[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42352-42353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17077]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-15166; PPPWOLYMS1-PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for a 
Mountain Goat Management Plan, Olympic National Park, Clallam, Grays 
Harbor, Jefferson and Mason County, Washington

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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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 (EIS) for a Mountain Goat Management 
Plan, in order to provide management direction necessary to address 
resource stewardship and human safety issues resulting from the 
presence of non-native mountain goats within Olympic National Park. The 
Mountain Goat Management Plan will also consider potential impacts to 
park resources and values including visitor experience,

[[Page 42353]]

wilderness character, vegetation, wildlife and habitat, park 
operations, and cultural resources.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 
September 19, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the EIS and the 
scoping process may be obtained by contacting Christina Miller at (360) 
565-3004. Information will be available for public review online at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/olymgoat and in the office of the 
Superintendent, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Ave., Port 
Angeles, WA 98362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Management direction is needed to address 
resource management and human safety issues resulting from the presence 
of non-native mountain goats in Olympic National Park. The mountain 
goat is not native to the Olympic Peninsula, having been introduced in 
the 1920s. By the early 1980s, the goat population in the park grew to 
over 1,000 individuals. Several hundred goats were removed during the 
1980s, reducing the population to less than 400 by 1990. The population 
was stable at approximately 300 goats from 1994-2004, however it was 
observed to be increasing at a 5% annual rate in 2011. The original 
need to manage the goat population was driven by ecological concerns 
related to the impact of goats on the park's natural resources, 
particularly sensitive vegetation communities. New concerns were raised 
in 2010 when a visitor was fatally gored by a mountain goat while 
hiking on a park trail. The park updated its Mountain Goat Action Plan 
(part of the Olympic National Park Nuisance and Hazardous Animal 
Management Plan) in 2011. This plan addresses mountain goat behavior 
and seeks to minimize the potential for hazardous goat-human 
encounters. Planning and compliance is needed to address overall 
management of the mountain goat population within the park.
    This effort will result in a plan that provides for the overall 
management of mountain goats and considers the non-native goats' 
effects on natural processes and habitats, visitor safety, wilderness, 
vegetation, wildlife, park operations, cultural resources and other 
resources. As part of the EIS process, the NPS will evaluate different 
approaches for managing mountain goats in Olympic National Park. 
Preliminary alternatives to be considered include no-action, capture 
and translocation, lethal removal, increased nuisance control and 
combinations of the above.
    How to Provide Scoping Comments: Interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are encouraged to provide comments 
regarding the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS, alternative 
approaches to managing mountain goats in the park, and other concerns 
regarding this conservation planning and environmental impact analysis 
process. NPS intends to hold public scoping meetings on the Mountain 
Goat Management Plan/EIS in the vicinity of the park, including Port 
Angeles, Seattle, and Olympia during the scoping period. Specific 
dates, times, and locations will be made available in the local media 
and on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site 
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/olymgoat. The scoping meetings will also 
be announced via a park press release and through email notification to 
the individuals and organizations on the park's mailing list. Those 
wishing to be added to the project information distribution list should 
send an email request to [email protected]. The NPS will provide 
additional opportunities for the public to provide written comments 
upon publication and release of the Draft EIS.
    If you wish to comment during the scoping process, you may use any 
one of several methods. The preferred method for submitting comments is 
on the NPS PEPC Web site (see above). You may also mail your comments 
to Olympic National Park, Attn: Mountain Goat Management Plan, 600 East 
Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362 or fax them to (360) 565-3015. 
Written comments will also be accepted during scheduled public 
meetings. Comments will not be accepted by email, or in any other 
method than those specified above. Comments in any format (hard copy or 
electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before 
including your address, phone number, email 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.
    Decision Process: After the analysis of all responses and 
information received during the scoping period, a Draft EIS will be 
prepared. Subsequently, a Final EIS will be prepared after 
consideration of all comments received. Thereafter, but not sooner than 
30 days after the release of the Final EIS, a Record of Decision will 
be prepared. Because this is a delegated EIS, the official responsible 
for approval of the Mountain Goat Management Plan/Final EIS is the 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region. Thereafter, the official 
responsible for implementation of the approved Mountain Goat Management 
Plan is the Superintendent, Olympic National Park.

    Dated: June 16, 2014.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-17077 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 am]
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