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Migratory Bird Permits; Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Double-crested Cormorant Management
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: December 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 244)]
[Notices]
[Page 65510-65511]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de01-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Migratory Bird Permits; Draft Environmental Impact Statement on
Double-crested Cormorant Management
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meetings; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) invites
public participation in public meetings associated with the comment
period for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on double-
crested cormorant management. The DEIS has been prepared under the
authority of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of
several management alternatives to address conflicts associated with
double-crested cormorants. This notice describes the proposed action
and the other five management alternatives analyzed in the DEIS;
identifies the locations, dates, and times of public meetings; and
identifies the Service official to whom comments may be directed.
DATES: Written comments regarding the DEIS should be submitted by
February 28, 2002, to the address below. Dates and times for ten public
meetings are listed in the table under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the DEIS should be mailed to Chief,
Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Room 634, Arlington, VA 22203. Written comments on
the DEIS can be sent by the following two methods:
(1) By mail to the above address; or
(2) By email to: cormorant_eis@fws.gov.
Please include your name and mailing address in all comments
submitted; anonymous comments will not be considered. The public
meetings will be held at the locations listed in the table under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Andrew, Division of Migratory Bird
Management, (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 8, 1999, we published a notice
of intent in the Federal Register (64 FR 60826) to prepare an EIS and
national management plan for double-crested cormorants in the
contiguous United States. This notice began the public scoping period,
during which we received over 1,400 written comments and held scoping
meetings attended by over 700 individuals. On December 3, 2001, we
notified the public of the availability of the DEIS in the Federal
Register (66 FR 60218). In this notice, we indicated that the comment
period would end on January 15, 2002. However, due to the timing of
public meetings and requests from the public, we are extending the
comment period to February 28, 2002. In preparation of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement, we will consider all public comments
received on or before this date.
All comments received, including names and addresses, will become
part of the public record. The public may inspect comments during
normal business hours in Room 634, Arlington Square Building, 4401 N.
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia. Such requests will be handled in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Council on
Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act regulations
(40 CFR 1506.6(f)). Individual respondents may request that we withhold
their name and/or home address from the record, which we will honor to
the extent allowable by law. If a respondent wishes us to withhold his/
her name and/or address, this must be stated prominently at the
beginning of the document.
Alternatives
The DEIS describes and evaluates six alternatives for the purposes
of reducing conflicts associated with cormorants, enhancing the
flexibility of natural resource agencies to deal with cormorant
conflicts, and ensuring the health and viability of cormorant
populations. Alternatives, including the proposed action, were analyzed
with regard to their potential impacts on cormorant populations, fish,
other birds, vegetation, federally listed threatened and endangered
species, water quality and human health, economic impacts (including
aquaculture and sport fishing-related economies), fish hatcheries and
environmental justice, property losses, and existence and aesthetic
values. We analyzed the anticipated environmental effects of the
following management alternatives: (1) Continue current cormorant
management practices (No Action); (2) implement only non-lethal
management techniques; (3) expand current cormorant damage management
practices; (4) establish a new Depredation Order to address public
resource conflicts (PROPOSED ACTION); (5) reduce regional cormorant
populations; and (6) establish frameworks for a cormorant hunting
season.
The proposed action would establish a Public Resource Depredation
Order that allows State, Federal, and Tribal land management agencies
to manage cormorants that are injurious to public resources such as
fisheries, vegetation, and other wildlife species. Thus, control
actions could take place without a federal permit on the agency's lands
and waters or nearby private lands and waters (with appropriate
landowner permission). Agencies that conduct control activities under
the Public Resource Depredation Order would be subject to reporting and
monitoring requirements, overseen by the Service. Additionally, under
the proposed action, the current Aquaculture Depredation Order would be
expanded to allow control of cormorants by wildlife damage
professionals at winter roost sites; and Director's Order 27,
restricting the use of depredation permits at public fish cultural
facilities, would be revoked.
Public Meetings
Ten public meetings will be held at the locations and times listed
below:
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Date City Location Time
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January 7, 2002......................... Green Bay, Wisconsin...... Ramada Plaza Hotel, 2750 Ramada 7:00 PM
Way.
January 8, 2002......................... Mackinaw City, Michigan... Hamilton Inn Select, 701 S. 7:00 PM
Huron Avenue.
January 16, 2002........................ Washington, DC............ Main Interior Building 10:00 AM
Auditorium, 1849 C Street, NW.
January 28, 2002........................ Jackson, Mississippi...... Ramada Inn Southwest, 1525 7:00 PM
Ellis Avenue.
January 29, 2002........................ Little Rock, Arkansas..... University of Arkansas, 7:00 PM
Division of Agriculture,
Cooperative Extension Service,
2301 S. University Avenue.
[[Page 65511]]
February 4, 2002........................ Athens, Texas............. Texas Freshwater Fisheries 7:00 PM
Center, 5550 Flat Creek Road
(Farm Road 2495).
February 11, 2001....................... South Burlington, Vermont. Clarion Hotel, 1117 Williston 7:00 PM
Road.
February 12, 2002....................... Watertown, New York....... Dulles State Office Building, 7:00 PM
317 Washington Street.
February 13, 2002....................... Syracuse, New York........ Sheraton University Hotel, 801 7:00 PM
University Avenue.
February 19, 2002....................... Portland, Oregon.......... Doubletree Hotel-Lloyd Center, 7:00 PM
1000 NE Multnomah.
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Dated: December 13, 2001.
Marshall Jones,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-31272 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
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