Notice of Availability for the Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, 33453-33454 [E8-12992]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 114 / Thursday, June 12, 2008 / Notices (TTD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact the Bureau of Land Management. Robert Childers, Land Law Examiner, Land Transfer Adjudication II. [FR Doc. E8–13172 Filed 6–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Availability for the Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota National Park Service. Notice of Availability for the Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. AGENCY: mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota (Park). DATES: The draft EIS will remain available for public review for 60 days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Public meetings will be held during the 60-day review period, but the specific dates and locations will be announced in local and regional media sources of record and on the Park’s Web site. You may submit your comments by any one of several methods. You may comment via the Internet through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site (https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/wica); simply click on the link to Elk Management Plan. You may mail comments to Superintendent Davila, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747–9430. You may send comments to the Superintendent by facsimile at 605– 745–4207. Finally, you may handdeliver comments to the Park headquarters at the address above. ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft EIS are available from the Superintendent, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747–9430. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Park is proposing to manage its elk VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:47 Jun 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 population, primarily to prevent impacts to other natural resources in the park, which would occur as the herd size increases. The principal tool the Park had been using to keep population numbers in line with its historic management goals, translocation of live elk, is no longer an option because chronic wasting disease (CWD) is present in the elk population. Therefore, this planning process and the EIS were needed to examine alternatives to translocation. The purpose of this EIS is to identify elk management strategies for the Park that will help achieve elk population levels that are in balance with other native species in the Park, including wildlife and vegetation communities, natural ecosystem functions, and other Park resources. Several alternative actions, including the No Action, were considered in the development of the draft EIS. These are summarized briefly here. Other alternatives were explored but dismissed; these are discussed in some detail in the draft EIS. • Alternative A—No Action: No new management actions beyond those utilized as of the commencement of the EIS analysis would be undertaken to manage elk. • Alternative B (Preferred)—Hunting Outside the Park: Wildlife ‘‘gates’’ would be installed along the boundary fence to allow elk but not bison movement. The gates would be closed during hunting seasons to minimize elk reentry into the Park. Hazing may be used to ensure the appropriate number of elk leave the Park. • Alternative C—Roundup/Live Ship or Euthanasia within Park: The preferred method in this alternative is capture elk and ship them for slaughter and donation, assuming a partner(s) can be found to be responsible for the transport, slaughter/processing and donation of meat. Donations would be in accordance with the NPS Public Health Program guidelines and no CWDpositive carcasses would be donated. If no partner can be found, the elk would be killed at the park and the carcasses incinerated. • Alternative D—Sharpshooting: Authorized agents (which include skilled volunteers) would reduce and maintain elk numbers in the Park. Carcasses would be removed from the backcountry and incinerated, or left in place if managers believe their breakdown is environmentally preferred. The CWD test samples will be taken from adult carcasses. The following alternatives (E and F) are analyzed solely for maintenance of the elk population after initial reduction. At this time, the use of these PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33453 methods not been proven through science to effectively manage wildlife populations. The park would not use either of these alternatives unless future scientific studies prove these methods to be effective and efficient means of elk population control, and the preferred and adaptive management efforts fail to maintain elk population within the target range. Should this occur alternatives B and F may be carried out as follows. • Alternative E—Sterilization: Reproductive cow elk would be surgically sterilized to reduce recruitment and growth of the herd. Because these techniques have not been used on free-ranging elk, this option would be used to maintain target population after initial reduction efforts. Sterilized cows would be marked (ear tag, freeze branding, etc.) to reduce the risk of these animals being hunted outside the Park or recaptured for sterilization inside the Park. • Alternative F—Fertility Control Agents: Cow elk would be treated with chemical fertility control agents to limit calving. It is considered a population maintenance tool after initial reduction efforts. No chemical contraceptives meeting Park needs are currently available; however, future agents may become available and would be considered for use if they are: Effective with a single treatment, at least 85 percent effective, have appropriate approvals and certifications, safe for treated animals, without recognizable behavioral effects, safe for non-target animals, and effective for more than 1 year. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent Davila at the address above or by telephone at 605– 745–4600. Before including your address, telephone number, electronic mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, 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 comments to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials, of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. E:\FR\FM\12JNN1.SGM 12JNN1 33454 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 114 / Thursday, June 12, 2008 / Notices Dated: June 2, 2008. Ernest Quintana, Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. E8–12992 Filed 6–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–AC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Missouri National Park Service, DOI. Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/ EIS) for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Memorial). The GMP/EIS will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained at the Memorial over the next 15 to 20 years. To facilitate sound planning and environmental assessment, the NPS intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of the GMP/EIS and obtain suggestions and information from other Agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the GMP/EIS. Comments and participation in this scoping process are invited. Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and facilitated by various means, including newsletters and public meetings. The NPS will conduct public scoping meetings to explain the planning process and to solicit opinion about issues to address in the GMP/EIS. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the local press and in the NPS newsletters. ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on any issues associated with the GMP/EIS, you may submit your comments by any one of several methods. You may mail or hand-deliver comments to the Superintendent, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102. You also may provide comments electronically by entering them into the NPS’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site https:// parkplanning.nps.gov. Information will be available for public review and comment from the Office of the Superintendent at the above address. Requests to be added to the project mailing list should be sent by mail to Superintendent, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, by AGENCY: mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:47 Jun 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 telephone 314–655–1700 or by electronic mail (e-mail) to JEFF_Superintendent@nps.gov. Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comments (including your personal identifying information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials, or organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, by telephone 314–655–1700. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch and its surrounding grounds, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis’ Old Courthouse. During a nationwide competition in 1947–48, architect Eero Saarinen’s inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. The grounds were designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley, with significant input from Saarinen. With the collaboration of two great designers, the Arch and its grounds became merged, with one reflecting the other, achieving a landscape both modern and unique. In 1987, the Gateway Arch and its surrounding grounds were designated a National Historic Landmark. The Museum of Westward Expansion, located below the Arch, contains an extensive collection of artifacts, mounted animal specimens, an authentic American Indian tipi, and an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Located just two blocks west of the Arch is the Old Courthouse, one of the oldest standing buildings in St. Louis, begun in 1839. It was here that the first two trials of the Dred Scott case were held in 1847 and 1850. Today, the building houses a museum charting the history of the city of St. Louis and restored courtrooms. The GMP/EIS will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained in the Memorial over the next 15 to 20 years. The clarification of what must be achieved according to law PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and policy will be based on review of the unit’s purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of laws and policies directing park management. Based on determinations of desired conditions, the GMP/EIS will outline kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, and appropriate future development. A range of reasonable management alternatives will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, a no-action alternative and a preferred alternative. To facilitate sound analysis of environmental impacts, the NPS is gathering information necessary for the preparation of an associated EIS. The types of changes considered under the GMP/EIS process would include accessible walkways to the underground visitor center and museum, and to the grounds from the riverfront. The plan would also examine a pedestrian walkway over Memorial Drive and the Interstate Highway that would connect the Arch grounds to the grounds near the Old Courthouse. Such a walkway could allow visitors to move from downtown to the Arch more safely. Streetscape changes (plantings, pedestrian access changes) would be considered to make the environment surrounding the Memorial more inviting and visitor friendly. Minor modifications could be made to the interior of the Old Court House, and wayside exhibits added to the grounds to enhance the visitor experience and learning at the Memorial. Expansion of the existing museum space or modifications to other existing facilities would be considered to provide greater learning and interpretative services. Consideration would also be given to the addition of food service (temporary/ seasonal/portable self-contained refreshment vendors), restrooms, modified security checkpoints, and other changes suggested in the past by the public. Dated: May 8, 2008. David N. Given, Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. E8–13187 Filed 6–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–AW–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [USITC SE–08–015] Government in the Sunshine Act Meeting Notice United States International Trade Commission. TIME AND DATE: June 19, 2008 at 2 p.m. AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: E:\FR\FM\12JNN1.SGM 12JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 114 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33453-33454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12992]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


