Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, 91192-91193 [2016-30247]
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91192
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Notices
Wayne Historical Society, 302 East
Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802,
telephone 260–426–2882, email
wfont@comcast.net, by January 17,
2017. After that date, if no additional
claimants have come forward, transfer
of control of the unassociated funerary
objects to the lineal descendants of
Little Turtle represented by Daryl
Baldwin and John Froman may proceed.
The Allen County-Fort Wayne
Historical Society is responsible for
notifying the lineal descendants, the
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
that this notice has been published.
Dated: December 6, 2016.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016–30338 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–22488;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: St.
Joseph Museums, Inc., St. Joseph, MO
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The St. Joseph Museums, Inc.
has completed an inventory of human
remains, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations, and has
determined that there is a cultural
affiliation between the human remains
and present-day Indian tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal
descendants or representatives of any
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains should submit
a written request to the St. Joseph
Museums, Inc. If no additional
requestors come forward, transfer of
control of the human remains to the
lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in
this notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or
representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these
human remains should submit a written
request with information in support of
the request to the St. Joseph Museums,
Inc. at the address in this notice by
January 17, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Trevor Tutt, St. Joseph
Museums, Inc., P.O. Box 8096, St.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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18:42 Dec 15, 2016
Jkt 241001
Joseph, MO 64508, telephone (816) 232–
8471, email trevor@
stjosephmuseum.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3003, of the completion of an inventory
of human remains under the control of
the St. Joseph Museums, Inc., St. Joseph,
MO. The human remains were donated
on April 27, 1928 by Mary S. McNeil.
This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service’s administrative
responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25
U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in
this notice are the sole responsibility of
the museum, institution, or Federal
agency that has control of the Native
American human remains. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human
remains was made by the St. Joseph
Museums, Inc. professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
History and Description of the Remains
On April 27, 1928, human remains
representing, at minimum, one
individual were donated to the St.
Joseph Museums, Inc. by Mrs. Mary S.
McNeil. These human remains were
identified at the time of donation as a
Flathead Indian skull over forty years
old. The exact location of removal of the
human remains and the means by which
Mrs. McNeil acquired them were not
documented. Based on the original
documentation, the human remains
most likely were removed in the late
nineteenth century. Their identification
as Flathead was made by Mrs. McNeil,
and/or the director of the St. Joseph
Museum, Mrs. Orel Andrews, at the
time of accession. Mrs. McNeil’s
collection spans Native American
cultures from Alaska to New Mexico,
across the plains and in the American
Northeast. As she studied these cultures
extensively, the St. Joseph Museums,
Inc. believes her assignment of these
human remains to the Flathead to be
correct. No known individuals were
identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Determinations Made by the St. Joseph
Museums, Inc.
Officials of the St. Joseph Museums,
Inc. have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
human remains described in this notice
represent the physical remains of one
individual of Native American ancestry.
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• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A),
no objects described in this notice are
reasonably believed to have been placed
with or near individual human remains
at the time of death or later as part of
the death rite or ceremony.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there
is a relationship of shared group
identity that can be reasonably traced
between the Native American human
remains and the Confederated Salish
and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead
Reservation.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains should submit
a written request with information in
support of the request to Trevor Tutt, St.
Joseph Museums, Inc., P.O. Box 8096,
St. Joseph, MO 64508, telephone (816)
232–8471, email trevor@
stjosephmuseum.org, by January 17,
2017. After that date, if no additional
requestors have come forward, transfer
of control of the human remains to the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes of the Flathead Indian
Reservation may proceed.
The St. Joseph Museums, Inc. is
responsible for notifying the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes of the Flathead Indian
Reservation that this notice has been
published.
Dated: November 29, 2016.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016–30336 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–ANRSS–22287;
PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement To
Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle
Royale National Park, Michigan
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service
(NPS) announces the availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to address the presence of wolves
at Isle Royale National Park.
DATES: All comments must be
postmarked or submitted not later than
March 15, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Superintendent Phyllis
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
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mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Notices
Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO
Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive,
Houghton, Michigan 49931–1896, or by
telephone at (906) 482–0984.
Information is available online for
public review at https://
parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
process is being conducted pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, and the regulations of the
Department of the Interior. The purpose
of this Draft EIS is to determine whether
and how to bring wolves to Isle Royale
to function as the apex predator in the
near term within a changing and
dynamic island ecosystem. A decision is
needed because the potential absence of
wolves raises concerns about possible
effects to Isle Royale’s current
ecosystem, including effects to both the
moose population and Isle Royale’s
forest/vegetation communities.
