80 FR 35973 - Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision for the White-Tailed Deer Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 120 (June 23, 2015)

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the White-Tailed Deer Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (plan/EIS), Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Park), Ohio.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 35973]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15477]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-MWR-CUVA-17695; PPMWMWROW2/PMP00UP05.YP0000]


Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision for the White-
Tailed Deer Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Cuyahoga 
Valley National Park, Ohio

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Record of Decision (ROD) for the White-Tailed Deer Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (plan/EIS), Cuyahoga Valley National 
Park (Park), Ohio.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available by request by writing to the 
Chief of the Resource Management Division, Lisa Petit, Cuyahoga Valley 
National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141, telephone 
(440) 546-5970. The document is also available on the internet at the 
NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment Web site at: http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief of the Resource Management 
Division, Lisa Petit at the address or telephone number above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have issued a ROD for the final plan/EIS; 
on February 13, 2015, the Acting Regional Director for the Midwest 
Region approved the ROD. The plan/EIS analyzed four alternatives, 
including a no-action alternative. The full range of foreseeable 
environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigating 
measures were identified.
    The NPS decision is to implement alternative D (hereinafter 
referred to as the ``selected action''), which was identified as the 
NPS preferred alternative in the final plan/EIS. The selected action 
will utilize an adaptive management strategy. Under the selected 
action, the NPS will continue current park deer management actions 
including: Research, monitoring, and data management; protection of 
restoration plantings; education and coordination; and enforcement of 
the existing wildlife feeding ban. In addition, the NPS will 
incorporate a combination of lethal and nonlethal actions to address 
high deer density. Lethal actions (including sharpshooting, with very 
limited capture/euthanasia if necessary) will be taken initially to 
reduce deer densities quickly. It is anticipated that in years one 
through four, 335 deer will be removed by sharpshooting (in addition to 
small numbers of deer removed by capture and euthanasia) to meet the 
deer density goal. Population maintenance will follow the initial 
reduction, and could be conducted by nonsurgical reproductive control 
methods, if an acceptable agent is available, or by sharpshooting. Both 
maintenance methods are included in the selected action to maintain 
maximum flexibility for future management. All actions will be carried 
out by NPS personnel or authorized agents.
    The Record of Decision includes a summary of the purpose and need 
for action, identifies the selected action and all alternatives 
considered by the NPS, a listing of measures to minimize environmental 
harm, details about the monitoring program that will inform 
implementation of the selected action, the basis for the decision, and 
a description of the environmentally preferable alternative.

    Dated: February 13, 2015.
Patricia S. Trap,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.

    Editor's Note: This document was received for publication by the 
Office of Federal Register on June 18, 2015.

[FR Doc. 2015-15477 Filed 6-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MA-P