[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55062-55063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25687]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Final Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South 
Dakota

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South 
Dakota.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service 
(NPS) announces the availability of a Final Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement (Plan/EIS) for Wind Cave National Park, 
South Dakota (Park).

DATES: The final Plan/EIS will remain available for public review for 
30 days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the final Plan/EIS should be sent to 
the Superintendent, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, 
Hot Springs, SD 57747-9430. You may also view the document via the 
Internet through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web 
site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov); simply click on the link to Wind 
Cave National Park.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS prepared a draft plan/EIS for the 
Park, pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969. The Park is proposing to manage its elk population, 
primarily to prevent impacts to other natural resources in the Park, 
which would occur as the herd size increases. The principal tool 
(translocation of live elk) the Park had been using to keep population 
numbers in line with its historic management goals is no longer an 
option because chronic wasting disease (CWD) is present in the elk 
population. Therefore, this planning process and EIS was needed to 
examine alternatives to translocation. The purpose of this EIS is to 
identify elk management strategies for the Park that will help achieve 
elk population levels that are in balance with other native species in 
the Park, including wildlife and vegetation communities, natural 
ecosystem functions, and other Park resources.
    The draft Plan/EIS was made available for public review for 61 
days,

[[Page 55063]]

from June 20, 2008 to August 18, 2008. During that time, the NPS 
distributed nearly 150 hard copies and compact discs of the draft. The 
draft was also made available at Park headquarters, on the Internet, 
and at area libraries. Four public meetings were held on July 21, 22, 
23, and 24, 2008, attended by a total of 24 persons. Comments were 
received from 33 persons on the document during the public review 
period. Comments from individuals, groups, and public agencies on the 
alternatives, the preferred alternative, and the environmentally 
preferable alternative were considered.
    Alternative B, both the NPS preferred and environmentally 
preferable alternative, was selected because it will effectively reduce 
and maintain the herd size to target population goals while preserving 
the current natural distribution and movement of elk in and out of the 
Park. It will also reduce adverse impacts to elk (from stress), bison, 
prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, air quality, and soils from carcass 
disposal. It will also provide expanded hunting opportunities outside 
the Park and make full use of elk meat (versus wasting the resource), 
and will not increase elk-to-elk contact of potentially CWD-infected 
animals in corral situations.
    Alternative B, the selected alternative, focuses on the hunting of 
elk on public and private lands outside the Park to reduce and maintain 
the Park's elk population. Movable sections of fence (gates) will be 
installed along the boundary fence to allow elk, but not bison, 
movement. The gates will be closed during hunting seasons to minimize 
elk reentry into the Park. Hazing may be used to ensure the appropriate 
number of elk leave the Park. The South Dakota Department of Game, 
Fish, and Parks will administer the hunt, issue all hunting permits, 
and retain all fees.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent Vidal Davila, 
Wind Cave National Park, at the address or telephone number above.

    Dated: September 3, 2009.
David N. Given,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. E9-25687 Filed 10-23-09; 8:45 am]
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