National Park Service August 7, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the National Park Service (NPS) is amending the boundary of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to include one additional tract of land containing 0.749 of an acre.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Services (NPS) announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), Massachusetts. The purpose of the FEIS is to finalize the documentation of the environmental consequences of alternative strategies for managing hunting at CCNS. The FEIS evaluates three (3) alternatives for managing hunting: Alternative ANo Action describes the effects of continuing the hunting program as it was prior to a court decision to enjoin the pheasant stocking and hunting program. Hunting would continue in accordance with the seasons and regulations established by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW), and in accordance with the existing rules established by Cape Cod National Seashore pertaining to the time of year hunting is allowed, the species that can be hunted, and no-hunting zones. Under this alternative, the pheasant hunting and stocking program would be re-established. Alternative BDevelop a Modified Hunting Program (the preferred alternative) describes the effects of modifying the hunting program in a manner that would retain hunting as part of CCNS's cultural heritage while addressing concerns raised by non-hunting visitors. The modifications were derived from input received during public scoping, and subsequently refined based on comments on the Draft EIS. Element 1: This element would increase traditional hunting opportunities for native upland game bird species. Specifically, the park's rules would be revised to allow the State's spring eastern turkey hunt to occur within the park. Additionally, this element would include developing and implementing cultural landscape restoration activities that are expected to improve habitat quality for upland game birds, particularly northern bobwhite quail. Element 2: An adaptive management approach would be used to phase out the pheasant stocking and hunting program as opportunities to hunt native upland game birds increase. The success of heathland and grassland management, called for by the cultural restoration plan, will be used as an indicator of native species hunting opportunity. This element would result in the end of pheasant stocking and hunting at CCNS within 14 to 17 years. In no case will pheasant stocking continue beyond 17 years. Element 3: This element would simplify the scope of hunting areas, and would designate hunting-permitted areas versus the current policy which allows hunting in all areas except where specifically prohibited. The hunting-permitted areas would be delineated based on the existing 500-foot no-hunting buffers around paved roads and buildings, expanding the no-hunting buffers around bicycle paths from 150 feet to 500 feet, and eliminating the small patches and thin slivers of area that cannot practicably be hunted. This element would provide an added safety precaution protective of visitors using the bike paths; should result in more predictable areas where hunting is likely to be encountered and where it will not; would provide consistent buffers for hunting set- backs from roads, buildings, and bike paths; would facilitate more efficient monitoring by law enforcement staff; and would result in little reduction in hunting opportunities. Element 4: Hunting-related outreach to hunting and non-hunting users would be expanded. Outreach to non-hunting visitors would focus on where and when hunting occurs in the park, where visitors can go to avoid hunting, safety precautions when in or adjacent to hunting areas, how to report any unlawful behavior or safety concerns, and the importance of courteous and respectful behavior to all users. Outreach to hunters would also focus on where and when hunting is permitted in the park, hunting regulations, how to report any unlawful behavior or safety concerns, and the importance of courteous and respectful behavior to all users. Element 5: This element provides for cooperative and expanded game species monitoring by Cape Cod National Seashore and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Seashore and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife would integrate monitoring efforts, and seek additional resources as needed, to expand monitoring of the abundance and harvest of deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, eastern wild turkeys, and northern bobwhite quail. These agencies would also coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review emerging information on the status and distribution of New England cottontail rabbits on outer Cape Cod, and determine if action is necessary to protect this sensitive species within the Seashore. Alternative CEliminate Hunting describes the effects of eliminating hunting at Cape Cod National Seashore. A sub-element of Alternative C would eliminate only the pheasant program while retaining the other aspects of the hunting program. In April of 2006, the NPS issued a Draft EIS for agency and public review and comment. The comment period opened on April 21, 2006 with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, and closed on June 19, 2006, 60 days later. During that review period the NPS held two public meetings to provide agencies and the public the opportunity to provide oral comment on the draft document. Comments were received in the form of letters and e-mails, and at the two public meetings. All substantive comments have been addressed in the ``Consultation and Coordination'' chapter of the FEIS.

Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a general management plan (GMP) for the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. This effort will analyze the impacts of a broad range of design alternatives for the national historic site. This effort will result in a comprehensive general management plan that provides a framework for making management decisions regarding the preservation of natural and cultural resources, visitor use and interpretation and development of appropriate park facilities. This plan will be developed in cooperation with the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma, the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, and the State of Colorado. Alternatives to be considered include no-action, the proposed action and other reasonable alternatives. The park superintendent will initiate consultation with congressional delegations, tribal representatives, and state and local agencies on the development of the plan. Consultation with these agencies will continue throughout the planning process. Public involvement in the planning process will include newsletters and open houses that inform the public of the project and provide opportunities for input; press releases in the local media; newsletters and open houses to present and solicit input on the alternatives; a public review draft of the general management plan and environmental impact statement and public meetings to provide additional opportunities to comment on the draft plan. Public involvement is essential for the development of creative and sustainable management alternatives for the national historic site. A briefing statement has been prepared that summarizes the specific elements of the general management planning process and the EIS. Copies of that information may be obtained from: Superintendent, Alexa Roberts, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, P.O. Box 249, Eads, CO 81036.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332) and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1506.6), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) will prepare an ORV Management Plan/DEIS. The ORV Management Plan/DEIS will be used to guide the management and control of ORVs at the Seashore for approximately the next 15 to 20 years. It will also form the basis for a special regulation that will regulate ORV use at the Seashore. The ORV Management Plan/DEIS will assess potential environmental impacts associated with a range of reasonable alternatives for managing ORV impacts on park resources such as threatened and endangered species, soils, wetlands, wildlife, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic impacts and effects on visitor experience and public safety will also be analyzed. In addition, the plan will focus on issues that have a direct bearing on ORV management, including management of threatened and endangered species and species of special concern, as well as predator management.