Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Antietam, Monocacy, Manassas White-tailed Deer Management Plan, 44148-44149 [2013-17656]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44148-44149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17656]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NCR-11935;PX.XDESC0047.00.1]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Antietam, Monocacy, 
Manassas White-tailed Deer Management Plan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the White-tailed Deer 
Management Plan (Plan), Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland; 
Monocacy National Battlefield, Maryland; and Manassas National 
Battlefield Park, Virginia. The white-tailed deer populations and 
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) are managed through this plan, which 
provides integrated tools and strategies that support preservation of 
the natural and cultural landscape through the protection and 
restoration of native vegetation and other natural and cultural 
resources.

DATES: The NPS will accept comments on the DEIS from the public for a 
period of 60 days following publication of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. You may check 
the Web site of Antietam National Battlefield (www.nps.gov/anti), 
Monocacy National Battlefield (www.nps.gov/mono), and Manassas National 
Battlefield Park (www.nps.gov/mana) for dates, times, and places of 
public meetings to be conducted by the National Park Service, or by 
calling park contacts below or Tracy Atkins at (303) 969-2325.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following methods:
    You may mail comments to:
    Antietam National Battlefield, c/o Ed Wenschhof, P.O. Box 158, 
Sharpsburg, MD 21782, (301) 432-2243.
    Monocacy National Battlefield, c/o Superintendent Rick Slade, 4632 
Araby Church Road, Frederick, MD 21704, (301) 696-8650.
    Manassas National Battlefield Park, c/o Superintendent Ed W. Clark, 
12521 Lee Highway, Manassas, VA 20109-2005, (703) 754-1861.
    The preferred method of comment is via the internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. The document will be available for public review 
and comment online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/anti, and can be 
viewed at the following locations:

Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung Street, Frederick, MD 21704
C. Burr Artz Library, 110 East Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Washington County Library, 101 Tandy Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Washington County Library, 401 Potomac Street, Boonsboro, MD 21713
Washington County Library, 22 Taylor Drive, Keedysville, MD 21756
Washington County Library, 106 East Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Manassas Central Library, c/o Branch Manager, 8601 Mathis Avenue, 
Manassas, VA 20110
Bull Run Regional Library, c/o Branch Manager, 8051 Ashton Avenue, 
Manassas, VA 20109
Fairfax City Library, 3915 Chain Ridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Manassas City Museum, 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas, VA 20110

    This notice also announces that public meetings will be held to 
solicit comments on the DEIS during the public review period. The 
dates, times, and locations of the public meetings will be announced on 
the Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield, and 
Manassas National Battlefield Park Web sites noted above, in local 
newspapers, and by calling NPS contacts or Tracy Atkins.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Atkins, Project Manager, Denver 
Service Center Planning Division, 12795

[[Page 44149]]

W. Alameda Parkway, Denver, CO 80225-0287, or via phone at (303) 969-
2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy 
National Battlefield, and Manassas National Battlefield Park are all 
located in the NPS National Capital Region within a little over an 
hour's drive from Washington DC. The U.S. Congress set aside these park 
units to represent outstanding aspects of our natural and cultural 
heritage to ensure they receive the highest standards of protection. 
These park units commemorate ``sites where historic battles were fought 
on American soil during the armed conflicts that shaped the growth and 
development of the United States.'' All three battlefields commemorate 
one or more Civil War battles and the history associated with these 
battles.
    The purpose of the DEIS and Plan is to develop a deer management 
strategy that supports preservation of the natural and cultural 
landscape through the protection and restoration of native vegetation. 
Although relatively rare at the turn of the twentieth century, white-
tailed deer populations in the Mid-Atlantic region have grown during 
recent years. Current deer densities of 130-230 deer per square mile 
are substantially larger than commonly accepted sustainable densities 
for this region, estimated at about 15-25 deer per square mile.
    The NPS has developed the DEIS under section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and consistent with National 
Park Service law, regulations, and policies, and the purpose of these 
three parks. The DEIS describes and analyzes three action alternatives 
(B, C, and D) to guide management actions and strategies for white-
tailed deer. The alternatives include lethal and non-lethal actions to 
manage and reduce the impacts of white-tailed deer. Included in the 
alternatives is the no-action alternative (alternative A).
    There are three action alternatives for the management of White-
tailed deer and one management action alternative for the management of 
CWD:
    Alternative B of the White-tailed deer management plan provides a 
nonlethal deer reduction option to implement nonsurgical reproductive 
control of does when an acceptable reproductive control agent is 
available that meets NPS established criteria. Large constructed 
exclosures would also protect 5-20% of the forested area of the parks 
to allow reforestation. Additional techniques include fencing of crops 
and woodlots, crop protection through sacrificial rows, and aversive 
conditioning.
    Alternative C of the White-tailed Deer Management Plan provides a 
lethal deer reduction option through the use of sharpshooting with 
firearms, possible capture and euthanasia to reduce deer populations to 
the target density and maintain that level. Donation of meat would also 
occur, subject to any concerns or restrictions related to CWD.
    Alternative D of the White-tailed Deer Management Plan provides a 
combined lethal and nonlethal deer reduction option through the use of 
sharpshooting with firearms, possible capture, and euthanasia to reduce 
deer populations to a desirable level and maintain that level. Once the 
target density has been reached, it will use nonsurgical reproductive 
control of does when an acceptable reproductive control agent is 
available that meets NPS established criteria.
    Alternatives B, C, and D of the Plan continue targeted and 
opportunistic surveillance, and continued actions under any current 
initial detection and response plans. They incorporate a long-term CWD 
response plan that lethally reduces the deer population to decrease 
potential for CWD transmittal and spread for CWD management purposes 
only and only if CWD is confirmed in or within 5 miles of the parks. 
Deer populations could be reduced to 15-20 deer per square mile or as 
needed to cooperate with state program and testing requirements, but no 
less than 10 deer per square mile. Deer will be tested for CWD.
    1. The DEIS evaluates potential environmental consequences of 
implementing the alternatives. Impact topics include the natural, 
cultural, and socioeconomic environments. For further information 
contact Tracy Atkins at the number above.
    Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

    Dated: July 17, 2013.
Stephen E. Whitesell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-17656 Filed 7-22-13; 8:45 am]
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