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Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Cape Cod National Seashore, MA

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.



[Federal Register: August 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 44176-44177]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au07-85]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Final Environmental
Impact Statement, Cape Cod National Seashore, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Cape Cod National Seashore
[[Page 44177]]
Hunting Program, Cape Cod National Seashore.

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SUMMARY: 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 A--No 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 B--Develop 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 C--Eliminate 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.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication in the Federal
Register by EPA of availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement. Availability of the ROD will be noticed in the Federal
Register by the NPS and implementation of the selected alternative will
subsequently move forward.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS may be viewed online at http://www.nps.gov/
caco/parkmgmt/planning.htm through the ``Planning'' link under
``Management''. The FEIS will be available in hard copy at outer cape
libraries, the Salt Pond and Province Lands Visitors Centers, and Cape
Cod National Seashore's Marconi headquarters building for onsite review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Cape Cod National
Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts 02667.
Telephone: (508) 349-3785, Fax: (508) 349-9052.

    Dated: July 18, 2007.
John A. Latschar,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15295 Filed 8-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-WV-P

 
 

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