer in the park. The document describes and
analyzes the environmental impacts of the no-action alternative and
three action alternatives. When approved, the plan will guide deer
management actions in Catoctin Mountain Park over the next 15 years.
Alternative A (no action) would continue the existing deer
management plan of limited fencing, use of repellents in landscaped
areas, monitoring, data management, and research; no new deer
management actions would be implemented. Alternative B would combine
several non-lethal actions including large-scale exclosures (fencing),
additional use of repellents in limited areas, and reproductive control
of does to gradually reduce deer population in the park. Under
Alternative C qualified federal employees or contractors would directly
reduce the deer population in the park through sharpshooting. Capture
and euthanasia of individual deer would be used in circumstances where
sharpshooting would not be appropriate. Alternative C is the NPS
preferred alternative. Alternative D would combine actions of
Alternatives B and C which would include sharpshooting, capture and
euthanasia, and reproductive control of does to maintain population
levels. The preferred alternative would fully meet the plan objectives
and has more certainty of success than the other alternatives analyzed.
The relatively rapid reduction in deer density and browsing pressure on
native plant communities and species of special concern would provide
beneficial impacts to the natural and cultural resources of the park.
Dated: August 13, 2008.
Lisa A. Mendelson-Ielmini,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on December 9, 2008.
[FR Doc. E8-29513 Filed 12-12-08; 8:45 am]
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