Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan, 60711 [E8-24256]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 14, 2008 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2008–N0131; 41545–1261– 0000–D2] Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce our decision and the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for our Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan. Our EA considers alternatives for managing conflicts between humans and the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. ADDRESSES: A copy of the EA and FONSI may be obtained by writing to: Layne Hamilton, Refuge Manager, Florida Panther and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges, 3860 Tollgate Boulevard, Suite 300, Naples, FL 34114, or Elizabeth Souheaver, Area II Supervisor, Southeast Regional Office, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 420, Atlanta, GA 30345. The EA and/or FONSI may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service’s Internet Web site: https:// www.fws.gov/verobeach/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Layne Hamilton, at address in ADDRESSES, or at 239–353–8442, extension 227 (telephone), or Ms. Elizabeth Souheaver, Area II Supervisor, at address in ADDRESSES, or at 404–679– 7163 (telephone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we announce our decision and availability of the final EA and FONSI for the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA’s) implementing regulations at 40 CFR 1506.6 (b). We released a draft of the plan to the public as a Draft EA for ‘‘Guidelines for Living with Florida Panther and the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan,’’ and requested comments in a notice in the Federal Register on May 25, 2006 (71 FR 30156). To improve the quality and credibility of the scientific information, we also conducted a formal peer review process for the draft plan. Responses to public, jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:37 Oct 10, 2008 Jkt 217001 tribal, and peer review comments were included in the Revised EA appendices. On November 2, 2007, we released the Revised EA and the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan to the public, requesting comments via a Federal Register notice (72 FR 62256). We have included responses to specific comments in the Final EA appendices. We have coordinated this proposal with the National Park Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and local Indian tribes. The Draft, Revised, and Final EAs identified and evaluated three alternatives for managing the conflicts between humans and the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Alternative A (Preferred Action) manages human-panther interactions with an interagency response team and an established plan that prioritizes public safety and evaluates each situation by analyzing panther behavior and human activity. Alternative B (No Action) does not utilize an interagency team or a response plan, but responds to human-panther interactions on a case-by-case basis without established protocols or guidelines. Alternative C includes a response team and a plan that differs from Alternative A by providing rigid protocols based on frequency of panther sightings and proximity to human-occupied structures, without considering panther behavior or influences of human activity on panther behavior. The EA consists of a thorough analysis of the environmental, social, economic, and cultural resource considerations for each alternative. The FONSI documents the selection of Alternative A. This alternative was selected over the other alternatives because it utilizes the best available science in a consistent manner to manage human-panther interactions. Under this alternative, the Response Team’s responsibility is to review information related to human-panther interactions, classify these situations based on the documented behavior of the panther, provide an action plan to the responsible agencies, and take approved and appropriate actions. The plan provides the responding officials with the flexibility to address emergency situations swiftly. Also, public outreach and education are an important element of this proposal, recognizing the importance of teaching people how to safely live and recreate in panther habitat. There are no conflicts with local, State, regional, or Federal plans or policies. Authority: We provide this notice under NEPA regulations at 40 CFR 1506.6. PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60711 Dated: October 6, 2008. Cynthia K. Dohner, Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. E8–24256 Filed 10–10–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R9–FHC–2008–N0219;13410–1124– 0000 L5] Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of final revised marine mammal stock assessment report for the northern sea otter stock in Washington State; response to comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has incorporated public comments into a revision of the marine mammal stock assessment report for the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) stock in Washington State. The 2008 final stock assessment report is now complete and available to the public. ADDRESSES: Send requests for printed copies of the final stock assessment report to: Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503; (360) 753–9440. Copies of the final revised stock assessment report are also available on the Internet in Adobe Acrobat format at https://www.fws.gov/ westwafwo. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the goals of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361– 1407) is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States do not experience a level of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level (OSP). OSP is defined as ‘‘* * * the number of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the ecosystem of which they form a constituent element.’’ To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to E:\FR\FM\14OCN1.SGM 14OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 60711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24256]



[[Page 60711]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2008-N0131; 41545-1261-0000-D2]


Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: environmental assessment and finding of 
no significant impact for the Interagency Florida Panther Response 
Plan.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce our decision and 
the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for our Interagency Florida Panther 
Response Plan. Our EA considers alternatives for managing conflicts 
between humans and the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor 
coryi), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the EA and FONSI may be obtained by writing to: 
Layne Hamilton, Refuge Manager, Florida Panther and Ten Thousand 
Islands National Wildlife Refuges, 3860 Tollgate Boulevard, Suite 300, 
Naples, FL 34114, or Elizabeth Souheaver, Area II Supervisor, Southeast 
Regional Office, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
Suite 420, Atlanta, GA 30345. The EA and/or FONSI may also be accessed 
and downloaded from the Service's Internet Web site: https://
www.fws.gov/verobeach/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Layne Hamilton, at address in 
ADDRESSES, or at 239-353-8442, extension 227 (telephone), or Ms. 
Elizabeth Souheaver, Area II Supervisor, at address in ADDRESSES, or at 
404-679-7163 (telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we announce our decision 
and availability of the final EA and FONSI for the Interagency Florida 
Panther Response Plan in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act's (NEPA's) implementing regulations at 40 CFR 1506.6 (b). We 
released a draft of the plan to the public as a Draft EA for 
``Guidelines for Living with Florida Panther and the Interagency 
Florida Panther Response Plan,'' and requested comments in a notice in 
the Federal Register on May 25, 2006 (71 FR 30156). To improve the 
quality and credibility of the scientific information, we also 
conducted a formal peer review process for the draft plan. Responses to 
public, tribal, and peer review comments were included in the Revised 
EA appendices. On November 2, 2007, we released the Revised EA and the 
Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan to the public, requesting 
comments via a Federal Register notice (72 FR 62256). We have included 
responses to specific comments in the Final EA appendices. We have 
coordinated this proposal with the National Park Service, the Florida 
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and local Indian tribes.
    The Draft, Revised, and Final EAs identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the conflicts between humans and the 
endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Alternative A 
(Preferred Action) manages human-panther interactions with an 
interagency response team and an established plan that prioritizes 
public safety and evaluates each situation by analyzing panther 
behavior and human activity. Alternative B (No Action) does not utilize 
an interagency team or a response plan, but responds to human-panther 
interactions on a case-by-case basis without established protocols or 
guidelines. Alternative C includes a response team and a plan that 
differs from Alternative A by providing rigid protocols based on 
frequency of panther sightings and proximity to human-occupied 
structures, without considering panther behavior or influences of human 
activity on panther behavior. The EA consists of a thorough analysis of 
the environmental, social, economic, and cultural resource 
considerations for each alternative.
    The FONSI documents the selection of Alternative A. This 
alternative was selected over the other alternatives because it 
utilizes the best available science in a consistent manner to manage 
human-panther interactions. Under this alternative, the Response Team's 
responsibility is to review information related to human-panther 
interactions, classify these situations based on the documented 
behavior of the panther, provide an action plan to the responsible 
agencies, and take approved and appropriate actions. The plan provides 
the responding officials with the flexibility to address emergency 
situations swiftly. Also, public outreach and education are an 
important element of this proposal, recognizing the importance of 
teaching people how to safely live and recreate in panther habitat. 
There are no conflicts with local, State, regional, or Federal plans or 
policies.

    Authority: We provide this notice under NEPA regulations at 40 
CFR 1506.6.

    Dated: October 6, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E8-24256 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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