[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17446-17447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8698]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Non-Native Deer Management Plan, Point Reyes National Seashore, 
Marin County, CA; Notice of Scoping

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) that 
public scoping has been initiated for a conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process for preparing a non-native deer 
management plan for Point Reyes National Seashore. The purpose of the 
scoping process is to elicit early public comment regarding issues and 
concerns, a suitable range of alternatives and appropriate mitigating 
measures, and the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts 
that should be addressed.
    Background: Point Reyes National Seashore is a unit of the National 
Park System. It was established by Congress on September 13, 1962 ``to 
save and preserve, for the purpose of public recreation, benefit, and 
inspiration, a portion of the diminishing seashore of the United States 
that remains undeveloped'' (Pub. L. 87-657). Fallow deer (Dama dama) 
and axis deer (Axis axis) from the San Francisco Zoo were introduced to 
Point Reyes in the mid 1940s prior to the establishment of the National 
Seashore. They are native to Mediterranean Europe and southern Asia, 
respectively. Their populations were controlled by hunting until 
commencement of park management operations by the National Park Service 
in 1971. Subsequently, national park rangers culled non-native deer in 
an attempt to control their populations. This culling decreased after 
1995, and numbers of the non-native deer have apparently increased. The 
native cervid fauna at Point Reyes comprises two species, black-tailed 
deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and tule elk (Cervus elaphus 
nannodes). The latter was extirpated in the 19th Century, reintroduced 
to the area in 1978, and currently is the subject of a program to 
establish a free-ranging herd within designated wilderness area in the 
park.
    Point Reyes National Seashore has never formulated or published a 
management plan for the non-native deer within its boundaries. Large 
population sizes of the two species of non-native deer, the ongoing 
management program to re-establish and favor the two native deer 
species, and potential adverse effect of forage competition with and 
disease transmission from the non-native to the native deer necessitate 
the development and implementation of a non-native deer management plan 
for Point Reyes National Seashore.
    Comment Process: As noted, the National Park Service will undertake 
an environmental analysis effort to address issues and alternatives for 
non-native deer management at Point Reyes National Seashore. At this 
time, it has not been determined whether an Environmental Assessment or 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared; however, this scoping 
process will aid in the preparation of either document.
    As the first step in this undertaking, a public scoping and 
information meeting will be held May 4, 2002 at the Dance Palace in 
Point Reyes Station. For those unable to attend the meeting, a scoping 
document will be available through the park. At this time its 
anticipated that the primary topics to be

[[Page 17447]]

addressed at the public meeting include: background information on the 
non-native deer management program; a review of relevant policy and law 
affecting the non-native deer management program; an assessment of 
current non-native deer management needs; and the identification of 
issues and concerns, alternative courses of action related to non-
native deer management in the park, and potential impacts and 
appropriate mitigation strategies. All interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to provide comments or 
suggestions. Written comments regarding the exotic deer management 
program must be postmarked no later than July 5, 2002. To provide 
comments, inquire about the scoping meeting, or to request a copy of 
the scoping background material and provide comments, please contact: 
Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore; Attn: Exotic Deer 
Management Plan; Point Reyes Station, California 94956; telephone (415) 
464-5102.
    If individuals submitting comments request that their name or/and 
address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to the 
extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently in 
the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein 
the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As 
always: NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions 
from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and 
businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision: The draft non-native deer management plan and 
environmental document are expected to be available for public review 
in the late fall of 2002. At this time it is anticipated that the final 
plan and environmental document are to be completed in Spring 2003. 
Following the conclusion of the scoping period the determination of 
whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact 
Statement will be made by the Superintendent, Point Reyes National 
Seashore. Subsequently, the official responsible for approval of either 
a Finding of No Significant Impact or a Record of Decision is the 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region; and then the Superintendent, 
Point Reyes National Seashore would be responsible for implementing the 
approved management actions.

    Dated: January 14, 2002.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 02-8698 Filed 4-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P