 Notice of Availability for the Draft Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South 
Dakota

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Draft Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for Wind Cave National Park, South 
Dakota.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service 
(NPS) announces the availability of a draft Elk Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Wind Cave National Park, South 
Dakota (Park).

DATES: The draft EIS will remain available for public review for 60 
days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Public 
meetings will be held during the 60-day review period, but the specific 
dates and locations will be announced in local and regional media 
sources of record and on the Park's Web site.
    You may submit your comments by any one of several methods. You may 
comment via the Internet through the NPS Planning, Environment, and 
Public Comment Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/wica); simply 
click on the link to Elk Management Plan. You may mail comments to 
Superintendent Davila, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, 
Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747-9430. You may send comments to the 
Superintendent by facsimile at 605-745-4207. Finally, you may hand-
deliver comments to the Park headquarters at the address above.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft EIS are available from the 
Superintendent, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, Hot 
Springs, South Dakota 57747-9430.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Park is proposing to manage its elk 
population, primarily to prevent impacts to other natural resources in 
the park, which would occur as the herd size increases. The principal 
tool the Park had been using to keep population numbers in line with 
its historic management goals, translocation of live elk, is no longer 
an option because chronic wasting disease (CWD) is present in the elk 
population. Therefore, this planning process and the EIS were needed to 
examine alternatives to translocation. The purpose of this EIS is to 
identify elk management strategies for the Park that will help achieve 
elk population levels that are in balance with other native species in 
the Park, including wildlife and vegetation communities, natural 
ecosystem functions, and other Park resources.
    Several alternative actions, including the No Action, were 
considered in the development of the draft EIS. These are summarized 
briefly here. Other alternatives were explored but dismissed; these are 
discussed in some detail in the draft EIS.
     Alternative A--No Action: No new management actions beyond 
those utilized as of the commencement of the EIS analysis would be 
undertaken to manage elk.
     Alternative B (Preferred)--Hunting Outside the Park: 
Wildlife ``gates'' would be installed along the boundary fence to allow 
elk but not bison movement. The gates would be closed during hunting 
seasons to minimize elk reentry into the Park. Hazing may be used to 
ensure the appropriate number of elk leave the Park.
     Alternative C--Roundup/Live Ship or Euthanasia within 
Park: The preferred method in this alternative is capture elk and ship 
them for slaughter and donation, assuming a partner(s) can be found to 
be responsible for the transport, slaughter/processing and donation of 
meat. Donations would be in accordance with the NPS Public Health 
Program guidelines and no CWD-positive carcasses would be donated. If 
no partner can be found, the elk would be killed at the park and the 
carcasses incinerated.
     Alternative D--Sharpshooting: Authorized agents (which 
include skilled volunteers) would reduce and maintain elk numbers in 
the Park. Carcasses would be removed from the backcountry and 
incinerated, or left in place if managers believe their breakdown is 
environmentally preferred. The CWD test samples will be taken from 
adult carcasses.
    The following alternatives (E and F) are analyzed solely for 
maintenance of the elk population after initial reduction. At this 
time, the use of these methods not been proven through science to 
effectively manage wildlife populations. The park would not use either 
of these alternatives unless future scientific studies prove these 
methods to be effective and efficient means of elk population control, 
and the preferred and adaptive management efforts fail to maintain elk 
population within the target range. Should this occur alternatives B 
and F may be carried out as follows.
     Alternative E--Sterilization: Reproductive cow elk would 
be surgically sterilized to reduce recruitment and growth of the herd. 
Because these techniques have not been used on free-ranging elk, this 
option would be used to maintain target population after initial 
reduction efforts. Sterilized cows would be marked (ear tag, freeze 
branding, etc.) to reduce the risk of these animals being hunted 
outside the Park or recaptured for sterilization inside the Park.
     Alternative F--Fertility Control Agents: Cow elk would be 
treated with chemical fertility control agents to limit calving. It is 
considered a population maintenance tool after initial reduction 
efforts. No chemical contraceptives meeting Park needs are currently 
available; however, future agents may become available and would be 
considered for use if they are: Effective with a single treatment, at 
least 85 percent effective, have appropriate approvals and 
certifications, safe for treated animals, without recognizable 
behavioral effects, safe for non-target animals, and effective for more 
than 1 year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent Davila at the 
address above or by telephone at 605-745-4600.
    Before including your address, telephone number, electronic mail 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, 
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 comments to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. We will make all submissions from organizations 
or businesses, from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials, of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.


[[Page 33454]]


    Dated: June 2, 2008.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. E8-12992 Filed 6-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-AC-P

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