80 FR 81856 - Notice of Availability of the Final White-Tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 251 (December 31, 2015)

Page Range		81856-81857
FR Document		2015-32970

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Final Plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The Final Plan/EIS identifies Alternative D as the NPS preferred alternative. When approved, the management plan will guide management of white-tailed deer at Fire Island National Seashore through the use of integrated tools and strategies to control the deer population and support preservation of the natural and cultural landscape, protection and restoration of native vegetation and other natural and cultural resources.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81856-81857]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32970]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NER-FIIS-18941; PXXNR5E2150001]


Notice of Availability of the Final White-Tailed Deer Management 
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, 
New York

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Impact 
Statement (Final Plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. 
The Final Plan/EIS identifies Alternative D as the NPS preferred 
alternative. When approved, the management plan will guide management 
of white-tailed deer at Fire Island National Seashore through the use 
of integrated tools and strategies to control the deer population and 
support preservation of the natural and cultural landscape, protection 
and restoration of native vegetation and other natural and cultural 
resources.

DATES: The NPS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
a Notice of Availability of the Final Plan/EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The Final Plan/EIS is available electronically at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis. A limited number of printed copies will 
be available upon request by contacting the Superintendent's office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morgan Elmer, NPS Denver Service 
Center, 303-969-2317, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island National Seashore (the 
Seashore), a unit of the National Park System, is located along the 
south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. The Seashore 
encompasses 19,579 acres of upland, tidal, and submerged lands along a 
26-mile stretch of the 32-mile barrier island--part of a much larger 
system of barrier islands and bluffs stretching from New York City to 
the very eastern end of Long Island at

[[Page 81857]]

Montauk Point. The Seashore sustains a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus 
virginianus) population that has expanded since the late 1960s to the 
extent that impacts from high densities of deer have been, and continue 
to be, a complex issue for National Park Service (NPS) managers. As a 
result, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), the Seashore prepared a Draft White-tailed Deer Management Plan 
and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Plan/EIS) to develop a deer 
management strategy that supports preservation of the natural and 
cultural landscape through population management and the protection of 
native vegetation. The Draft Plan/EIS was prepared in cooperation with 
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS-DEC) 
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Services (APHIS).
    The NPS released the Draft Plan/EIS for public and agency review 
and comment beginning July 31, 2014 and ending October 10, 2014. The 
Draft Plan/EIS evaluated a no action alternative (A) and three action 
alternatives (B, C, and D). Each action alternative presented a 
different strategy to protect native plant communities and cultural 
plantings, promote forest regeneration, further reduce undesirable 
human-deer interactions, and reduce the deer population in the 
Seashore.
    Alternative A would continue existing deer management and 
monitoring efforts throughout the Seashore. These actions include 
continued public education/interpretation efforts, vegetation 
monitoring, and deer population and behavior surveys.
    Alternative B provides a nonlethal deer reduction option to 
implement nonsurgical reproductive control of does when an acceptable 
reproductive control agent is available that meets NPS established 
criteria. Large fence exclosures would also protect forested areas and 
vegetation to allow restoration of the maritime holly forest, other 
natural vegetation and the culturally important vegetation at the 
William Floyd Estate.
    Alternative C provides a lethal deer reduction option through the 
use of sharpshooting with firearms, and possible capture and euthanasia 
to reduce deer populations to the target density and maintain that 
level.
    Alternative D, identified as the NPS preferred alternative, 
provides a combined lethal and nonlethal deer reduction option through 
the use of sharpshooting with firearms, and possible capture and 
euthanasia to reduce deer populations to a desirable level. Once the 
target density has been reached, use of nonsurgical reproductive 
control of does may be used to maintain that level when an acceptable 
reproductive control agent is available that meets NPS established 
criteria.
    Comments were accepted on the Draft Plan/EIS during the 60-day 
public comment period. After reviewing and considering all comments 
received, the NPS has prepared this Final White-tailed Deer Management 
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Final Plan/EIS). The Final 
Plan/EIS identifies Alternative D as the NPS preferred alternative with 
no changes from the Draft Plan/EIS and presents the likely 
environmental consequences of implementing the preferred alternative, 
as well as the other alternatives considered. The Final Plan/EIS also 
discusses the comments received on the Draft Plan/EIS and responds to 
substantive comments.

