81 FR 36324 - Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National Park
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 108 (June 6, 2016)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 108 (June 6, 2016)
| Page Range | 36324-36325 | |
| FR Document | 2016-13184 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 36324-36325] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-13184] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-MWR-ISRO-20587; PPMWMWROW3/PPMPSPD1Y.YM0000] Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National Park AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Amended Notice of Intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is amending its July 10, 2015, Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and Management Plan for Moose, Wolves, and Vegetation for Isle Royale National Park, Michigan (Isle Royale). The NPS is revising the scope of the EIS to focus on the question of whether to bring wolves to Isle Royale in the near term, and if so, how to do so. This amended NOI describes a range of alternatives for bringing wolves to the Island. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; 43 CFR part 46. DATES: The public scoping comment period will conclude 30 days following the date this NOI is published in the Federal Register. All comments must be postmarked or transmitted by this date. ADDRESSES: Information, including a copy of the new public scoping brochure, is available for public review online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISROwolves. Limited copies of the brochure will also be available at Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan and by request. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896, or by telephone at (906) 482-0984. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although wolves have not always been part of the Isle Royale ecosystem, they have been present for more than 65 years, and have played a key role in the ecosystem, affecting the moose population and other species during that time. The average wolf population on the island over the past 65 years has been about 22, but there have been as many as 50 wolves on the Island and as few as three. Over the past five years the population has declined steeply, which has given rise to the need to determine whether the NPS should bring additional wolves to the island. There were three wolves documented on the Island as of March 2015 and only two wolves have been confirmed as of February 2016. At this time, natural recovery of the population is unlikely. The potential absence of wolves raises concerns about possible effects to Isle Royale's current ecosystem, including effects to both the moose population and Isle Royale's forest/vegetation communities. The NPS published a NOI to prepare an EIS and Management Plan for Moose, Wolves, and Vegetation for Isle Royale National Park on July 10, 2015, (80 FR 39796), and held scoping meetings July 27-30, 2015. However, based on the public comments we received and additional internal deliberations, the NPS has determined that it will revise and narrow the scope of this EIS to focus on the question of whether to bring wolves to Isle Royale in the near term, and if so, how to do so. The revised purpose of the plan is to determine whether and how to bring wolves to Isle Royale to function as the apex predator in the near term within a changing and dynamic island ecosystem. The NPS will evaluate alternative approaches for bringing wolves to Isle Royale, as well as the alternative of not bringing wolves to Isle Royale (the no- action alternative), which remains a viable option. Following this evaluation and additional input from you on the EIS, an alternative will be selected for implementation and documented in a record of decision. Based on the revised purpose statement, the NPS is now considering the following alternatives. Under Alternative A, the no-action alternative, the NPS would not intervene and would continue current management. Wolves may come and go through natural migration, although the current population of wolves may die out. Under Alternative B, the NPS would bring wolves to Isle Royale as a one-time event within a defined period of time (e.g., over a 36 month period) to increase the longevity of the wolf population on the island. This action would occur as soon as possible following a signed record of decision. Under Alternative C, the NPS would bring wolves to Isle Royale as often as needed in order to maintain a [[Page 36325]] population of wolves on the island for at least the next 20 years, which is the anticipated life of the plan. The wolf population range and number of breeding pairs to be maintained on the island would be determined based on best available science and professional judgement. This action would occur as soon as possible following a signed record of decision. Under Alternative D, the NPS would not take immediate action and would continue current management, allowing natural processes to continue. One or more resource indicators and thresholds would be developed to evaluate the condition of key resources, which could include moose or vegetation-based parameters. If a threshold is met, wolves would be brought to Isle Royale as a one-time event (per alternative B) or through multiple introductions (per alternative C). The NPS will not select an alternative for implementation until after a final EIS is completed. Given the revised