94-14975. Record of Decision Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Conata Basin/Badlands, SD  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
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    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-14975]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: June 21, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
     
    
    Record of Decision Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Conata 
    Basin/Badlands, SD
    
    Introduction
    
        Pursuant to regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 
    CFR Sec. 1505.2) and the implementing procedures of the National Park 
    Service for the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (40 U.S.C. 
    Sec. 1501 et seq.), the Department of the Interior has prepared this 
    draft record of decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
    Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands, South 
    Dakota, March, 1994.
        This record of decision is a concise statement of decisions that 
    were made, alternatives that were considered, and mitigating measures 
    that were developed to avoid or minimize environmental impacts.
    
    Decision
    
        The National Park Service will accept as approved for 
    implementation, Alternative C, Reintroduce Black-footed Ferrets into 
    the Badlands National Park and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland with 
    Initial Releases in the Badlands National Park, as described in the 
    above-referenced Final Environmental Impact Statement. Working with its 
    cooperators to achieve this alternative, the National Park Service will 
    implement a cooperative management plan and reintroduction protocol for 
    restoration of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands Area 
    of South Dakota. The National Park Service considered and evaluated the 
    alternatives for the reintroduction of a non-essential experimental 
    population of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands area 
    of South Dakota as presented in the FEIS, including a no action 
    alternative, and thoroughly reviewed and considered public and agency 
    comments in formulating this determination.
    
    The Selected Plan
    
        The selected plan reintroduces black-footed ferrets into a black-
    tailed prairie dog colony complex on the Badlands National Park (BNP) 
    and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland (BGNG). A non-essential 
    experimental population area of approximately 1,182,200 acres is 
    delineated within which the legal status of the black-footed ferret is 
    changed from endangered to non-essential experimental to allow for 
    greater management flexibility. A reintroduction area of approximately 
    42,000 acres which currently contains about 8,000 acres of prairie dog 
    colonies on federally managed land becomes the focus of releases and 
    black-footed ferret management activities. Initial releases occur in 
    the BNP, and habitat for black-footed ferret movement and dispersal is 
    identified. Short-term constraints on a few activities may be 
    implemented at specific release sites and in the reintroduction area to 
    increase the chances for survival of released animals.
        The immediate purpose of the proposed action is to use experimental 
    techniques to reintroduce and establish a free ranging, cooperatively 
    managed wild population of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in 
    the Conata Basin/Badlands experimental population area near Wall, South 
    Dakota, as part of the national recovery effort. The reintroduced 
    black-footed ferrets and their progeny will be classified a 
    nonessential experimental population under federal rulemaking 
    procedures.
    
    Alternatives Considered
    
        Five alternatives, including the selected plan, were analyzed in 
    the final environmental impact statement:
        Alternative A--No Action: Black-footed ferrets would not be 
    reintroduced into the BNP or the BGNG.
        Alternative B--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets only in the BNP on 
    approximately 3,200 acres of prairie dog colonies within a 
    reintroduction area of approximately 25,000 acres, with approximately 
    3,175 acres of prairie dog colonies.
        Alternative C (Selected Plan)--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in 
    the BNP and the BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog 
    colonies within a reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres, 
    with initial releases in the BNP.
        Alternative D--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in the BNP and the 
    BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies within a 
    reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres, with initial 
    releases on the BGNG.
        Alternative E--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets in the BNP and the 
    BGNG on approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies within a 
    reintroduction area of approximately 172,000 acres, with initial 
    releases occurring in the most biologically suitable habitat within the 
    reintroduction area. Although prairie dog management remains unchanged 
    under all alternatives, management options to further protect black-
    footed ferrets could occur within a larger reintroduction area in 
    situations where conflict with other land uses arise.
    
    Environmentally Preferable Alternative
    
        The environmentally preferred alternative is Alternative E. 
    Although prairie dog management and levels of prairie dog habitat would 
    not increase under this alternative, some additional protection of 
    black-footed ferrets could occur if management options favoring black-
    footed ferrets were exercised across a larger reintroduction area, 
    reducing the risks to black-footed ferrets from competing activities 
    and/or uses. Within a socioeconomic context, however, the public 
    perception that protecting each individual black-footed ferret with 
    overly restrictive measures in an expanded reintroduction area 
    outweighed any environmental benefit to black-footed ferret population 
    recovery efforts. Alternative C was chosen to reintroduce and establish 
    a population of black-footed ferrets in the Conata Basin/Badlands area 
    of South Dakota within the context of existing recreational and 
    agricultural land uses.
    
    Mitigation
    
        Potential project impacts, public concerns, and methods to be used 
    to mitigate those impacts and concerns are addressed in the FEIS. The 
    National Park Service considers that Alternative C, reintroduction of 
    black-footed ferrets in BNP and BGNG with initial releases in BNP, 
    provides the best means to establish and perpetuate a free-ranging 
    population of black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/Badlands area 
    of South Dakota with the fewest environmental effects. All practical 
    solutions to avoid or minimize environmental harm from selecting this 
    action alternative have been identified and considered acceptable.
    
    Conclusion
    
        After careful evaluation of each alternative and considering black-
    footed ferret biology, management objectives, environmental effects, 
    costs, socioeconomics, legislative intent, National Park Service 
    policies, and public response, the National Park Service believes that 
    Alternative C provides the best balanced course of action to establish 
    and manage a population of black-footed ferrets into a portion of its 
    historical range within southwestern South Dakota.
    
        Dated: June 14, 1994.
    R. Everhart,
    Acting Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region.
    [FR Doc. 94-14975 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/21/1994
Department:
Interior Department
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Black-footed ferrets would not be reintroduced into the BNP or the BGNG.
Document Number:
94-14975
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: June 21, 1994