[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 46564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17586]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Bison Brucellosis Vaccine, Environmental Impact Statement, 
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
to evaluate a park-wide program for remote delivery of a brucellosis 
vaccine to bison in Yellowstone National Park.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102 (2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National 
Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for a remote delivery brucellosis vaccination program for bison in 
Yellowstone National Park. Remote delivery in this proposed action is 
distinguished from hand delivery that occurs in penned situations at or 
near Yellowstone National Park's boundaries that is authorized under a 
2000 Record of Decision (ROD). The purpose of and need for the action 
is to implement a program to deliver a suitable vaccine to wild and 
free ranging bison without capturing and handling individual animals. A 
brucellosis vaccine would be delivered to untested bison within the 
park to lower the percentage of the Yellowstone bison population 
infected with brucellosis. This planning effort will result in a 
decision determining whether or not to implement remote delivery of a 
vaccine to free-ranging bison inside Yellowstone National Park. The 
alternatives to be considered include no-action, and an adaptive 
management strategy to implement a program using currently available 
technology while pursuing new research and development of improved 
techniques. The major issues to resolve include: (1) The effectiveness 
and safety in wildlife of a remote delivery system, (2) The 
effectiveness and safety of a vaccine for bison, (3) The human health 
and safety of park staff and visitors, and (4) The visitor experience.
    A scoping brochure has been prepared that details the background 
and issues identified to date. Copies of that information may be 
obtained by contacting the Bison Ecology and Management Office, POB 
168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190-0168 or by viewing the 
brochure at the Yellowstone National Park Web site http:/www.nps.gov/yell.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments from the public 
for 30 days from the date this notice is published in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
at the Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, 
P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190-0168 (307) 344-
2393.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bison Ecology and Management Office, 
Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, 
Wyoming, 82190-0168. Telephone: 307-344-2505.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2000, the NPS, in collaboration with the 
State of Montana, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS), and USDA National Forest Service, developed a final 
Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). The NPS evaluated 
alternatives for the IBMP in an EIS, which focused on a study area 
including the park and adjacent areas in Montana. The purpose of the 
IBMP is to maintain a free-ranging population of bison and address the 
risk of brucellosis transmission to cattle to protect the economic 
interests and viability of the livestock industry in Montana. The 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the IBMP directed the partner agencies to 
vaccinate bison at capture facilities when a vaccine is shown to be 
safe according to the criteria defined in the IBMP. The ROD also 
directed the NPS to develop an in-park remote vaccination program for 
free ranging bison when a safe and effective vaccine becomes available 
and when a safe and effective remote delivery system is developed to 
further reduce the risk of transmission of brucellosis from bison to 
cattle.
    The environmental consequences of a park-wide program for remote 
delivery of vaccine to free-ranging bison were not analyzed in the 
final EIS for the IBMP. Research has shown that a safe and effective 
vaccine using a safe and effective delivery system now exists. 
Consequently, the NPS is preparing an EIS to analyze alternatives for a 
remote delivery program for administering brucellosis vaccine to bison 
within the entirety of Yellowstone National Park. To ensure that the 
full range of issues related to this proposed action are identified and 
taken into account, all interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies are invited to provide comments through attendance at public 
scoping meetings, submission of comments through access to the 
Yellowstone National Park Web site, or submission of written comments 
mailed directly to the Bison Ecology and Management Office at 
Yellowstone National Park during the scoping period. In addition, you 
may hand deliver comments to receptionists at the Superintendent's 
office, the park planning office, and the Yellowstone Center for 
Resources, all located in the headquarters area at Mammoth, Wyoming.
    The public is advised that individual commentor names and addresses 
may be included as part of the public record. Names and addresses of 
individuals submitting comments will be available for public review 
during regular business hours. Any person, business or organization 
wishing to have their name and other information withheld from the 
public record must state this prominently at the beginning of any 
correspondence or comment. The request will be honored to the extent 
allowable by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, will be placed in the public record and 
will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: June 17, 2004.
Stephen P. Martin,
Regional Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 04-17586 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]
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