Deer and Vegetation Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York, 35467-35468 [2011-15064]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35467-35468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15064]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2031-A154-422]


Deer and Vegetation Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for a Deer and Vegetation Management Plan, Fire Island National 
Seashore, New York.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Deer and Vegetation 
Management Plan at Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The purpose 
of taking action at this time is to address issues associated with the 
abundance and distribution of white-tailed deer at Fire Island National 
Seashore (Seashore). The issues include impacts from deer on the 
natural and cultural resources of the Seashore as well as impacts 
resulting from deer-human interaction. Actions addressing these issues 
will be designed and undertaken in support of the long-term protection, 
preservation, and restoration of Seashore resources.
    Information collected as part of research conducted at the Seashore 
has indicated the need for a management plan to address changes in deer 
abundance and deer behavior due to the presence of human food sources 
and habituation to the unthreatening presence of humans; adverse 
impacts on native vegetation resulting from current levels of deer 
browsing; and adverse impacts on natural and cultural resources at the 
William Floyd Estate resulting from current deer population levels.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments from the public 
through July 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis, at Park Headquarters (120 
Laurel St, Patchogue, NY 11772), the Fire Island Lighthouse, and the 
Wilderness Visitor Center.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Valentine (631-687-4759) or 
Lindsay Ries (631-687-4768).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For 30 years, Seashore staff have been 
involved with issues linked to the deer population on Fire Island. 
Initially, concerns were focused around a noticeable increase in the 
number of deer within the communities of western Fire Island and the 
appearance of Lyme disease among island residents and park employees. 
Later, a re-evaluation of permanent sample plots established in 1967 in 
the Sunken Forest area of the Seashore documented the impacts of deer 
browsing on understory vegetation within a decade of the Seashore's 
establishment. As a result of these concerns, Seashore staff, along 
with academic and agency scientists, embarked on a series of 
investigations documenting and describing deer abundance and 
distribution across the island; ecology of Lyme disease and its host 
vectors including ticks, birds, and

[[Page 35468]]

mammals; browsing impacts on vegetation; fertility control as a 
potential deer population management tool; community relations relative 
to garbage disposal, and inadvertent and intentional feeding and/or 
poisoning of deer; the role of disturbance on the regeneration capacity 
of the Sunken Forest and the likelihood of its future conservation; and 
the human dimensions of deer abundance. More recently, Seashore staff 
has turned their attention to the potential impacts of deer on native 
vegetation in other natural zones of the Seashore and the cultural 
landscape of the William Floyd Estate.
    Information collected as part of this research has indicated the 
need for a management plan to address changes in deer abundance and 
deer behavior due to the presence of human food sources and habituation 
to the unthreatening presence of humans; adverse impacts on native 
vegetation resulting from current levels of deer browsing; and adverse 
impacts on natural and cultural resources at the William Floyd Estate 
resulting from current deer population levels.
    A scoping newsletter will be prepared which identifies the issues 
and statements of purpose, need, and objectives identified to date 
during internal scoping meetings. Copies of that information and other 
updates may be obtained online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis or 
at the address and phone numbers listed above. If you wish to comment 
on the purpose, need, objectives, or on any other issues associated 
with the plan, you may submit your comments via the Internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis and by mailing or hand-delivering comments to 
Fire Island National Seashore, Attn: Deer and Vegetation Management 
Plan, 120 Laurel St, Patchogue, NY 11772. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail 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.

Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-15064 Filed 6-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-YV-P