[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15478]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Record of Decision; Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction Conata 
Basin/Badlands, SD

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2) and the implementing procedures 
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (40 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Department of Interior 
has prepared this record of decision on the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands, 
South Dakota. The record of decision is a concise statement of what 
decisions were made, what alternatives were considered, and acceptable 
mitigation measures developed in order to avoid or minimize 
environmental impacts.
    This reintroduction effort is an interagency program involving the 
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Forest 
Service. Each Agency has the responsibility under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended, to recover threatened and endangered 
species. Each Agency will prepare a separate record of decision to 
cover its respective responsibilities under the reintroduction program.

The Selected Alternative

    The preferred alternative, Alternative C, releases black-footed 
ferrets (Mustela nigripes) as a nonessential experimental population 
into a reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres (16,997 ha) on 
the Badlands National Park (BNP) and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland 
(BGNG). The initial reintroductions will occur on the BNP. This area 
contains approximately 8,000 acres (3,238 ha) of black-tailed prairie 
dog colonies. A nonessential 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 
nonessential experimental to allow for greater management flexibility. 
All of the proposed reintroduction area is public land administered by 
either the National Park Service or the Forest Service.
    The 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 in the Conata Basin/
Badlands experimental population area near Wall, South Dakota. The 
released black-footed ferrets and their progeny will be classified as a 
nonessential experimental population under Federal rulemaking 
requirements.

Other Alternatives Considered

    Five alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were 
analyzed in the final environmental impact statement. All action 
alternatives propose to reintroduce black-footed ferrets as a 
nonessential experimental population. The alternatives included:
    Alternative A--Black-footed ferrets would not be reintroduced into 
BNP or BGNG (No Action).
    Alternative B--Black-footed ferrets would be released only in BNP 
in a reintroduction area of approximately 25,000 acres which contains 
about 3,200 acres of prairie dog colonies.
    Alternative D--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets into a 42,000 acre 
reintroduction area on BNP and BGNG with initial releases in BGNG. The 
reintroduction area is similar to that of Alternative C and contains 
approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies.
    Alternative E--Release black-footed ferrets into a 172,000 acre 
reintroduction area on BNP and BGNG consisting of the entire north unit 
of the BNP and the BGNG in the Conata Basin. No priority release site 
is identified in this alternative. The initial black-footed ferret 
releases would occur in the most biologically suitable habitat within 
the reintroduction area.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

    The Fish and Wildlife Service consider Alternative E to be the most 
environmentally preferred alternative. The levels of active prairie dog 
habitat would not increase over Alternatives C and D. Alternative E 
provides the least potential risks to the black-footed ferret due to 
expanded protection measures through the expansion of off-road travel 
and trapping restriction and possible long-term shooting restrictions 
to an expanded reintroduction area. Alternative C was selected because 
it prescribes a reintroduction program that is more compatible with the 
existing recreational and agricultural land uses in the area thereby 
garnishing additional support. It is the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
assessment that the benefits of additional support outweigh the 
possible benefits of extending land use restrictions associated with 
the expanded reintroduction area of Alternative E.

Minimization of Impacts

    Public concerns, potential impacts, and methods to mitigate those 
impacts are addressed in the final environmental impact statement. The 
Fish and Wildlife Service considers that all practicable means to avoid 
or minimize environmental impacts that could result from implementation 
of the preferred plan have been identified and are considered 
acceptable.

Decision

    The Fish and Wildlife Service will accept the proposed action to 
release captive reared black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/
Badlands area near Wall, South Dakota as described in Alternative C in 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Black-Footed Ferret 
Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands, South Dakota.
    After careful evaluation of each alternative and considering the 
issues of public response; legislative intent; management objectives; 
and cost, socioeconomic, and environmental effects, the Fish and 
Wildlife Service believes that the proposed action represents the most 
balanced course of action for the future management of the black-footed 
ferret.

    Dated: June 21, 1994.
Robert D. Jacobsen,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain Prairie States Region.
[FR Doc. 94-15478 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]
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