    Dated: August 5, 2015.
Michael A. Caldwell,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32970 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-WV-P

81856 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Notices

the AFH with respect to another certify for information applicable only Dated: December 22, 2015.
program participant. to other collaborating program Gustavo Velasquez,
Through these regulatory provisions, participants’ analyses, if any.’’ HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and
HUD sets out the standard for review of believes this additional instruction will Equal Opportunity.
AFHs. HUD is further committed to provide greater clarity and further [FR Doc. 2015–32680 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
providing technical assistance and encourage joint and regional AFH BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
examples that will help guide program submissions.
participants as to what it means to have
an AFH that is substantially incomplete As the AFFH final rule itself makes
clear, joint and regional submitting DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
or one that is inconsistent with fair
housing or civil rights laws. HUD can, agencies are both responsible for the National Park Service
and will, provide a checklist to help joint portions of the Assessment,
including joint goals, and for their own [NPS–NER–FIIS–18941; PXXNR5E2150001]
program participants ensure they have
responded to all required elements of individual portions of the assessment,
Notice of Availability of the Final
the Assessment Tool. including their agencies individual White-Tailed Deer Management Plan
Issue: The certification statement for goals and priorities. They are therefore and Environmental Impact Statement,
the Assessment Tool is too broad. A not responsible for other agencies’ Fire Island National Seashore, New
commenter stated that it is unreasonable individual goals and priorities. As York
to require broad certification of AFFH stated in § 5.156 (a)(3) of the AFFH final
compliance without providing program rule: AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
participants with the standards HUD ACTION: Notice of availability.
Collaborating program participants must
will use to assess that compliance.
designate, through express written consent, SUMMARY: The National Park Service
Another commenter suggested that HUD
one participant as the lead entity to oversee (NPS) announces the availability of the
revise the certification language to read,
the submission of the joint or regional AFH Final White-tailed Deer Management
‘‘All information provided by the
on behalf of all collaborating program Plan and Environmental Impact
signatory entity in this assessment is participants. When collaborating to submit a
true, complete, and accurate to the best Statement (Final Plan/EIS) for Fire
joint or regional AFH, program participants Island National Seashore, New York.
of my knowledge and belief as of the may divide work as they choose, but all
date of this submission.’’ The The Final Plan/EIS identifies
program participants are accountable for the Alternative D as the NPS preferred
commenter stated that this will better analysis and any joint goals and priorities,
facilitate submissions for program alternative. When approved, the
and each collaborating program participant management plan will guide
participants that will submit a single must sign the AFH submitted to HUD.
AFH on behalf of multiple agencies. management of white-tailed deer at Fire
Collaborating program participants are also Island National Seashore through the
HUD Response: Several changes were accountable for their individual analysis,
made to both the certification language use of integrated tools and strategies to
goals, and priorities to be included in the
itself to align it with the certification control the deer population and support
collaborative AFH.
provisions in the AFFH final rule and preservation of the natural and cultural
clarifying language was also added to HUD encourages program participants landscape, protection and restoration of
the instructions accompanying the to enter into joint and regional native vegetation and other natural and
Assessment Tool that pertain to the collaborations. Doing so can have cultural resources.
certification. First, a new item was benefits for both the analysis of issues, DATES: The NPS will prepare a Record
added to the certification, reflecting the which often cross-jurisdictional of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30
AFFH final rule: boundaries and for setting goals. HUD days following publication by the
By this signature, I am authorized to certify will work with all joint and regional Environmental Protection Agency of a
on behalf of the program participant that the participating entities to facilitate their Notice of Availability of the Final Plan/
program participant will take meaningful cooperation and further clarify the roles EIS in the Federal Register.
actions to further the goals identified in its and responsibilities of these agencies ADDRESSES: The Final Plan/EIS is
AFH conducted in accordance with the available electronically at http://
requirements in §§ 5.150 through 5.180 and
through additional technical assistance
and guidance documents. www.parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis. A
24 CFR 91.225(a)(1), 91.325(a)(1),
91.425(a)(1), 570.487(b)(1), 570.601, 903.7(o),
limited number of printed copies will be
III. Summary available upon request by contacting the
and 903.15(d), as applicable.
Second, an instruction was added for Superintendent’s office.
In issuing this Final Assessment Tool,
the certification that states: ‘‘Please FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
HUD has strived to reach the
note, for a joint or regional AFH, each Morgan Elmer, NPS Denver Service
appropriate balance in having program
collaborating program participant must Center, 303–969–2317, Morgan_Elmer@
participants produce a meaningful nps.gov.
authorize a representative to sign the assessment of fair housing that carefully
certification on the program considers barriers to fair housing choice SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fire Island
participant’s behalf. In a joint or and accessing opportunity and how National Seashore (the Seashore), a unit
regional AFH, when responding to each such barriers can be overcome in of the National Park System, is located
question, collaborating program along the south shore of Long Island in
respective jurisdictions and regions
participants may provide joint analyses Suffolk County, New York. The
without being unduly burdensome.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

