[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27270-27271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4354]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts; Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Hunting Program

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Hunting Program at Cape Cod National Seashore.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hunting Program at 
Cape Cod National Seashore (DEIS). The draft document describes and 
analyzes the environmental impacts of a preferred alternative, another 
action alternative, and a no action alternative.

DATES: The DEIS will be available for public review and comment for 60 
days from the date of publication of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Comments will 
be accepted until the close of the 60-day review period. Public 
information meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, June 8, 2006, 
at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, Massachusetts, and for 9 
a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2006, at the Province Lands Visitor Center in 
Provincetown, Massachusetts.

ADDRESSES: The DEIS may be viewed online at http://www.nps.gov/caco 
through the ``In Depth'' link on the homepage under ``Management''. The 
DEIS will be available in hard copy at outer cape libraries and Marconi 
headquarters for onsite review. Comments may be submitted by mail to 
the address below, or by e-mail to [email protected] (please note 
the underscore between words).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Cape Cod National 
Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts 02667. 
Telephone: (508) 349-3785. Fax: (508) 349-9052.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2), the NPS 
has prepared a DEIS that considers three alternatives for managing the 
hunting program at Cape Cod National Seashore. The draft document 
describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a preferred 
alternative, another action alternative, and a no action alternative.

[[Page 27271]]

    Comments may be submitted by mail to: Cape Cod National Seashore, 
99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts 02667; or by e-mail to 
[email protected] (please note the underscore between words). It 
is our practice to make comments, including the names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during normal 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home addresses from the record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would 
withhold the respondent's identity. If you wish us to withhold your 
address you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
    Alternative A (No Action): The National Park Service would continue 
the hunting program as it was prior to a court decision to enjoin the 
pheasant hunting and stocking program. Hunting would continue in 
accordance with the seasons and regulations established by the 
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW), and in 
accordance with the existing rules established by Cape Cod National 
Seashore pertaining to the time of year hunting is allowed, the species 
that can be hunted, and no-hunting zones. Under this alternative, the 
pheasant hunting and stocking program would be re-established.
    Alternative B (Preferred Alternative): The hunting program 
described in Alternative A would be modified as described below. These 
modifications were derived from the input received during public 
scoping, and would retain hunting as part of Cape Cod's cultural 
heritage while addressing concerns raised by non-hunting visitors.
    Element 1: An adaptive management approach would be used to phase 
out the pheasant stocking and hunting program over a 15-year period. 
The number of pheasants stocked each year would be determined in 
coordination with MDFW, and would be based on hunting pressure and the 
response of native quail populations to cultural landscape restoration 
activities. If at the end of 15 years, native upland game bird hunting 
opportunities have not increased to a level roughly commensurate to the 
stocked pheasant hunt, the park will work with MDFW to create 
opportunities for a stocked quail hunt.
    Element 2: This element would simplify the scope of hunting areas, 
and would designate hunting-permitted areas versus the current policy 
which allows hunting in all areas except where specifically prohibited. 
The hunting-permitted areas would be delineated based on the existing 
500-foot no-hunting buffers around paved roads and buildings, expanding 
the no-hunting buffers around bicycle paths from 150 feet to 500 feet, 
and eliminating the small patches and thin slivers of area that cannot 
practicably be hunted.
    Element 3: This element would increase traditional hunting 
opportunities for native upland bird species. Specifically, the park's 
rules would be revised to allow the State's spring eastern turkey hunt 
to occur within the park. Additionally, this element would include 
developing and implementing cultural landscape restoration activities 
that are expected to improve habitat quality for upland game birds, 
particularly northern bobwhite quail.
    Element 4: Improved information regarding hunting-permitted areas, 
hunting regulations, and safety measures would be developed. Outreach 
strategies would be developed to improve hunter and visitor 
understanding of the hunting program.
    Alternative C: This alternative would consider eliminating hunting 
at Cape Cod National Seashore. A sub-element of Alternative C would 
eliminate only the pheasant program while retaining the other aspects 
of the hunting program.

George E. Price, Jr.,
Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore.
[FR Doc. 06-4354 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45 am]
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