scope of the EIS, actions to manage moose, such as culling or translocation of moose, as well as actions to manage vegetation, such as fire, direct restoration, or other tools, will not be considered in this EIS. After a decision is made regarding whether and how to bring wolves to Isle Royale, the NPS will monitor conditions on the island, and will initiate additional planning processes to address other aspects of the island ecosystem, such as the moose population and forest community, if such planning processes are deemed necessary. All comments received during the scoping period that was announced in the July 2015 NOI are available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISROwolves and will be considered. If you would like to provide additional comments regarding the revised scope of the plan, you may do so through the following methods. The preferred method for submitting comments is on the NPS PEPC Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISROwolves. You may also mail or hand-deliver your comments to Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896. The NPS will consider all additional comments received or postmarked no later than 30-days from the date this NOI is published in the Federal Register. Comments submitted after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Cameron H. Sholly, Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 2016-13184 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MA-P
![36324 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices
vary from 2.5 burden hours to 12.0 Estimated Total Annual Burden other species during that time. The
burden hours for one item. Hours on Respondents: 4,088. average wolf population on the island
Frequency of Response: Varies. Estimated Total Non-hour Cost over the past 65 years has been about
Estimated Total Annual Burden Burden: $172,450. 22, but there have been as many as 50
Hours on Respondents: 26.5. Dated: May 24, 2016. wolves on the Island and as few as
Estimated Total Non-hour Cost three. Over the past five years the
Shannon O’Loughlin,
Burden: $14,846,686. population has declined steeply, which
Chief of Staff.
Title: Issuance of Certificates of Self- has given rise to the need to determine
[FR Doc. 2016–13276 Filed 6–3–16; 8:45 am] whether the NPS should bring
Regulation to Tribes for Class II Gaming.
OMB Control Number: 3141–0008. BILLING CODE 7565–01–P additional wolves to the island. There
Brief Description of Collection: The were three wolves documented on the
Act allows any Indian tribe that has Island as of March 2015 and only two
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR wolves have been confirmed as of
conducted Class II gaming for at least
three years to petition the Commission February 2016. At this time, natural
National Park Service
for a certificate of self-regulation for its recovery of the population is unlikely.
Class II gaming operation(s). The [NPS–MWR–ISRO–20587; PPMWMWROW3/ The potential absence of wolves raises
PPMPSPD1Y.YM0000] concerns about possible effects to Isle
Commission will issue the certificate if
it determines that the tribe has Royale’s current ecosystem, including
Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare effects to both the moose population
conducted its gaming activities in a an Environmental Impact Statement To
manner that has: resulted in an effective and Isle Royale’s forest/vegetation
Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle communities.
and honest accounting of all revenues; Royale National Park
a reputation for safe, fair, and honest The NPS published a NOI to prepare
operation of the gaming activities; and AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. an EIS and Management Plan for Moose,
an enterprise free of evidence of Wolves, and Vegetation for Isle Royale
ACTION: Amended Notice of Intent. National Park on July 10, 2015, (80 FR
criminal or dishonest activity. The tribe
must also have adopted and SUMMARY: The National Park Service 39796), and held scoping meetings July
implemented proper accounting, (NPS) is amending its July 10, 2015, 27–30, 2015. However, based on the
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an public comments we received and
licensing, and enforcement systems, and
environmental impact statement (EIS) additional internal deliberations, the
conducted the gaming operation on a
and Management Plan for Moose, NPS has determined that it will revise
fiscally or economically sound basis.
Wolves, and Vegetation for Isle Royale and narrow the scope of this EIS to
Commission regulations require a tribe
National Park, Michigan (Isle Royale). focus on the question of whether to
interested in receiving a certificate to
The NPS is revising the scope of the EIS bring wolves to Isle Royale in the near
file with the Commission a petition
to focus on the question of whether to term, and if so, how to do so.
generally describing the tribe’s gaming The revised purpose of the plan is to
operations, its regulatory process, its bring wolves to Isle Royale in the near
determine whether and how to bring
uses of net gaming revenue, and its term, and if so, how to do so. This
wolves to Isle Royale to function as the
accounting and recordkeeping systems. amended NOI describes a range of
apex predator in the near term within a
The tribe must also provide copies of alternatives for bringing wolves to the
changing and dynamic island
various documents in support of the Island.
