[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10363]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[MT-930-4320-01]

 

Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment, Decision 
Record, and Finding of No Significant Impact for Predator Management in 
the Miles City District Office; MT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: An Environmental Assessment (EA), Decision Record (DR), and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) have been reissued for 
predator management in the Miles City District. The EA and DRs were 
vacated from IBLA. The analysis was revised and clarified and reissued 
(April 1994).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Brooks, Project Lead, Montana 
State Office, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107, 406-255-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA for Predator Management in Montana 
addresses four alternatives which affect predator management to varying 
degrees:
    Alternative I--Integrated Pest Management (APHIS-ADC, DOL, and BLM 
Proposed Action): This alternative emphasizes an Integrated Pest 
Management (IPM) approach to reduce animal damage. The IPM approach 
incorporates a variety of practical, lethal, and nonlethal methods for 
prevention and control to minimize animal damage to livestock or human 
health. The use of M-44s would be permitted after authorization is 
obtained for specific areas. Preventive control would be allowed in 
areas where historical livestock losses have been documented.
    Alternative II--No M-44s: This alternative would be similar to 
Alternative I, except the use of M-44s would not be authorized. All 
other approved methods for control would be permitted. Preventive 
control would be allowed in areas where historical livestock losses 
have been documented.
    Alternative III--No Action (Emergency Control Only): Preventive 
control measures would not be authorized, and corrective control would 
be applied only where APHIS-ADC or DOL have confirmed recent loss of 
livestock to predation. Emergency predator management would be 
requested by a livestock producer when losses are occurring. The BLM 
would review and approve or disapprove these requests on a case-by-case 
basis. The requests would be handled using the emergency control 
procedures.
    Alternative IV--No APHIS-ADC or DOL Predator Management on BLM 
Lands: Under this alternative, APHIS-ADC or DOL predator management 
activities would not be authorized on BLM land in Montana. However, 
private landowners could continue to conduct predator management on BLM 
lands and could continue to enter into agreements with APHIS-ADC and 
DOL to carry out predator management on private, state, and other non-
BLM lands.
    The Predator Management EA for Montana was available for public 
comment from September 15 to October 15, 1993. An EA, DR, and FONSI 
were issued in November 1993. Since that time, the BLM decided to 
vacate the EA and decisions to clarify and revise the analysis. The 
revised EA, DR, and FONSI (April 1994) have been reissued and are 
available upon request.
    Based upon careful consideration of the analysis of alternatives 
within the Predator Management EA, including consideration of 
applicable laws, regulations, public and agency comments, I have 
decided to implement Alternative I--Integrated Pest Management (APHIS-
ADC, DOL, and BLM Proposed Action). Management actions will be directed 
towards localized populations and/or individual offending predators. 
Requests for control will come directly to APHIS-ADC from permittees or 
to the DOL in those counties with a DOL-approved Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU). Those counties with an approved MOU with the DOL 
are: Carter, Powder River, McCone, Dawson, and Richland Counties. In 
response to public concern regarding the use of lethal methods, the 
following mitigating measure has been adopted as part of my decision: 
Livestock producers will be provided information on nonlethal methods. 
When services are requested by permittees, either APHIS-ADC or DOL will 
provide a factsheet to the livestock producer on nonlethal methods. In 
addition, information on nonlethal methods will also be mailed out in 
the annual grazing applications by BLM. This will ensure that 
permittees who request control are aware of the variety of nonlethal 
methods available to them; such as animal husbandry practices, guard 
dogs, scare devices, etc.
    Implementation of Alternative I will require strict adherence to 
reasonable and prudent measures provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), mitigation and stipulations incorporated in the EA, 
and my decision for the protection of threatened and endangered and 
candidate species. The USFWS has concurred with the BLM finding that 
the proposed predator management strategy is not likely to adversely 
affect threatened and endangered species. Predator management will be 
prohibited in the Powder River Special Recreation Management Area 
(SRMA), located within the Powder River Depot, because of the high 
recreational values in the area. All areas, as identified on the maps 
provided in the EA, where human health or safety are a particular 
concern will be closed to predator management. These areas also have 
appropriate buffer zones. Designated bird-hunting areas will have 
timing restrictions placed on some predator management activities.
    It is my conclusion that the proposed action will not result in 
significant environmental impacts, and that no species will be 
substantially or permanently reduced in numbers as a result of my 
decision. The predator population will not be substantially impacted. 
Statewide, 7,847 coyotes were taken by APHIS-ADC and DOL on lands of 
all ownership, or 1.5 to 13.7 percent of the population statewide 
(based on the scientific model) or 2.6 percent of the population (based 
on the coyote density indices sampling). In the Miles City District, 
approximately 405 coyotes and 247 red foxes were taken on BLM lands by 
APHIS-ADC and DOL. Based on the analysis, implementation of Alternative 
I will result in the least amount of livestock loss and provides the 
most flexibility in correcting or preventing damage based on the 
circumstances and the surrounding environment. This decision ensures 
that predator management will be carried out in a systematic manner 
which responds to resource protection, human health, and livestock 
protection needs while protecting public safety, domestic animals, and 
nontarget wildlife. This decision is compatible with resource 
objectives identified in the land use plans for the district. The 
Secretary of Interior will put the decision in full force and effect 
for the 30-day appeal period. To appeal this decision, the appeal 
procedures need to be followed. To obtain a copy of the appeal 
procedures, contact Sandy Brooks, Project Lead, Montana State Office, 
406-255-2929.

    Dated: April 25, 1994.
Wayne Zinne,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 94-10363 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P