83_FR_11839 83 FR 11787 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

83 FR 11787 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 52 (March 16, 2018)

Page Range11787-11788
FR Document2018-05408

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the presence of wolves at Isle Royale National Park.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11787-11788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05408]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-ANRSS-24116; PPMWMWROW2, PMP00UP05.YP0000]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement To Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle Royale National 
Park, Michigan

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY:  The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the presence 
of wolves at Isle Royale National Park.

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 
30 days from the date of publication by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency of the notice of filing of the Final EIS in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the final EIS/plan will be available 
for public review at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves. A limited 
number of hard copies will be available at Park Headquarters, 800 East 
Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896.

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: Pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the NPS announces the availability 
of the Final EIS. The final EIS/plan responds to, and incorporates 
where appropriate, agency and public comments received on the draft 
EIS/plan, which was available for public review from December 16, 2016 
to March 15, 2017. Two public meetings and two webinars were held from 
February 14 through February 21, 2017 to gather input on the draft EIS/
plan. During the public comment period, 4916 pieces of correspondence 
were received. NPS responses to agency and public comments are provided 
in Appendix B of the final EIS/plan available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves.
    This final EIS/plan evaluates the impacts of the no-action 
alternative (Alternative A) and three action alternatives (Alternatives 
B, C, and D). Alternative B is the preferred alternative and the 
environmentally preferable alternative.
    Alternative A would continue existing management practices and 
assume no

[[Page 11788]]

new management actions would be implemented beyond those available at 
the outset of the wolf planning process. Wolves may arrive or depart 
independently via an ice bridge. Under Alternative A, wolves would not 
be introduced by management to Isle Royale National Park.
    The action alternatives include the capture and relocation of 
wolves from the Great Lakes Region to Isle Royale National Park. NPS 
would target wolves for relocation that are known to feed on moose as 
one of their prey sources, are in good health with no apparent 
injuries, and have the appropriate genetic diversity to sustain a 
viable population on the island. Capture and relocation efforts would 
take place between late fall and late winter. All of the action 
alternatives include monitoring which could include radio or GPS collar 
tracking from ground and air, scat sample collection, visual 
observations, and other methodology as funding is available.
    Under the preferred alternative, between 20 and 30 wolves with a 
wide genetic diversity would be introduced to the island. Wolves may be 
supplemented as needed up to the third year after initial introduction. 
After the third year, should an unforeseen event occur that impacts the 
wolf population, such as a mass die-off or introduction of disease, and 
the goals of the alternative are not being met due to this event, 
wolves may be supplemented for an additional two years. No additional 
wolves would be brought to the island after five years from date of 
initial introduction.
    Alternative C would involve the initial introduction of between 6 
and 15 wolves. The NPS would bring wolves to the island as often as 
needed in order to maintain a population of wolves on the island for at 
least the next 20 years. Under this alternative, additional wolves may 
be brought based on one or more resource indicators that could include 
genetic health of the wolves, health of the ecosystem, and prey species 
population trends.
    Under Alternative D, the NPS would not take immediate action and 
would continue current management, allowing natural processes to 
continue. This alternative is meant to allow the study of island 
ecosystem changes to continue without an apex predator and action would 
only be taken should the weight of evidence suggest an apex predator is 
necessary to ecosystem function. Resource indicators, such as 
population size and growth rate of moose would be used to determine if 
and when wolf introduction actions should be taken. If the weight of 
evidence indicates wolf introduction actions should be taken, NPS would 
follow procedures outlined within Alternative C.

