[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 24734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9972]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-INDU-0312-8330; 6065-4000-409]


Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of the 
Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana.

DATES: The Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement (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 Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: The Plan/EIS is available via the Internet through the NPS 
Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/INDU); click on the link for the Plan/EIS. You may 
also obtain a copy of the Plan/EIS by sending a request to Randy 
Knutson, Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 1100 
North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, Indiana 46304; telephone 219-395-
1550. A copy may also be picked-up in person at the National 
Lakeshore's headquarters at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Constantine Dillon, 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, at the address above or by telephone 
at 219-395-1699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Plan/EIS describes four alternatives 
for the management of deer at the National Lakeshore. Action is needed 
at this time to ensure that the local deer population does not become a 
dominant force that negatively influences ecosystem components within 
the National Lakeshore, such as sensitive vegetation or other wildlife. 
Impacts to these National Lakeshore resources would compromise its 
purpose to preserve the exceptional biodiversity found within its 
boundaries. The National Lakeshore staff currently implements resource 
management actions to protect other resources but no specific deer 
management plan exists.
    Under Alternative A (no action), current deer management actions 
(including limited fencing, limited use of repellents, and inventorying 
and monitoring efforts) would continue; no new deer management actions 
would be taken. Alternative B would include all actions described under 
Alternative A, but would also incorporate non-lethal actions to 
possibly reduce deer numbers in the lakeshore. The additional actions 
would include the construction of additional small- and new large-scale 
exclosures, more extensive use of repellents in areas where fenced 
exclosures would not be appropriate or feasible, and phasing in 
reproductive control of does when there is a federally approved 
fertility control agent for application to free-ranging populations 
that provides multi-year (three to five years) efficacy for does. 
Alternative C would include all actions described under Alternative A, 
but would also incorporate a direct reduction of the deer herd size 
through sharpshooting and capture/euthanasia, where appropriate. 
Alternative D (the preferred alternative) would also include all the 
actions described under Alternative A, but would incorporate a 
combination of specific lethal and non-lethal actions from Alternatives 
B and C. These actions would include the reduction of the deer herd 
through sharpshooting, in combination with capture/euthanasia and 
phasing in reproductive control of does (as described in alternative B) 
for longer-term maintenance of lower herd numbers when there is a 
federally approved fertility control agent for application to free-
ranging populations that provides multi-year (three to five years) 
efficacy for does.
    The potential environmental consequences of the alternatives are 
addressed for vegetation, soils and water quality, white-tailed deer, 
other wildlife and wildlife habitat, sensitive and rare species, 
archeological resources, cultural landscapes, visitor use and 
experience, social values, visitor and employee health and safety, 
soundscapes, socioeconomic conditions, and National Lakeshore 
management and operations.

    Dated: March 26, 2012.
Michael T. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-9972 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FH-P