[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35467-35468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15064]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[2031-A154-422]
Deer and Vegetation Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
for a Deer and Vegetation Management Plan, Fire Island National
Seashore, New York.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Deer and Vegetation
Management Plan at Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The purpose
of taking action at this time is to address issues associated with the
abundance and distribution of white-tailed deer at Fire Island National
Seashore (Seashore). The issues include impacts from deer on the
natural and cultural resources of the Seashore as well as impacts
resulting from deer-human interaction. Actions addressing these issues
will be designed and undertaken in support of the long-term protection,
preservation, and restoration of Seashore resources.
Information collected as part of research conducted at the Seashore
has indicated the need for a management plan to address changes in deer
abundance and deer behavior due to the presence of human food sources
and habituation to the unthreatening presence of humans; adverse
impacts on native vegetation resulting from current levels of deer
browsing; and adverse impacts on natural and cultural resources at the
William Floyd Estate resulting from current deer population levels.
DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments from the public
through July 18, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis, at Park Headquarters (120
Laurel St, Patchogue, NY 11772), the Fire Island Lighthouse, and the
Wilderness Visitor Center.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Valentine (631-687-4759) or
Lindsay Ries (631-687-4768).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For 30 years, Seashore staff have been
involved with issues linked to the deer population on Fire Island.
Initially, concerns were focused around a noticeable increase in the
number of deer within the communities of western Fire Island and the
appearance of Lyme disease among island residents and park employees.
Later, a re-evaluation of permanent sample plots established in 1967 in
the Sunken Forest area of the Seashore documented the impacts of deer
browsing on understory vegetation within a decade of the Seashore's
establishment. As a result of these concerns, Seashore staff, along
with academic and agency scientists, embarked on a series of
investigations documenting and describing deer abundance and
distribution across the island; ecology of Lyme disease and its host
vectors including ticks, birds, and
[[Page 35468]]
mammals; browsing impacts on vegetation; fertility control as a
potential deer population management tool; community relations relative
to garbage disposal, and inadvertent and intentional feeding and/or
poisoning of deer; the role of disturbance on the regeneration capacity
of the Sunken Forest and the likelihood of its future conservation; and
the human dimensions of deer abundance. More recently, Seashore staff
has turned their attention to the potential impacts of deer on native
vegetation in other natural zones of the Seashore and the cultural
landscape of the William Floyd Estate.
Information collected as part of this research has indicated the
need for a management plan to address changes in deer abundance and
deer behavior due to the presence of human food sources and habituation
to the unthreatening presence of humans; adverse impacts on native
vegetation resulting from current levels of deer browsing; and adverse
impacts on natural and cultural resources at the William Floyd Estate
resulting from current deer population levels.
A scoping newsletter will be prepared which identifies the issues
and statements of purpose, need, and objectives identified to date
during internal scoping meetings. Copies of that information and other
updates may be obtained online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis or
at the address and phone numbers listed above. If you wish to comment
on the purpose, need, objectives, or on any other issues associated
with the plan, you may submit your comments via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/fiis and by mailing or hand-delivering comments to
Fire Island National Seashore, Attn: Deer and Vegetation Management
Plan, 120 Laurel St, Patchogue, NY 11772. Before including your
address, phone number, e-mail 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.
Dennis R. Reidenbach,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-15064 Filed 6-16-11; 8:45 am]
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