Authority

    The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 1506.6.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Cameron H. Sholly,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-05408 Filed 3-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices 11787 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR week, to leave a message or question Danita Burns, District Manager, Bureau with the above individual. A reply will of Land Management Albuquerque National Park Service be sent during normal business hours. District Office, 100 Sun Avenue NE, [NPS–WASO–ANRSS–24116; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee Suite 330, Pan American Building, PPMWMWROW2, PMP00UP05.YP0000] agreed to the amended lease terms for Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109; 505– rentals and royalties at rates of $10 per 761–8700. Notice of Availability of the Final acre, or fraction thereof, per year and 16 Environmental Impact Statement To 2⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee has SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Address the Presence of Wolves at Isle paid the required $500 administrative will post temporary closure signs a Royale National Park, Michigan fee and the $159 cost of publishing this week prior to a closure at the main entry to the Monument. In addition, a AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Sec. temporary closure notice with all ACTION: Notice of availability. 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act applicable dates will be posted on the SUMMARY: The National Park Service of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). The BLM BLM website: https://www.blm.gov/ (NPS) announces the availability of the proposes to reinstate the lease effective nlcs_web/sites/nm/st/en/prog/NLCS/ Final Environmental Impact Statement October 1, 2016, under the original KKTR_NM.html. Presidential (EIS) to address the presence of wolves terms and conditions of the lease and Proclamation 7394 designated the at Isle Royale National Park. the increased rental and royalty rates Monument on January 17, 2001, to DATES: The NPS will execute a Record cited above. provide opportunities for visitors to of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 Authority: 30 U.S.C. 188 and 43 CFR observe, study, and experience the days from the date of publication by the 3108.2–3. geologic processes and cultural and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency biological objects of interest found in of the notice of filing of the Final EIS Chris Hite, the area, as well as to protect these in the Federal Register. Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication. resources. [FR Doc. 2018–05383 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am] ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the Closure: During the temporary closure final EIS/plan will be available for BILLING CODE P dates listed above, public access is public review at http:// prohibited. parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves. A DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Exceptions: The temporary closure limited number of hard copies will be order does not apply to members of the available at Park Headquarters, 800 East Bureau of Land Management Pueblo de Cochiti participating in or Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan observing religious and/or cultural 49931–1896. [16X LLNMA01400 L12320000.AL0000 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LVRDNM030000] practices; or persons performing authorized BLM planning, Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Notice of Closure, Kasha-Katuwe Tent administrative, maintenance, and/or Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 Rocks National Monument emergency or law enforcement East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, activities. Michigan 49931–1896, or by telephone AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, at (906) 482–0984. Interior. Penalties: Any person who violates SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant this temporary closure or these to the National Environmental Policy ACTION: Notice of Temporary Closure. restrictions may be tried before a United Act, 43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the NPS SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that States Magistrate and fined in announces the availability of the Final under the authority of the Federal Land accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, EIS. The final EIS/plan responds to, and Policy and Management Act of 1976, as imprisoned no more than 12 months incorporates where appropriate, agency amended (FLPMA), the Kasha-Katuwe under 43 U.S.C. 1733(a) and 43 CFR and public comments received on the Tent Rocks Resource Management Plan 8360.07, or both. In accordance with 43 draft EIS/plan, which was available for (RMP), Presidential Proclamation 7394, CFR 8365.17, state or local officials may public review from December 16, 2016 and other authorities, the Kasha-Katuwe also impose penalties for violations of to March 15, 2017. Two public meetings Tent Rocks National Monument New Mexico law. and two webinars were held from (Monument) will be temporarily closed February 14 through February 21, 2017 During these closure dates only BLM to the public on twelve days each year, to gather input on the draft EIS/plan. planning, administrative, and to allow for Pueblo de Cochiti cultural During the public comment period, observances. maintenance activities will be authorized, and no public access will be 4916 pieces of correspondence were DATES: The temporary closure will be in received. NPS responses to agency and granted. effect beginning April 16, 2018. The public comments are provided in closure will remain in effect for 24 Authority: FLPMA, the Kasha-Katuwe Appendix B of the final EIS/plan months upon publication in the Federal Tent Rocks RMP, Presidential Proclamation available at http://parkplanning.nps. Register. The temporary closure dates 7394, 43 CFR 8364.1, and 43 U.S.C. 1701 et gov/isrowolves. are as follows: New Year’s Day (January seq. This final EIS/plan evaluates the 1); January 6; Friday before Easter; Danita Burns, impacts of the no-action alternative daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Easter Sunday; Monday after Easter (Alternative A) and three action District Manager, Albuquerque District. Sunday; May 3; July 13; July 14; July 25; alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and D). [FR Doc. 2018–05382 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am] November 1; Thanksgiving Day; and Alternative B is the preferred alternative Christmas Day. These temporary BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P and the environmentally preferable closures are compliant with the alternative. Monument RMP and Presidential Alternative A would continue existing Proclamation 7394. management practices and assume no VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:54 Mar 15, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1