Although wolves have not always been
part of the Isle Royale ecosystem, they
have been present for more than 65
years, and have played a key role in the
ecosystem, affecting the moose
population and other species during
that time. The average wolf population
on the island over the past 65 years has
been about 22, but there have been as
many as 50 wolves documented on the
island and as few as two. Over the past
five years the population has declined
steeply, which has given rise to the need
to determine whether the NPS should
bring additional wolves to the island.
There were three wolves documented
on the island in 2015 and only two
wolves were confirmed in 2016. At this
time, natural recovery of the population
is unlikely.
This Draft EIS evaluates the impacts
of the no-action alternative (Alternative
A) and three action alternatives
(Alternatives B, C, and D).
Alternative A would continue existing
management practices and assume no
new management actions would be
implemented beyond those available at
the outset of the wolf planning process.
Wolves may arrive or depart
independently via an ice bridge. Under
Alternative A, wolves would not be
introduced by management to Isle
Royale National Park.
The action alternatives include the
capture and relocation of wolves from
the Great Lakes Region to Isle Royale
National Park. The NPS would target
wolves for relocation that are known to
feed on moose as one of their prey
sources, are in good health with no
apparent injuries, and have the
appropriate genetic diversity to sustain
a viable population on the island.
Capture and relocation efforts would
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Dec 15, 2016
Jkt 241001
take place between late fall and late
winter when the island is closed to
visitors. All of the action alternatives
include monitoring which could
include radio or GPS collar tracking
from ground and air, scat sample
collection, visual observations, and
other methodology as funding is
available.
Under Alternative B, between 20 and
30 wolves with a wide genetic diversity
would be introduced to the island. The
social makeup of introduced wolves
could include packs, established pairs
with pups, or unrelated individuals.
Wolves may be supplemented as needed
up to the third year after initial
introduction. After the third year,
should an unforeseen event occur that
impacts the wolf population, such as a
mass die-off or introduction of disease,
and the goals of the alternative are not
being met due to this event, wolves may
be supplemented for an additional two
years. No additional wolves would be
brought to the island after five years
from date of initial introduction.
Alternative C would involve the
initial introduction of a smaller number
of wolves than Alternative B. The social
makeup of introduced wolves could
include an established pair with pups,
or a pack, as well as unrelated
individuals. The NPS would bring
wolves to the island as often as needed
in order to maintain a population of
wolves on the island for at least the next
20 years. Under this alternative,
additional wolves may be brought based
on one or more resource indicators that
could include genetic health of the
wolves, ecological health, and prey
species population trends.
Under Alternative D, the NPS would
not take immediate action and would
continue current management, allowing
natural processes to continue. This
alternative is meant to continue the
study of island ecosystem changes
without an apex predator and only take
action should the weight of evidence
suggest an apex predator is necessary to
ecosystem function. Resource
indicators, such as population size and
growth rate of moose would be used to
determine if and when wolf
introduction actions should be taken. If
the weight of evidence indicates wolf
introduction actions should be taken,
the NPS would follow procedures
outlined within Alternative C.
Public Participation: After the
Environmental Protection Agency’s
Notice of Availability is published, the
NPS will schedule public meetings to be
held during the comment period in the
Great Lakes Region near the park. Dates,
times, and locations of these meetings
will be announced in press releases and
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
91193
on the NPS Planning, Environment, and
Public Comment Web site for the Draft
EIS at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
isrowolves.
How to Comment: You are encouraged
to comment on the Draft EIS online at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves.
You may also mail or hand-deliver your
written comments to Superintendent
Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park,
ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive,
Houghton, Michigan 49931–1896.
Written comments will also be accepted
during scheduled public meetings
discussed above. Comments will not be
accepted by fax, email, or by any
method other than those specified
above. Bulk comments in any format
(hard copy or electronic) submitted on
behalf of others will not be accepted.
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: October 25, 2016.
Cameron H. Sholly,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2016–30247 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–22537;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion:
Seminole Tribe of Florida, Clewiston,
FL
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Seminole Tribe of Florida
has completed an inventory of human
remains, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations, and has
determined that there is a cultural
affiliation between the human remains
and present-day Indian tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal
descendants or representatives of any
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains should submit
a written request to the Seminole Tribe
of Florida. If no additional requestors
come forward, transfer of control of the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
16DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91192-91193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30247]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-ANRSS-22287; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National
Park, Michigan
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the presence
of wolves at Isle Royale National Park.
