Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 24734 [2012-9972]

Download as PDF 24734 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 25, 2012 / Notices tribal gaming facilities are properly licensed by the tribes. Respondents: Indian tribal gaming operations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 565. Estimated Annual Responses: 75. Estimated Time per Response: The range of time can vary from 2 burden hours to 10 burden hours for one item. Frequency of Response: Varies. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: $13,125. Paxton Myers, Chief of Staff. [FR Doc. 2012–9922 Filed 4–24–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7565–01–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–MWR–INDU–0312–8330; 6065–4000– 409] Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service announces the availability of the Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana. SUMMARY: The Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Plan/EIS) will remain available for public review for 30 days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: The Plan/EIS is available via the Internet through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site (https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/INDU); click on the link for the Plan/EIS. You may also obtain a copy of the Plan/EIS by sending a request to Randy Knutson, Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, Indiana 46304; telephone 219–395–1550. A copy may also be picked-up in person at the National Lakeshore’s headquarters at the address listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Constantine Dillon, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, at the address above or by telephone at 219–395–1699. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Plan/ EIS describes four alternatives for the pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:14 Apr 24, 2012 Jkt 226001 management of deer at the National Lakeshore. Action is needed at this time to ensure that the local deer population does not become a dominant force that negatively influences ecosystem components within the National Lakeshore, such as sensitive vegetation or other wildlife. Impacts to these National Lakeshore resources would compromise its purpose to preserve the exceptional biodiversity found within its boundaries. The National Lakeshore staff currently implements resource management actions to protect other resources but no specific deer management plan exists. Under Alternative A (no action), current deer management actions (including limited fencing, limited use of repellents, and inventorying and monitoring efforts) would continue; no new deer management actions would be taken. Alternative B would include all actions described under Alternative A, but would also incorporate non-lethal actions to possibly reduce deer numbers in the lakeshore. The additional actions would include the construction of additional small- and new large-scale exclosures, more extensive use of repellents in areas where fenced exclosures would not be appropriate or feasible, and phasing in reproductive control of does when there is a federally approved fertility control agent for application to free-ranging populations that provides multi-year (three to five years) efficacy for does. Alternative C would include all actions described under Alternative A, but would also incorporate a direct reduction of the deer herd size through sharpshooting and capture/euthanasia, where appropriate. Alternative D (the preferred alternative) would also include all the actions described under Alternative A, but would incorporate a combination of specific lethal and non-lethal actions from Alternatives B and C. These actions would include the reduction of the deer herd through sharpshooting, in combination with capture/euthanasia and phasing in reproductive control of does (as described in alternative B) for longer-term maintenance of lower herd numbers when there is a federally approved fertility control agent for application to free-ranging populations that provides multi-year (three to five years) efficacy for does. The potential environmental consequences of the alternatives are addressed for vegetation, soils and water quality, white-tailed deer, other wildlife and wildlife habitat, sensitive and rare species, archeological resources, cultural landscapes, visitor use and experience, social values, visitor and employee health and safety, PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 soundscapes, socioeconomic conditions, and National Lakeshore management and operations. Dated: March 26, 2012. Michael T. Reynolds, Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012–9972 Filed 4–24–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–FH–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2012–0011] Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Renewable Energy Program Leasing for Marine Hydrokinetic Technology Testing Offshore Florida Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment. AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) considering the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects of issuing a lease in Official Protraction Diagram NG 17– 06, Blocks 7003, 7053, and 7054, offshore Florida. The proposed lease would authorize technology testing activities, including the installation, operation, relocation, and decommissioning of technology testing facilities. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the EA for review and to solicit public comments on the EA. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), which is a section in the regulations implementing section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, BOEM has made a finding of ‘‘no historic properties affected’’ for this proposed project. The finding and supporting documentation have been submitted to the Florida State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and are included in the EA for public inspection. BOEM will conduct a public information session at the following location and time to explain the proposed activities and provide additional opportunities for public input on the EA: Broward County Main Library, 100 S Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301–7528, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 2 p.m. The EA and information on the public session can be found online at: https:// www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/State-Activities/Florida.aspx. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM 25APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 24734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9972]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-INDU-0312-8330; 6065-4000-409]


Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of the 
Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana.

DATES: The Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement (Plan/EIS) will remain available for public review for 30 
days following the publishing of the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: The Plan/EIS is available via the Internet through the NPS 
Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/INDU); click on the link for the Plan/EIS. You may 
also obtain a copy of the Plan/EIS by sending a request to Randy 
Knutson, Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 1100 
North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, Indiana 46304; telephone 219-395-
1550. A copy may also be picked-up in person at the National 
Lakeshore's headquarters at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Constantine Dillon, 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, at the address above or by telephone 
at 219-395-1699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Plan/EIS describes four alternatives 
for the management of deer at the National Lakeshore. Action is needed 
at this time to ensure that the local deer population does not become a 
dominant force that negatively influences ecosystem components within 
the National Lakeshore, such as sensitive vegetation or other wildlife. 
Impacts to these National Lakeshore resources would compromise its 
purpose to preserve the exceptional biodiversity found within its 
boundaries. The National Lakeshore staff currently implements resource 
management actions to protect other resources but no specific deer 
management plan exists.
    Under Alternative A (no action), current deer management actions 
(including limited fencing, limited use of repellents, and inventorying 
and monitoring efforts) would continue; no new deer management actions 
would be taken. Alternative B would include all actions described under 
Alternative A, but would also incorporate non-lethal actions to 
possibly reduce deer numbers in the lakeshore. The additional actions 
would include the construction of additional small- and new large-scale 
exclosures, more extensive use of repellents in areas where fenced 
exclosures would not be appropriate or feasible, and phasing in 
reproductive control of does when there is a federally approved 
fertility control agent for application to free-ranging populations 
that provides multi-year (three to five years) efficacy for does. 
Alternative C would include all actions described under Alternative A, 
but would also incorporate a direct reduction of the deer herd size 
through sharpshooting and capture/euthanasia, where appropriate. 
Alternative D (the preferred alternative) would also include all the 
actions described under Alternative A, but would incorporate a 
combination of specific lethal and non-lethal actions from Alternatives 
B and C. These actions would include the reduction of the deer herd 
through sharpshooting, in combination with capture/euthanasia and 
phasing in reproductive control of does (as described in alternative B) 
for longer-term maintenance of lower herd numbers when there is a 
federally approved fertility control agent for application to free-
ranging populations that provides multi-year (three to five years) 
efficacy for does.
    The potential environmental consequences of the alternatives are 
addressed for vegetation, soils and water quality, white-tailed deer, 
other wildlife and wildlife habitat, sensitive and rare species, 
archeological resources, cultural landscapes, visitor use and 
experience, social values, visitor and employee health and safety, 
soundscapes, socioeconomic conditions, and National Lakeshore 
management and operations.

    Dated: March 26, 2012.
Michael T. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-9972 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FH-P
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