ecosystem. The NPS will evaluate
petition. Tribes who have been issued a Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347; 40 CFR alternative approaches for bringing
certificate of self-regulation are required parts 1500–1508; 43 CFR part 46. wolves to Isle Royale, as well as the
to submit to the Commission certain alternative of not bringing wolves to Isle
DATES: The public scoping comment
information on an annual basis, Royale (the no-action alternative),
period will conclude 30 days following
including information that establishes which remains a viable option.
the date this NOI is published in the
that the tribe continuously meets the Following this evaluation and
Federal Register. All comments must be
regulatory eligibility and approval additional input from you on the EIS, an
postmarked or transmitted by this date.
requirements and supporting alternative will be selected for
documentation that explains how tribal ADDRESSES: Information, including a
copy of the new public scoping implementation and documented in a
gaming revenues were used in record of decision. Based on the revised
accordance with the requirements in 25 brochure, is available for public review
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ purpose statement, the NPS is now
U.S.C. 2710(b)(2)(B). Submission of the considering the following alternatives.
petition and supporting documentation ISROwolves. Limited copies of the
Under Alternative A, the no-action
is voluntary. The Commission will use brochure will also be available at Isle
alternative, the NPS would not
the information submitted by the tribe Royale National Park, 800 East intervene and would continue current
in determining whether to issue the Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan management. Wolves may come and go
certificate of self-regulation. Once a and by request. through natural migration, although the
certificate of self-regulation has been FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: current population of wolves may die
issued, the submission of certain other Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle out. Under Alternative B, the NPS
information is mandatory. Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 would bring wolves to Isle Royale as a
Respondents: Tribal governments. East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, one-time event within a defined period
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8. Michigan 49931–1896, or by telephone of time (e.g., over a 36 month period) to
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Estimated Annual Responses: 8. at (906) 482–0984. increase the longevity of the wolf
Estimated Time per Response: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although population on the island. This action
Depending on the information wolves have not always been part of the would occur as soon as possible
collection, the range of time can vary Isle Royale ecosystem, they have been following a signed record of decision.
from 0.75 burden hour to 1,940 burden present for more than 65 years, and have Under Alternative C, the NPS would
hours for one item. played a key role in the ecosystem, bring wolves to Isle Royale as often as
Frequency of Responses: Varies. affecting the moose population and needed in order to maintain a
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices 36325
population of wolves on the island for submitted on behalf of others will not be 2. Email comments to Mr. Luis
at least the next 20 years, which is the accepted. Before including your Aguilar, Regulatory Specialist, at
anticipated life of the plan. The wolf address, phone number, email address, luis.aguilar@onrr.gov.
population range and number of or other personal identifying 3. Hand-carry or mail comments,
breeding pairs to be maintained on the information in your comment, you using an overnight courier service, to
island would be determined based on should be aware that your entire ONRR. Our courier address is Building
best available science and professional comment—including your personal 85, Room A–614, Denver Federal
judgement. This action would occur as identifying information—may be made Center, West 6th Ave. and Kipling St.,
soon as possible following a signed publicly available at any time. While Denver, Colorado 80225.
record of decision. Under Alternative D, you can ask us in your comment to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
the NPS would not take immediate withhold your personal identifying any questions, contact Mr. Luis Aguilar,
action and would continue current information from public review, we telephone (303) 231–3418, or email at
management, allowing natural processes cannot guarantee that we will be able to luis.aguilar@onrr.gov. You may also
to continue. One or more resource do so. contact Mr. Aguilar to obtain copies, at
indicators and thresholds would be no cost, of (1) the ICR, (2) any associated
developed to evaluate the condition of Cameron H. Sholly,
Regional Director, Midwest Region. forms, and (3) the regulations that
key resources, which could include require us to collect the information.