11788 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices new management actions would be introduction actions should be taken, for proactive, sustainable archeological implemented beyond those available at NPS would follow procedures outlined resource protection for the next 30 the outset of the wolf planning process. within Alternative C. years. The NPS has identified four major Wolves may arrive or depart threats to the park’s archeological Authority independently via an ice bridge. Under resources: Riverbank erosion, burrowing Alternative A, wolves would not be The authority for publishing this mammals, vegetation encroachment and introduced by management to Isle notice is 40 CFR 1506.6. the location of park infrastructure. Over Royale National Park. Dated: March 8, 2018. the past few decades, village remnants The action alternatives include the Cameron H. Sholly, and archeological sites adjacent to the capture and relocation of wolves from Knife River have experienced Regional Director, Midwest Region. the Great Lakes Region to Isle Royale measurable erosion. In addition, [FR Doc. 2018–05408 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am] National Park. NPS would target wolves northern pocket gophers and the for relocation that are known to feed on BILLING CODE P encroachment of woody and overgrown moose as one of their prey sources, are vegetation have displaced soil and in good health with no apparent artifacts from chronologically stratified injuries, and have the appropriate DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR deposits. Under the preferred genetic diversity to sustain a viable National Park Service alternative, these threats would be population on the island. Capture and addressed following an adaptive relocation efforts would take place [NPS–MWR–KNRI–23883; PPMWMWROW0, management framework designed to between late fall and late winter. All of PMP00UP05.YP00000] detect changes to important indicators the action alternatives include and provide park managers tools to monitoring which could include radio Notice of Availability of the Final Archeological Resources Management manage them. or GPS collar tracking from ground and The preferred alternative also calls for air, scat sample collection, visual Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Knife River Indian Villages National the relocation of the park maintenance observations, and other methodology as facility. The maintenance facility is funding is available. Historic Site, North Dakota located on the edge of the Big Hidatsa Under the preferred alternative, AGENCY: National Park Service. Village site, a designated National between 20 and 30 wolves with a wide ACTION: Notice of availability. Historic Landmark and sacred site of the genetic diversity would be introduced to Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation the island. Wolves may be SUMMARY: The National Park Service (MHA Nation). If off-site space is supplemented as needed up to the third (NPS) announces the availability of the available and cost effective, the year after initial introduction. After the Final Archeological Resources maintenance facility would be relocated third year, should an unforeseen event Management Plan/Environmental outside the park. If suitable property occur that impacts the wolf population, Impact Statement (Final Plan/EIS), outside the park is unavailable or cost such as a mass die-off or introduction of Knife River Indian Villages National disease, and the goals of the alternative prohibitive the NPS intends to relocate Historic Site, North Dakota. and construct the maintenance facility are not being met due to this event, DATES: The NPS will execute a Record wolves may be supplemented for an within the park. of Decision no sooner than 30 days from Similarly, the preferred alternative additional two years. No additional the date that the US Environmental wolves would be brought to the island calls for the relocation of the museum Protection Agency publishes the Notice collections storage facility if current after five years from date of initial of Availability of the Final Plan/EIS in introduction. efforts to stop water infiltration are the Federal Register. unsuccessful. The museum collections Alternative C would involve the ADDRESSES: A limited number of hard- storage facility, located in the basement initial introduction of between 6 and 15 wolves. The NPS would bring wolves to copies of the Final Plan/EIS may be of the visitor center, has experienced the island as often as needed in order to picked up in-person or may be obtained water leaks since construction was maintain a population of wolves on the by making a request in writing to Knife completed in 1992. A project is island for at least the next 20 years. River Indian Villages National Historic underway to waterproof the exterior of Under this alternative, additional Site, PO Box 9, Stanton, North Dakota the building. If efforts fail, the museum wolves may be brought based on one or 58571. The document is also available collections storage facility would be more resource indicators that could on the internet at the NPS Planning, moved to a suitable location in include genetic health of the wolves, Environment, and Public Comment consultation with the MHA Nation. health of the ecosystem, and prey website at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ Notice of availability of the Draft species population trends. KNRIfinalEIS. Plan/EIS was published in the Federal Under Alternative D, the NPS would FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Register on November 4, 2016 (81 FR not take immediate action and would Superintendent, Brenda Todd, may be 214), and the NPS provided the public continue current management, allowing reached at this address above, by with 60 days to review and comment on natural processes to continue. This telephone at (701) 745–3300 or via the draft document. The NPS also held alternative is meant to allow the study email at Brenda_Todd@nps.gov. public meetings in Stanton, North of island ecosystem changes to continue SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS Dakota, and Bismarck, North Dakota, to without an apex predator and action announces the availability of the Final facilitate public understanding of the would only be taken should the weight Plan/EIS. This process has been document and provide opportunity for daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES of evidence suggest an apex predator is conducted pursuant to the National public comment. Public comments necessary to ecosystem function. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 informed the NPS analysis of Resource indicators, such as population United States Code 4321 et seq.) and the alternatives in the Final Plan/EIS. A size and growth rate of moose would be regulations of the US Department of the summary of the public comments used to determine if and when wolf Interior (43 Code of Federal Regulations received, and NPS responses to those introduction actions should be taken. If [CFR] part 46). The purpose of the plan comments are addressed in chapter 5 of the weight of evidence indicates wolf is to provide a management framework the Final Plan/EIS. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:54 Mar 15, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1


Document Created: 2018-03-16 01:12:15
Document Modified: 2018-03-16 01:12:15
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.
DatesThe NPS will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days from the date of publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of the notice of filing of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.
ContactSuperintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896, or by telephone at (906) 482-0984.
FR Citation83 FR 11787 
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