82_FR_4425 82 FR 4416 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan, North Cascades Ecosystem, Washington

82 FR 4416 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan, North Cascades Ecosystem, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

Page Range4416-4417
FR Document2017-00616

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Park Service (NPS) announce the availability of the Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan (plan)/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in the North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE), Washington. The plan/DEIS evaluates the impacts of a range of alternatives for restoring the grizzly bear to the United States (U.S.) portion of the NCE, a portion of its historical range.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4416-4417]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00616]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-ANRSS-22067; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Grizzly Bear Restoration 
Plan, North Cascades Ecosystem, Washington

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Park 
Service (NPS) announce the availability of the Grizzly Bear Restoration 
Plan (plan)/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in the North 
Cascades Ecosystem (NCE), Washington. The plan/DEIS evaluates the 
impacts of a range of alternatives for restoring the grizzly bear to 
the United States (U.S.) portion of the NCE, a portion of its 
historical range.

DATES: All written comments on the plan/DEIS must be postmarked or 
submitted no later than March 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Denise Shultz, Public 
Information Officer, North Cascades National Park Service Complex at 
360-854-7302, or Ann Froschauer, Public Affairs Supervisor, FWS 
Washington Fish and Wildlife Office at 360-753-4370. Information will 
be available for public review online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis; in the Office of the Superintendent, 810 State Route 20, 
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 (360-854-7200, telephone); and in the 
Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Dr. SE., Suite 102, 
Lacey, WA 98503 (360-753-9440).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this plan/DEIS is to 
determine how to restore the grizzly bear to the NCE, a portion of its 
historical range. Action is needed at this time to:
     Avoid the permanent loss of grizzly bears in the NCE;
     Contribute to the restoration of biodiversity of the 
ecosystem for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future 
generations of people;
     Enhance the probability of long-term survival of grizzly 
bears in the NCE and thereby contribute to overall grizzly bear 
recovery; and
     Support the recovery of the grizzly bear to the point 
where it can be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife.
    This plan/DEIS evaluates the impacts of the no-action alternative 
(Alternative

[[Page 4417]]

A) and three action alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and D).
    Alternative A would continue existing management practices and 
assume no new management actions would be implemented beyond those 
available at the outset of the grizzly bear restoration planning 
process. Under Alternative A, grizzly bears would not be translocated 
into the NCE.
    The action alternatives include capturing grizzly bears from 
outside the NCE and releasing them into the NCE for a period of time 
that is dependent on the particular alternative. The lead agencies 
would focus on translocating grizzly bears from areas that are 
ecologically similar to potential release sites. This may include 
grizzly bears from British Columbia, Canada, or the Northern 
Continental Divide ecosystem. All of the action alternatives include 
the replacement of translocated bears in the NCE which are lost from 
the population due to mortality or emigration during the period of 
initial releases.
    The option to designate the NCE grizzly bear population as an 
experimental population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species 
Act could be applied to any of the action alternatives. The DEIS will 
assess the potential impacts associated with designating, or not 
designating, an experimental population under each action alternative; 
therefore, the DEIS will serve as our National Environmental Policy Act 
analysis for the proposed restoration effort and any 10(j) experimental 
population rule.
    Alternative B would involve an initial release of up to 10 grizzly 
bears followed by a period of monitoring in which additional releases 
would not occur. The alternative would then either repeat the initial 
release or default to alternative C as described below. At the 
conclusion of the initial release, there would be a period of adaptive 
management where additional bears could be released based on a number 
of factors including human-caused sources of mortality, genetic 
limitations, population trends, and the adjustment of the sex ratio.
    Alternative C would involve the yearly release of up to 5 grizzly 
bears for a 5 to 10-year period to achieve an initial population of 25 
grizzly bears. At the conclusion of these releases, there would be an 
adaptive management period where additional grizzly bears could be 
released based on a number of factors including human-caused sources of 
mortality, genetic limitations, population trends, and the adjustment 
of the sex ratio.
    Alternative D would involve the yearly release of the maximum 
number of grizzly bears available for capture (anticipated to be 5 to 7 
bears) until the minimum population estimate in the NCE reaches 200 
grizzly bears.
    The U.S. Forest Service and the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife are cooperating agencies on this plan/DEIS.
    Public Participation: After the Environmental Protection Agency 
Notice of Availability is published, the FWS and NPS will schedule 
public meetings to be held during the comment period throughout the 
NCE. Dates, times, and locations of these meetings will be announced in 
press releases and on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment 
Web site for the plan/DEIS at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis.
    How to Comment: You are encouraged to comment on the plan/DEIS 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis. You may also mail or 
hand-deliver your comments to the Superintendent, North Cascades 
National Park Service Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 
98284. Written comments will also be accepted during scheduled public 
meetings discussed above. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, 
or by any method other 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.

