[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P