[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42726-42727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18150]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NCR-NACA-0411-7317; 2031-A155-422]


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Deer 
Management Plan, Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National 
Battlefield, MD, and Manassas National Battlefield Park, VA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement for a Deer Management Plan (EIS and 
Plan) covering Antietam National Battlefield and Monocacy National 
Battlefield, Maryland, and Manassas National Battlefield Park, 
Virginia. The purpose of this EIS and Plan is to develop a deer 
management strategy that supports preservation of the cultural and 
natural landscapes through the protection and restoration of native 
vegetation and other natural and cultural resources, and that provides 
for management of Chronic Wasting Disease at the parks.

DATES: The NPS will accept comments from the public through September 
2, 2011.
    The NPS intends to hold public scoping meetings at Antietam 
National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield and Manassas 
National Battlefield Park during the scoping period. Details regarding 
the exact times and locations of these meetings will be announced 
through local media at least 15 days in advance of the meetings. 
Information about public meetings will also be provided on the three 
parks' planning Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan (click on the link to the Deer Management Plan).

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan and at all 
three park headquarters listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Superintendent, Antietam National Battlefield, P.O. Box 
158, Sharpsburg, Maryland 21782, Telephone: (301) 432-2243.
Office of the Superintendent, Monocacy National Battlefield, 4801 
Urbana Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704, Telephone: (301) 694-3147.
Office of the Superintendent, Manassas National Battlefield Park, 12521 
Lee Highway, Manassas, Virginia 20109, Telephone: (703) 754-1861; and;

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This plan is needed for the following 
reasons: Attainment of the parks' cultural landscape preservation goals 
and mandates are compromised by the high density of white-tailed deer 
in the parks.
    Browsing of and other damage to native seedlings, saplings and 
understory vegetation by deer in the parks has prevented successful 
forest regeneration.
    An increasing number of deer in the parks has resulted in adverse 
impacts to native vegetation and wildlife.
    Opportunities to coordinate with other jurisdictional entities 
currently implementing deer management actions to benefit the 
protection of park resources and values can be expanded (Bull Run 
Regional Park and Conway Robinson State Park in Manassas, Virginia, 
etc.).
    Chronic Wasting Diseases is proximate to the parks and represents 
an imminent threat to resources in the parks. There are opportunities 
to evaluate and plan responses to threats from Chronic Wasting Disease 
over the long term. The NPS has invited several other government 
agencies to participate in the development of the EIS and Plan as 
cooperating agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    A scoping newsletter will be prepared that details the issues 
identified to date and includes the purpose, need, and objectives of 
the EIS and Plan. Copies of that information may be obtained online at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan or at one of the three 
parks' headquarters addresses above.
    If you wish to comment on the purpose, need, objectives, 
alternatives, or on any other issues associated with the EIS and Plan, 
you may submit your comments via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/battlefielddeerplan or by mail or hand-delivery to 
one of the three parks' headquarters addresses above.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.


[[Page 42727]]


    Dated: April 19, 2011.
Woody Smeck,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-18150 Filed 7-18-11; 8:45 am]
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