and individual analyses. The authorized Seashore encompasses 19,579 acres of
HUD has further committed to
representative of each program upland, tidal, and submerged lands
participant certifies only to information addressing program participant burden along a 26-mile stretch of the 32-mile
the program participant provides by providing data, guidance, and barrier island—part of a much larger
individually or jointly in response to technical assistance, and such system of barrier islands and bluffs
each question in the assessment. The assistance will occur throughout the stretching from New York City to the
authorized representative does not AFH process. very eastern end of Long Island at

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Notices 81857

Montauk Point. The Seashore sustains a reduce deer populations to a desirable Dated: December 28, 2015.
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus level. Once the target density has been Rebecca A. Womeldorf,
virginianus) population that has reached, use of nonsurgical Rules Committee Secretary.
expanded since the late 1960s to the reproductive control of does may be [FR Doc. 2015–32923 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
extent that impacts from high densities used to maintain that level when an BILLING CODE 2210–55–P
of deer have been, and continue to be, acceptable reproductive control agent is
a complex issue for National Park available that meets NPS established
Service (NPS) managers. As a result, criteria. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
pursuant to the National Environmental Comments were accepted on the Draft
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Seashore Plan/EIS during the 60-day public Notice of Lodging of Proposed
prepared a Draft White-tailed Deer comment period. After reviewing and Consent Decrees Under the Clean
Management Plan and Environmental considering all comments received, the Water Act
Impact Statement (Draft Plan/EIS) to NPS has prepared this Final White-
develop a deer management strategy tailed Deer Management Plan and On December 23, 2015, the
that supports preservation of the natural Department of Justice lodged two
Environmental Impact Statement (Final
and cultural landscape through proposed consent decrees with the
Plan/EIS). The Final Plan/EIS identifies
population management and the United States District Court for the
Alternative D as the NPS preferred
protection of native vegetation. The District of Puerto Rico in the lawsuit
alternative with no changes from the
Draft Plan/EIS was prepared in entitled United States v. The
Draft Plan/EIS and presents the likely
cooperation with the New York State Municipality of San Juan, the Puerto
environmental consequences of
Department of Environmental Rico Department of Natural and
implementing the preferred alternative,
Conservation (NYS–DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Resources, the Puerto
as well as the other alternatives
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rico Department of Transportation and
considered. The Final Plan/EIS also
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Public Works, the Puerto Rico Highway
discusses the comments received on the and Transportation Authority, and the
Services (APHIS). Draft Plan/EIS and responds to
The NPS released the Draft Plan/EIS Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Civil
substantive comments. Action No. 3:14–cv–1476–CCC.
for public and agency review and
comment beginning July 31, 2014 and Dated: August 5, 2015. One proposed consent decree resolves
ending October 10, 2014. The Draft Michael A. Caldwell, the United States’ claims against the
Plan/EIS evaluated a no action Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Puerto Rico Department of Natural and
alternative (A) and three action Park Service. Environmental Resources (‘‘DNER’’)
alternatives (B, C, and D). Each action [FR Doc. 2015–32970 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am] under the Clean Water Act (‘‘CWA’’), 33
alternative presented a different strategy BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P
U.S.C. 1251–1387, concerning CWA
to protect native plant communities and violations at three of its storm water
cultural plantings, promote forest pump stations located within San Juan.
