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White-tailed Deer Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA

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

PDF Version (2 pp, 51K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: July 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 142)]
[Notices]
[Page 37050-37051]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy09-66]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

White-tailed Deer Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the White-tailed Deer Management Plan, Valley Forge
National Historical Park.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of
the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the White-tailed
Deer Management Plan for Valley Forge National Historical Park,
Pennsylvania. The purpose of the FEIS is to evaluate a range of
alternatives for establishing a white-tailed deer management plan that
supports forest regeneration and provides for long-term protection,
preservation, and restoration of native vegetation and other natural
and cultural resources. The FEIS evaluates four alternatives for
managing white-tailed deer in the park. Alternatives for response to
chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been integrated into each deer
management alternative to address the elevated risk of disease in
proximity to the park and because of the efficiencies and cost savings
associated with incorporating CWD response into the deer management
plan. The FEIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of
three action alternatives and the no-action alternative. The FEIS
responds to, and incorporates, agency and public comments received on
the Draft White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement, which was available for public review from December 19, 2008
through February 17, 2009. Agency and public comments with NPS
responses are provided as Appendix F of the FEIS. When approved, the
plan will guide deer management actions over the next 15 years.

DATES: No sooner than 30 days following publication of the
Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability of the FEIS in
the Federal Register, the Northeast Regional Director will sign a
Record of Decision that will document NPS approval of the FEIS and
identify the alternative selected for implementation.

ADDRESSES: The White-tailed Deer Management Plan/FEIS will be available
online through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC)
Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/vafo. A limited number of hard
copies will be available at the Valley Forge National Historical Park
Visitor Center located at the intersection of North Gulph Road and
Route 23 and at the Lower Providence Community Library (50 Parklane
Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403-1171), Tredyffrin Public Library (582 Upper
Gulph Road, Strafford-Wayne, PA 19087-2052), Phoenixville Public
Library (183 Second Avenue, Phoenixville, PA 19460), Upper Merion
Township Library (175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA
19406) and Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library (1001 Powell
Street, Norristown, PA 19401). You may request a hardcopy or CD by
contacting Kristina M. Heister, Valley Forge National Historical Park,
at the phone or address provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristina M. Heister, Natural Resource
Manager, Valley Forge National Historical Park, 1400 North Outer Line
Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, (610) 783-0252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Development of the Environmental Impact
Statement for the White-tailed Deer Management Plan for Valley Forge
National Historical Park was initiated in 2006, pursuant to the 2006
House Appropriations Report (HR 109-465): ``The public has been patient
as the NPS has worked through its process in regard to management of
the over-abundance of white-tailed deer at the park. Within existing
funds, NPS is directed to begin the environmental impact statement for
deer management. The Committee expects that the plan will be funded
fully so that it can be completed in fiscal year 2008. The Committee
further expects that implementation of the selected action will begin
immediately upon signing of the Record of Decision.''
    A Notice of Intent to prepare a deer management plan and
environmental impact statement was published in the Federal Register on
September 7, 2006. Extensive agency and public scoping was conducted
and the Draft White-Tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) was released on December 19, 2008 for a 60-day public
review period that ended on February 17, 2009. Two public meetings were
held in January, 2009. During the comment period, 1,168 pieces of
correspondence were received, from which 3,884 comments were derived.
Agency and public comments received on the DEIS were carefully reviewed
and incorporated into the FEIS.
    The FEIS evaluates four alternatives for managing white-tailed deer
in the park. The document describes and analyzes the environmental
impacts of three action alternatives and the no-action alternative.
    Alternatives: Alternative A (no action) would continue the existing
deer management activities of monitoring deer population size and
vegetation, small scale fencing of selected vegetation, removal of deer
killed on roadways, public education, coordination with the
Pennsylvania Game Commission, and continuation of limited CWD
surveillance; no new deer management actions would be implemented.
    Alternative B would combine several non-lethal actions, including
large-scale rotational fencing of 10% to 15% of the park's forested
area and reproductive control of does to gradually reduce deer
population in the park. Chronic wasting disease surveillance would
include live testing (via tonsillar biopsy) and removal of CWD-positive
individuals.
    Under Alternative C, qualified federal employees or contractors
would directly reduce the deer population in the park through
sharpshooting and through capture and euthanasia, where appropriate.
CWD response would include rapid reduction of the deer population to
the target deer density and the potential for a one-time

[[Page 37051]]

reduction action to not less than 10 deer per square mile through
sharpshooting and through capture and euthanasia. These actions would
be taken for the purposes of assessing disease presence, prevalence,
and distribution. These actions may also minimize the likelihood of CWD
becoming established, minimize the likelihood of amplification and spread
if the disease is introduced, and promote elimination of CWD, if possible.
    Alternative D, the NPS Preferred Alternative, would combine actions
of Alternative C to directly reduce the deer population with
reproductive control of does as under Alternative B to maintain
population levels. CWD response actions would be the same as described
for Alternative C.
    Changes to the FEIS as a result of public comment on the DEIS
consist of factual updates to baseline data and clarifications added to
the text. No changes were made to the preferred alternative or other
alternatives evaluated nor was the outcome of the impact analysis
changed. Agency and public comments received on the DEIS with NPS
responses are provided as Appendix F of the FEIS.

Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-17807 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DJ-P

 
 

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