Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Cape Cod National Seashore, MA, 44176-44177 [E7-15295]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44176-44177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15295]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Final Environmental 
Impact Statement, Cape Cod National Seashore, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Cape Cod National Seashore

[[Page 44177]]

Hunting Program, Cape Cod National Seashore.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Services (NPS) announces the 
availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 
Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Cape Cod National Seashore 
(CCNS), Massachusetts. The purpose of the FEIS is to finalize the 
documentation of the environmental consequences of alternative 
strategies for managing hunting at CCNS.
    The FEIS evaluates three (3) alternatives for managing hunting:
    Alternative A--No Action describes the effects of continuing the 
hunting program as it was prior to a court decision to enjoin the 
pheasant stocking and hunting program. Hunting would continue in 
accordance with the seasons and regulations established by the 
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW), and in 
accordance with the existing rules established by Cape Cod National 
Seashore pertaining to the time of year hunting is allowed, the species 
that can be hunted, and no-hunting zones. Under this alternative, the 
pheasant hunting and stocking program would be re-established.
    Alternative B--Develop a Modified Hunting Program (the preferred 
alternative) describes the effects of modifying the hunting program in 
a manner that would retain hunting as part of CCNS's cultural heritage 
while addressing concerns raised by non-hunting visitors. The 
modifications were derived from input received during public scoping, 
and subsequently refined based on comments on the Draft EIS.
    Element 1: This element would increase traditional hunting 
opportunities for native upland game bird species. Specifically, the 
park's rules would be revised to allow the State's spring eastern 
turkey hunt to occur within the park. Additionally, this element would 
include developing and implementing cultural landscape restoration 
activities that are expected to improve habitat quality for upland game 
birds, particularly northern bobwhite quail.
    Element 2: An adaptive management approach would be used to phase 
out the pheasant stocking and hunting program as opportunities to hunt 
native upland game birds increase. The success of heathland and 
grassland management, called for by the cultural restoration plan, will 
be used as an indicator of native species hunting opportunity. This 
element would result in the end of pheasant stocking and hunting at 
CCNS within 14 to 17 years. In no case will pheasant stocking continue 
beyond 17 years.
    Element 3: This element would simplify the scope of hunting areas, 
and would designate hunting-permitted areas versus the current policy 
which allows hunting in all areas except where specifically prohibited. 
The hunting-permitted areas would be delineated based on the existing 
500-foot no-hunting buffers around paved roads and buildings, expanding 
the no-hunting buffers around bicycle paths from 150 feet to 500 feet, 
and eliminating the small patches and thin slivers of area that cannot 
practicably be hunted. This element would provide an added safety 
precaution protective of visitors using the bike paths; should result 
in more predictable areas where hunting is likely to be encountered and 
where it will not; would provide consistent buffers for hunting set-
backs from roads, buildings, and bike paths; would facilitate more 
efficient monitoring by law enforcement staff; and would result in 
little reduction in hunting opportunities.
    Element 4: Hunting-related outreach to hunting and non-hunting 
users would be expanded. Outreach to non-hunting visitors would focus 
on where and when hunting occurs in the park, where visitors can go to 
avoid hunting, safety precautions when in or adjacent to hunting areas, 
how to report any unlawful behavior or safety concerns, and the 
importance of courteous and respectful behavior to all users. Outreach 
to hunters would also focus on where and when hunting is permitted in 
the park, hunting regulations, how to report any unlawful behavior or 
safety concerns, and the importance of courteous and respectful 
behavior to all users.
    Element 5: This element provides for cooperative and expanded game 
species monitoring by Cape Cod National Seashore and the Massachusetts 
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Seashore and the Division of 
Fisheries and Wildlife would integrate monitoring efforts, and seek 
additional resources as needed, to expand monitoring of the abundance 
and harvest of deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, eastern wild turkeys, 
and northern bobwhite quail. These agencies would also coordinate with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review emerging information on 
the status and distribution of New England cottontail rabbits on outer 
Cape Cod, and determine if action is necessary to protect this 
sensitive species within the Seashore.
    Alternative C--Eliminate Hunting describes the effects of 
eliminating hunting at Cape Cod National Seashore. A sub-element of 
Alternative C would eliminate only the pheasant program while retaining 
the other aspects of the hunting program.
    In April of 2006, the NPS issued a Draft EIS for agency and public 
review and comment. The comment period opened on April 21, 2006 with 
the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of a Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register, and closed on June 19, 2006, 60 
days later. During that review period the NPS held two public meetings 
to provide agencies and the public the opportunity to provide oral 
comment on the draft document. Comments were received in the form of 
letters and e-mails, and at the two public meetings. All substantive 
comments have been addressed in the ``Consultation and Coordination'' 
chapter of the FEIS.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication in the Federal 
Register by EPA of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement. Availability of the ROD will be noticed in the Federal 
Register by the NPS and implementation of the selected alternative will 
subsequently move forward.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS may be viewed online at https://www.nps.gov/caco/
parkmgmt/planning.htm through the ``Planning'' link under 
``Management''. The FEIS will be available in hard copy at outer cape 
libraries, the Salt Pond and Province Lands Visitors Centers, and Cape 
Cod National Seashore's Marconi headquarters building for onsite 
review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Cape Cod National 
Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts 02667. 
Telephone: (508) 349-3785, Fax: (508) 349-9052.

    Dated: July 18, 2007.
John A. Latschar,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15295 Filed 8-6-07; 8:45 am]
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