    Dated: December 13, 2016.
Jon Raby,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Dated: December 19, 2016.
Laura E. Joss,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00616 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

4416 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices National Forest System Lands Sec. 16; DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Siskiyou National Forest Sec. 17, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4; Fish and Wildlife Service T. 36 S., R. 13 W., Sec. 19, lots 2 thru 6, lots 12, 13, 15, and Sec. 20, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and SW1⁄4; 16; Sec. 21; National Park Service Sec. 20, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 27, W1⁄2; Sec. 28; [NPS–WASO–ANRSS–22067; Sec. 21, E1⁄2 and SE1⁄4SW1⁄4; PPWONRADE2, PMP00EI05.YP0000] Sec. 29, NW1⁄4; Sec. 29, NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and Secs. 30 and 31; SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Protraction Blocks 43 thru 46. Protraction Blocks 39, 40, 41, and 43. T. 37 S., R. 13 W., Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan, North T. 41 S., R. 9 W., Secs. 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 28, and 29; Cascades Ecosystem, Washington Secs, 4 thru 8; Protraction Blocks 39 thru 51. Secs 17 and 18. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service and T. 38 S., R. 13 W., T. 41 S, R. 10 W., Sec. 5, SW1⁄4; National Park Service, Interior. Secs. 1 thru 18. ACTION: Notice of availability for public Sec. 6, lots 1 thru 7, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4; T. 41 S., R. 11 W., comment. Sec. 7, lots 1, 2, 3, and 5, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, Sec. 1; NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, Sec. 2, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service NE1⁄4SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4SW1⁄4; W1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, W1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and (FWS) and the National Park Service Sec. 8, N1⁄2. SE1⁄4; (NPS) announce the availability of the T. 39 S., R. 9 W., Secs. 3 and 4; Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan (plan)/ Sec. 19; Sec. 5, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, Draft Environmental Impact Statement Sec. 20, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, and and SE1⁄4; (DEIS) in the North Cascades Ecosystem W1⁄2SE1⁄4; Sec. 8, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, (NCE), Washington. The plan/DEIS Secs. 29 thru 32; E1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and Sec. 35, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4, and evaluates the impacts of a range of E1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4; alternatives for restoring the grizzly bear SE1⁄4. Secs. 9 thru 15; T. 39 S., R. 10 W., to the United States (U.S.) portion of the Sec. 17, lots 1 thru 4, NE1⁄4, and N1⁄2S1⁄2; Protraction Block 46. NCE, a portion of its historical range. T. 40 S., R. 9 W., Sec. 18, lots, 9, 10, 11, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and DATES: All written comments on the Sec. 1, un-numbered lots in the N1⁄2NE1⁄4 N1⁄2SE1⁄4. The areas described aggregate 95,805.53 plan/DEIS must be postmarked or and N1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, acres in Josephine and Curry Counties. submitted no later than March 14, 2017. SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4; Sec. 2, lots 1 thru 7, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4; 2. The following described non- Please contact Denise Shultz, Public Sec. 3, lots 1 and 2, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, Federal lands are within the exterior Information Officer, North Cascades and S1⁄2; boundaries of the Southwestern Oregon National Park Service Complex at 360– Sec. 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2; watershed. If title to these non-Federal 854–7302, or Ann Froschauer, Public Sec. 5, lots 2, 3, and 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, lands is subsequently acquired by the Affairs Supervisor, FWS Washington and S1⁄2; United States, the lands will be subject Fish and Wildlife Office at 360–753– Secs. 6 thru 11; Sec. 13, NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, to the terms and conditions of the 4370. Information will be available for and S1⁄2; withdrawal. public review online at http:// Sec. 14, NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, Willamette Meridian parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis; in the SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, Office of the Superintendent, 810 State N1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, T. 37 S., R. 14 W., Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 1, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4; (360–854–7200, telephone); and in the Secs. 15 thru 22; Sec. 12, W1⁄2NW1⁄4 and NW1⁄4SW1⁄4; Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Sec. 23, W1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, W1⁄2NW1⁄4, Sec. 13, S1⁄2N1⁄2; 510 Desmond Dr. SE., Suite 102, Lacey, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SW1⁄4; Sec. 24, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4NW1⁄4. Secs. 27 thru 33; T. 39 S., R. 9 W., WA 98503 (360–753–9440). Sec. 34, lots 1 thru 8, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, Sec. 36. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and NW1⁄4SE1⁄4. T. 41 S., R. 11 W., purpose of this plan/DEIS is to T. 40 S., R. 10 W., Sec. 16. determine how to restore the grizzly Sec. 2, lot 1, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, The areas described aggregate 1,680 acres bear to the NCE, a portion of its E1⁄2SE1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4; in Josephine and Curry Counties. historical range. Action is needed at this Sec. 3, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4; time to: Sec. 4, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec 8, SE1⁄4; 3. This withdrawal will expire 20 • Avoid the permanent loss of grizzly Sec. 9, NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2; years from the effective date of this bears in the NCE; Sec. 10; order, unless as a result of a review • Contribute to the restoration of Sec. 11, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, conducted prior to the expiration date biodiversity of the ecosystem for the S1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4; pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal benefit and enjoyment of present and Secs. 14, 15, and 16; Land Policy and Management Act of future generations of people; Sec. 17, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f), the Secretary • Enhance the probability of long- SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4; asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES determines that the withdrawal shall be term survival of grizzly bears in the NCE Sec. 19, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, extended. and thereby contribute to overall grizzly E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4; bear recovery; and Secs. 20 thru 23, and 26 thru 30; Dated: December 30, 2016. • Support the recovery of the grizzly Protraction Blocks 37 thru 47. Janice M. Schneider, T. 40 S., R. 11 W., bear to the point where it can be Assistant Secretary—Land and Minerals removed from the Federal List of Sec. 4, lots 3 and 4, and SW1⁄4NW1⁄4; Management. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Secs. 5 and 8; Sec. 9, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, W1⁄2SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 [FR Doc. 2017–00770 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am] This plan/DEIS evaluates the impacts and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4; BILLING CODE 3411–15–P of the no-action alternative (Alternative VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:06 Jan 12, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices 4417 A) and three action alternatives of grizzly bears available for capture INTERNATIONAL TRADE (Alternatives B, C, and D). (anticipated to be 5 to 7 bears) until the COMMISSION Alternative A would continue existing minimum population estimate in the management practices and assume no NCE reaches 200 grizzly bears. [Investigation Nos. 731–TA–340–E and 340– new management actions would be implemented beyond those available at The U.S. Forest Service and the H (Fourth Review)] the outset of the grizzly bear restoration Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are cooperating agencies on Solid Urea From Russia and Ukraine; planning process. Under Alternative A, Termination of Five-Year Reviews grizzly bears would not be translocated this plan/DEIS. into the NCE. Public Participation: After the AGENCY: United States International The action alternatives include Environmental Protection Agency Trade Commission. capturing grizzly bears from outside the Notice of Availability is published, the NCE and releasing them into the NCE FWS and NPS will schedule public ACTION: Notice. for a period of time that is dependent on meetings to be held during the comment the particular alternative. The lead period throughout the NCE. Dates, SUMMARY: The Commission instituted agencies would focus on translocating times, and locations of these meetings the subject five-year reviews in grizzly bears from areas that are November 2016 to determine whether will be announced in press releases and ecologically similar to potential release revocation of the antidumping duty on the NPS Planning, Environment, and sites. This may include grizzly bears orders on solid urea from Russia and from British Columbia, Canada, or the Public Comment Web site for the plan/ DEIS at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ Ukraine would be likely to lead to Northern Continental Divide ecosystem. grizzlydeis. continuation or recurrence of material All of the action alternatives include the injury. On December 30, 2016, the replacement of translocated bears in the How to Comment: You are encouraged NCE which are lost from the population Department of Commerce published to comment on the plan/DEIS online at due to mortality or emigration during notice that it was revoking the orders http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis. the period of initial releases. effective December 20, 2016, because You may