[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5697-5698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2124]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Temporary Closure for Direct Reduction of the 
Population of Nutria, a Non-Native Species, Jean Lafitte National 
Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana

SUMMARY: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve proposed to 
directly remove concentrations of nutria from the Barataria Preserve 
Unit between February 1 and March 15, 1995. The authority for this 
action is Public Law 95-625, which established Jean Lafitte National 
Historical Park and Preserve, and specifically authorized hunting and 
trapping in the Barataria Preserve Unit. Nutria are large rodents that 
were introduced into Louisiana from South America during the 1930's. 
Nutria multiply rapidly and cause extensive long-term damage to the 
coastal marsh environment. The depletion of vegetative cover and soil 
erosion caused by nutria can be irreversible. If conditions warrant, 
trained National Park Service rangers will shoot nutria in areas of the 
greatest concern for marsh damage. Specific areas where reduction 
operations are carried out will be temporarily closed to the public for 
reasons of safety. Information as to the specific areas and dates of 
closure will be available at the Barataria Preserve Visitor Center, 
7400 Highway 45, and areas of closure will be posed and patrolled 
pursuant to 36 CFR 1.7. Direct reduction actions such as this are 
included as an option in the approved 1990 Trapping Management Plan for 
the Park's Barataria Preserve Unit. An Environmental Assessment for 
this plan was released on August 15, 1990, for 30-day public review. 
Analysis of public and agency comments resulted in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact. Traditional and contract trapping, which are also 
approved actions in the plan, have been conducted by Special Use Permit 
during the past three years. Additional control by direct reduction is 
now necessary to assure control of nutria in specific areas where 
nutria damage threatens to undermine the [[Page 5698]] long-term 
stability of the marsh substrate. Direct reduction will supplement the 
take of nutria in these critical areas without increasing the take on 
non-target species.
    For further information or a copy of the Trapping Management Plan, 
contact: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal 
Street, Suite 3080, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-1142.

    Dated: January 4, 1995.
John D. Linahan,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 95-2124 Filed 1-27-95; 8:45 am]
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