DATES: All comments must be postmarked or submitted not later than
March 15, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Superintendent Phyllis
[[Page 91193]]
Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore
Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896, or by telephone at (906) 482-
0984. Information is available online for public review at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This process is being conducted pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the regulations of
the Department of the Interior. The purpose of this Draft EIS is to
determine whether and how to bring wolves to Isle Royale to function as
the apex predator in the near term within a changing and dynamic island
ecosystem. A decision is needed because the potential absence of wolves
raises concerns about possible effects to Isle Royale's current
ecosystem, including effects to both the moose population and Isle
Royale's forest/vegetation communities. Although wolves have not always
been part of the Isle Royale ecosystem, they have been present for more
than 65 years, and have played a key role in the ecosystem, affecting
the moose population and other species during that time. The average
wolf population on the island over the past 65 years has been about 22,
but there have been as many as 50 wolves documented on the island and
as few as two. Over the past five years the population has declined
steeply, which has given rise to the need to determine whether the NPS
should bring additional wolves to the island. There were three wolves
documented on the island in 2015 and only two wolves were confirmed in
2016. At this time, natural recovery of the population is unlikely.
This Draft EIS evaluates the impacts of the no-action alternative
(Alternative A) and three action alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and
D).
Alternative A would continue existing management practices and
assume no new management actions would be implemented beyond those
available at the outset of the wolf planning process. Wolves may arrive
or depart independently via an ice bridge. Under Alternative A, wolves
would not be introduced by management to Isle Royale National Park.
The action alternatives include the capture and relocation of
wolves from the Great Lakes Region to Isle Royale National Park. The
NPS would target wolves for relocation that are known to feed on moose
as one of their prey sources, are in good health with no apparent
injuries, and have the appropriate genetic diversity to sustain a
viable population on the island. Capture and relocation efforts would
take place between late fall and late winter when the island is closed
to visitors. All of the action alternatives include monitoring which
could include radio or GPS collar tracking from ground and air, scat
sample collection, visual observations, and other methodology as
funding is available.
Under Alternative B, between 20 and 30 wolves with a wide genetic
diversity would be introduced to the island. The social makeup of
introduced wolves could include packs, established pairs with pups, or
unrelated individuals. Wolves may be supplemented as needed up to the
third year after initial introduction. After the third year, should an
unforeseen event occur that impacts the wolf population, such as a mass
die-off or introduction of disease, and the goals of the alternative
are not being met due to this event, wolves may be supplemented for an
additional two years. No additional wolves would be brought to the
island after five years from date of initial introduction.
Alternative C would involve the initial introduction of a smaller
number of wolves than Alternative B. The social makeup of introduced
wolves could include an established pair with pups, or a pack, as well
as unrelated individuals. The NPS would bring wolves to the island as
often as needed in order to maintain a population of wolves on the
island for at least the next 20 years. Under this alternative,
additional wolves may be brought based on one or more resource
indicators that could include genetic health of the wolves, ecological
health, and prey species population trends.
Under Alternative D, the NPS would not take immediate action and
would continue current management, allowing natural processes to
continue. This alternative is meant to continue the study of island
ecosystem changes without an apex predator and only take action should
the weight of evidence suggest an apex predator is necessary to
ecosystem function. Resource indicators, such as population size and
growth rate of moose would be used to determine if and when wolf
introduction actions should be taken. If the weight of evidence
indicates wolf introduction actions should be taken, the NPS would
follow procedures outlined within Alternative C.
Public Participation: After the Environmental Protection Agency's
Notice of Availability is published, the NPS will schedule public
meetings to be held during the comment period in the Great Lakes Region
near the park. Dates, times, and locations of these meetings will be
announced in press releases and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and
Public Comment Web site for the Draft EIS at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves.
How to Comment: You are encouraged to comment on the Draft EIS
online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves. You may also mail or
hand-deliver your written comments to Superintendent Phyllis Green,
Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive,
Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896. Written comments will also be accepted
during scheduled public meetings discussed above. Comments will not be
accepted by fax, email, or by any method other than those specified
above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted
on behalf of others will not be accepted. 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: October 25, 2016.
Cameron H. Sholly,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-30247 Filed 12-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