also mail or hand-deliver your The option to designate the NCE the domestic interested parties did not comments to the Superintendent, North grizzly bear population as an participate in its sunset reviews (81 FR Cascades National Park Service experimental population under section 96434). Accordingly, the subject reviews Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro- 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act are terminated. Woolley, WA 98284. Written comments could be applied to any of the action will also be accepted during scheduled DATES: Effective Date: January 9, 2017. alternatives. The DEIS will assess the public meetings discussed above. potential impacts associated with FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: designating, or not designating, an Comments will not be accepted by fax, Drew Dushkes (202–205–3229), Office experimental population under each email, or by any method other than of Investigations, U.S. International action alternative; therefore, the DEIS those specified above. Bulk comments Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., will serve as our National in any format (hard copy or electronic) Washington, DC 20436. Hearing- Environmental Policy Act analysis for submitted on behalf of others will not be impaired individuals are advised that the proposed restoration effort and any accepted. Before including your information on this matter can be 10(j) experimental population rule. address, phone number, email address, obtained by contacting the Alternative B would involve an initial or other personal identifying Commission’s TDD terminal on 202– release of up to 10 grizzly bears information in your comment, you 205–1810. Persons with mobility followed by a period of monitoring in should be aware that your entire impairments who will need special which additional releases would not comment—including your personal occur. The alternative would then either assistance in gaining access to the identifying information—may be made repeat the initial release or default to Commission should contact the Office publicly available at any time. While alternative C as described below. At the of the Secretary at 202–205–2000. you can ask us in your comment to conclusion of the initial release, there General information concerning the withhold your personal identifying would be a period of adaptive Commission may also be obtained by information from public review, we management where additional bears accessing its internet server (https:// cannot guarantee that we will be able to could be released based on a number of www.usitc.gov). do so. factors including human-caused sources Authority: These reviews are being of mortality, genetic limitations, Dated: December 13, 2016. terminated under authority of title VII of the population trends, and the adjustment Jon Raby, Tariff Act of 1930 and pursuant to section of the sex ratio. Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Fish 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. Alternative C would involve the and Wildlife Service. 1675(c)). This notice is published pursuant to yearly release of up to 5 grizzly bears for Dated: December 19, 2016. section 207.69 of the Commission’s rules (19 a 5 to 10-year period to achieve an CFR 207.69). Laura E. Joss, initial population of 25 grizzly bears. At Regional Director, Pacific West Region, By order of the Commission. the conclusion of these releases, there would be an adaptive management National Park Service. Issued: January 9, 2017. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES period where additional grizzly bears [FR Doc. 2017–00616 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am] William R. Bishop, could be released based on a number of BILLING CODE 4312–52–P Supervisory Hearings and Information factors including human-caused sources Officer. of mortality, genetic limitations, [FR Doc. 2017–00638 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am] population trends, and the adjustment BILLING CODE 7020–02–P of the sex ratio. Alternative D would involve the yearly release of the maximum number VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:06 Jan 12, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00139 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1


Document Created: 2017-01-13 02:44:49
Document Modified: 2017-01-13 02:44:49
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability for public comment.
DatesAll written comments on the plan/DEIS must be postmarked or submitted no later than March 14, 2017.
ContactPlease contact Denise Shultz, Public Information Officer, North Cascades National Park Service Complex at 360-854-7302, or Ann Froschauer, Public Affairs Supervisor, FWS Washington Fish and Wildlife Office at 360-753-4370. Information will be available for public review online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ grizzlydeis; in the Office of the Superintendent, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 (360-854-7200, telephone); and in the Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Dr. SE., Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503 (360-753-9440).
FR Citation82 FR 4416 
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