moose or vegetation-based parameters. If [FR Doc. 2016–13184 Filed 6–3–16; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a threshold is met, wolves would be BILLING CODE 4310–MA–P
brought to Isle Royale as a one-time I Abstract
event (per alternative B) or through
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The Secretary of the United States
multiple introductions (per alternative
Department of the Interior is responsible
C). The NPS will not select an
Office of Natural Resources Revenue for mineral resource development on
alternative for implementation until
Federal and Indian lands and the Outer
after a final EIS is completed. [Docket No. ONRR–2012–0006; DS63642000
Given the revised scope of the EIS, DR2PS0000.CH7000 167D0102R2]
Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary’s
actions to manage moose, such as responsibility, according to various
culling or translocation of moose, as Agency Information Collection laws, is to manage mineral resource
well as actions to manage vegetation, Activities: Federal Oil and Gas production from Federal and Indian
such as fire, direct restoration, or other Valuation; Comment Request lands and the OCS, collect the royalties
tools, will not be considered in this EIS. and other mineral revenues due, and
AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources distribute the funds collected under
After a decision is made regarding
Revenue (ONRR), Interior. those laws. We have posted those laws
whether and how to bring wolves to Isle
ACTION: Notice of an extension. pertaining to mineral leases on Federal
Royale, the NPS will monitor conditions
on the island, and will initiate and Indian lands and the OCS at http://
SUMMARY: To comply with the
additional planning processes to www.onrr.gov/Laws_R_D/PubLaws/
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
address other aspects of the island default.htm.
(PRA), ONRR is inviting comments on a
ecosystem, such as the moose The Secretary also has a trust
collection of information requests that
population and forest community, if responsibility to manage Indian lands
we will submit to the Office of
such planning processes are deemed and seek advice and information from
Management and Budget (OMB) for
necessary. Indian beneficiaries. ONRR performs the
review and approval. This Information
All comments received during the minerals revenue management functions
Collection Request (ICR) covers the
scoping period that was announced in for the Secretary and assists the
paperwork requirements in the
the July 2015 NOI are available online Secretary in carrying out the
regulations under title 30, Code of
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ Department’s trust responsibility for
Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 1202,
ISROwolves and will be considered. If Indian lands.
1204, and 1206. This ICR pertains to
you would like to provide additional You can find the information
Federal oil and gas valuation
comments regarding the revised scope collections covered in this ICR at 30
regulations, which include
of the plan, you may do so through the CFR parts:
transportation and processing regulatory
following methods. • 1202, subparts C and D, which
allowance limits and accounting and
The preferred method for submitting pertain to Federal oil and gas royalties.
auditing relief for marginal properties.
comments is on the NPS PEPC Web site • 1204, subpart C, which pertains to
at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ Also, there is one form (ONRR–4393)
accounting and auditing relief for
ISROwolves. You may also mail or associated with this information
marginal properties.
collection.
hand-deliver your comments to • 1206, subparts C and D, which
Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle DATES: Submit written comments on or pertain to Federal oil and gas product
Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 before August 5, 2016. valuation.
East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
General Information
Michigan 49931–1896. The NPS will on this ICR to ONRR by using one of the
consider all additional comments following three methods (please When a company or an individual
received or postmarked no later than 30- reference ‘‘ICR 1012–0005’’ in your enters into a lease to explore, develop,
days from the date this NOI is published comments): produce, and dispose of minerals from
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
in the Federal Register. Comments 1. Electronically go to http:// Federal or Indian lands, that company
submitted after that date will be www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled or individual agrees to pay the lessor a
considered to the extent practicable. ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter ‘‘ONRR– share in an amount or value of
Comments will not be accepted by 2012–0005’’ and then click ‘‘Search.’’ production from the leased lands. The
fax, email, or any other way than those Follow the instructions to submit public mineral lease laws require the lessee, or
specified above. Bulk comments in any comments. ONRR will post all his designee, to report various kinds of
format (hard copy or electronic) comments. information to the lessor relative to the
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Document Created: 2016-06-04 00:16:41
Document Modified: 2016-06-04 00:16:41
| 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 | Amended Notice of Intent. | |
| Dates | The public scoping comment period will conclude 30 days following the date this NOI is published in the Federal Register. All comments must be postmarked or transmitted by this date. | |
| Contact | Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896, or by telephone at (906) 482-0984. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 36324 |
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