[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1720-1721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-276]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NCR-ROCR-0911-7945; 2310-0052-422]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the White-Tailed Deer 
Management Plan, Rock Creek Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the White-tailed Deer 
Management Plan (Plan), Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC The Plan will 
support long-term protection, preservation, and restoration of native 
vegetation and other natural and cultural resources in Rock Creek Park.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days from the date of publication of the Notice of Availability of 
the FEIS and Plan by the Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS and Plan is available in electronic format online 
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rocr. A limited number of compact discs 
and hard copies of the FEIS and Plan are available at Rock Creek Park 
Headquarters, 3545 Williamsburg Lane NW., Washington, DC 20008. You may 
also request a CD or hard copy by contacting Tara Morrison, 
Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, at Rock Creek Park Headquarters, 
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW., Washington, DC 20008, or by telephone at 
(202) 895-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock 
Creek Park, at Rock Creek Park Headquarters, 3545 Williamsburg Lane 
NW., Washington, DC 20008, or by telephone at (202) 895-6000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS and Plan responds to, and 
incorporates, agency and public comments received on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Plan which was available for 
public review from July 13, 2009, to November 2, 2009. A public meeting 
was held on September 2, 2009, to gather input on the DEIS and Plan. 
Over 400 pieces of correspondence were received during the public 
review period. Agency and public comments and NPS responses are 
provided in Appendix G of the FEIS and Plan.
    The FEIS and Plan evaluates four alternatives for managing white-
tailed deer in the park. The document describes and analyzes the 
environmental impacts of the no-action alternative and three action 
alternatives. When approved, the Plan will guide deer management 
actions in Rock Creek Park over the next 15 years. Alternative A (no 
action) would continue the existing deer management actions and 
policies of monitoring vegetation, deer density and relative numbers; 
using limited-protection fencing and deer repellents to protect rare 
plants in natural areas and small areas in landscaped and cultural 
areas; data management; and continuing current educational and 
interpretive measures as well as inter-jurisdictional communication. No 
new deer

[[Page 1721]]

management actions would be implemented.
    Alternative B would include all actions described under Alternative 
A, but would incorporate several nonlethal actions to protect forest 
seedlings, promote forest regeneration, and gradually reduce the deer 
numbers in the park. Additional actions under Alternative B would 
include large-scale exclosures (fencing) and reproductive control of 
does via sterilization and immunocontraceptives when feasible.
    Alternative C would include all actions described under Alternative 
A, but would also incorporate two lethal deer management actions to 
reduce the herd size. Additional actions under Alternative C would 
include reduction of the deer herd by either sharpshooting or capture 
and euthanasia of individual deer. Capture and euthanasia of individual 
deer would be an approach used in limited circumstances where 
sharpshooting may not be appropriate.
    Alternative D (the NPS preferred alternative) would include all 
actions described under Alternative A, but would also include a 
combination of certain additional lethal and non-lethal actions from 
Alternatives B and C to reduce deer herd numbers. The lethal actions 
would include both sharpshooting and capture/euthanasia and would be 
taken initially to quickly reduce the deer herd numbers. Population 
maintenance would be conducted via reproductive control methods if 
these are available and feasible. Sharpshooting would be used as a 
default option for maintenance if reproductive control methods are 
unavailable and/or infeasible. Alternative D would fully meet the plan 
objectives and has more certainty of success than the other 
alternatives analyzed. The relatively rapid reduction in both deer 
density and browsing pressure on native plant communities and species 
of special concern would provide beneficial impacts to the natural and 
cultural resources of the park.

    Dated: July 22, 2011.
Stephen E. Whitesell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-276 Filed 1-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-34-P