[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14975]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 21, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Record of Decision Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Conata
Basin/Badlands, SD
Introduction
Pursuant to regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40
CFR Sec. 1505.2) and the implementing procedures of the National Park
Service for the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (40 U.S.C.
Sec. 1501 et seq.), the Department of the Interior has prepared this
draft record of decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement,
Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands, South
Dakota, March, 1994.
This record of decision is a concise statement of decisions that
were made, alternatives that were considered, and mitigating measures
that were developed to avoid or minimize environmental impacts.
Decision
The National Park Service will accept as approved for
implementation, Alternative C, Reintroduce Black-footed Ferrets into
the Badlands National Park and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland with
Initial Releases in the Badlands National Park, as described in the
above-referenced Final Environmental Impact Statement. Working with its
cooperators to achieve this alternative, the National Park Service will
implement a cooperative management plan and reintroduction protocol for
restoration of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands Area
of South Dakota. The National Park Service considered and evaluated the
alternatives for the reintroduction of a non-essential experimental
population of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands area
of South Dakota as presented in the FEIS, including a no action
alternative, and thoroughly reviewed and considered public and agency
comments in formulating this determination.
The Selected Plan
The selected plan reintroduces black-footed ferrets into a black-
tailed prairie dog colony complex on the Badlands National Park (BNP)
and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland (BGNG). A non-essential
experimental population area of approximately 1,182,200 acres is
delineated within which the legal status of the black-footed ferret is
changed from endangered to non-essential experimental to allow for
greater management flexibility. A reintroduction area of approximately
42,000 acres which currently contains about 8,000 acres of prairie dog
colonies on federally managed land becomes the focus of releases and
black-footed ferret management activities. Initial releases occur in
the BNP, and habitat for black-footed ferret movement and dispersal is
identified. Short-term constraints on a few activities may be
implemented at specific release sites and in the reintroduction area to
increase the chances for survival of released animals.
The immediate purpose of the proposed action is to use experimental
techniques to reintroduce and establish a free ranging, cooperatively
managed wild population of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in
the Conata Basin/Badlands experimental population area near Wall, South
Dakota, as part of the national recovery effort. The reintroduced
black-footed ferrets and their progeny will be classified a
nonessential experimental population under federal rulemaking
procedures.
Alternatives Considered
Five alternatives, including the selected plan, were analyzed in
the final environmental impact statement:
Alternative A--No Action: Black-footed ferrets would not be
reintroduced into the BNP or the BGNG.
Alternative B--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets only in the BNP on
approximately 3,200 acres of prairie dog colonies within a
reintroduction area of approximately 25,000 acres, with approximately
3,175 acres of prairie dog colonies.
Alternative C (Selected Plan)--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in
the BNP and the BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog
colonies within a reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres,
with initial releases in the BNP.
Alternative D--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in the BNP and the
BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies within a
reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres, with initial
releases on the BGNG.
Alternative E--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in the BNP and the
BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies within a
reintroduction area of approximately 172,000 acres, with initial
releases occurring in the most biologically suitable habitat within the
reintroduction area. Although prairie dog management remains unchanged
under all alternatives, management options to further protect black-
footed ferrets could occur within a larger reintroduction area in
situations where conflict with other land uses arise.
Environmentally Preferable Alternative
The environmentally preferred alternative is Alternative E.
Although prairie dog management and levels of prairie dog habitat would
not increase under this alternative, some additional protection of
black-footed ferrets could occur if management options favoring black-
footed ferrets were exercised across a larger reintroduction area,
reducing the risks to black-footed ferrets from competing activities
and/or uses. Within a socioeconomic context, however, the public
perception that protecting each individual black-footed ferret with
overly restrictive measures in an expanded reintroduction area
outweighed any environmental benefit to black-footed ferret population
recovery efforts. Alternative C was chosen to reintroduce and establish
a population of black-footed ferrets in the Conata Basin/Badlands area
of South Dakota within the context of existing recreational and
agricultural land uses.
Mitigation
Potential project impacts, public concerns, and methods to be used
to mitigate those impacts and concerns are addressed in the FEIS. The
National Park Service considers that Alternative C, reintroduction of
black-footed ferrets in BNP and BGNG with initial releases in BNP,
provides the best means to establish and perpetuate a free-ranging
population of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands area
of South Dakota with the fewest environmental effects. All practical
solutions to avoid or minimize environmental harm from selecting this
action alternative have been identified and considered acceptable.
Conclusion
After careful evaluation of each alternative and considering black-
footed ferret biology, management objectives, environmental effects,
costs, socioeconomics, legislative intent, National Park Service
policies, and public response, the National Park Service believes that
Alternative C provides the best balanced course of action to establish
and manage a population of black-footed ferrets into a portion of its
historical range within southwestern South Dakota.
Dated: June 14, 1994.
R. Everhart,
Acting Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 94-14975 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am]
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