regeneration, further reduce undesirable The proposed consent decree requires
human-deer interactions, and reduce the JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OF THE DNER to apply for a permit and
deer population in the Seashore. UNITED STATES implement a Storm Water Management
Alternative A would continue existing Program, to undertake certain capital
deer management and monitoring efforts Hearings of the Judicial Conference and operation improvements to its
throughout the Seashore. These actions Advisory Committee on the Federal pump stations, and to provide financial
include continued public education/ Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure support for investigations and work
interpretation efforts, vegetation performed in the pump station service
AGENCY: Advisory Committee on the areas. The proposed consent decree
monitoring, and deer population and
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, resolves only the violations alleged
behavior surveys.
Alternative B provides a nonlethal Judicial Conference of the United States. against DNER in the Complaint through
deer reduction option to implement ACTION: Notice of cancellation of public the date of lodging of the consent decree
nonsurgical reproductive control of does hearing. and does not resolve claims against the
when an acceptable reproductive other Defendants. Due to financial
control agent is available that meets SUMMARY: The following public hearing challenges currently facing the
NPS established criteria. Large fence on proposed amendments to the Federal Commonwealth, no civil penalties for
exclosures would also protect forested Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure has been past violations will be recovered under
areas and vegetation to allow restoration canceled: Bankruptcy Rules Hearing on this consent decree.
of the maritime holly forest, other January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The second proposed consent decree
natural vegetation and the culturally Announcements for this meeting were resolves the United States’ claims
important vegetation at the William previously published in 80 FR 48120, 80 against the Puerto Rico Department of
Floyd Estate. FR 50324 and 80 FR 51604. The public Transportation and Public Works
Alternative C provides a lethal deer hearing on proposed amendments to the (‘‘DTPW’’) and the Puerto Rico
reduction option through the use of Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Highways and Transportation Authority
sharpshooting with firearms, and scheduled for January 29, 2016, in (‘‘HTA’’) under the CWA, concerning
possible capture and euthanasia to Pasadena, California, remains CWA violations throughout their storm
reduce deer populations to the target scheduled, subject to sufficient sewer systems located within San Juan.
expressions of interest.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

density and maintain that level. The proposed consent decree provides
Alternative D, identified as the NPS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: for injunctive relief to be implemented
preferred alternative, provides a Rebecca A. Womeldorf, Rules in a two-stage, multi-phased approach
combined lethal and nonlethal deer Committee Secretary, Rules Committee including the study and repair of their
reduction option through the use of Support Office, Administrative Office of MS4s, in addition to other infrastructure
sharpshooting with firearms, and the United States Courts, Washington, and operational improvements. The
possible capture and euthanasia to DC 20544, telephone (202) 502–1820. proposed consent decree resolves only

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Document Created: 2015-12-31 02:15:14
Document Modified: 2015-12-31 02:15:14

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		The NPS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of a Notice of Availability of the Final Plan/EIS in the Federal Register.
Contact		Morgan Elmer, NPS Denver Service Center, 303-969-2317, [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 81856

80 FR 81856 - Notice of Availability of the Final White-Tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNational Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 251 (December 31, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service