[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15478]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 27, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Record of Decision; Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction Conata
Basin/Badlands, SD
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2) and the implementing procedures
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (40 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Department of Interior
has prepared this record of decision on the Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands,
South Dakota. The record of decision is a concise statement of what
decisions were made, what alternatives were considered, and acceptable
mitigation measures developed in order to avoid or minimize
environmental impacts.
This reintroduction effort is an interagency program involving the
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Forest
Service. Each Agency has the responsibility under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended, to recover threatened and endangered
species. Each Agency will prepare a separate record of decision to
cover its respective responsibilities under the reintroduction program.
The Selected Alternative
The preferred alternative, Alternative C, releases black-footed
ferrets (Mustela nigripes) as a nonessential experimental population
into a reintroduction area of approximately 42,000 acres (16,997 ha) on
the Badlands National Park (BNP) and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland
(BGNG). The initial reintroductions will occur on the BNP. This area
contains approximately 8,000 acres (3,238 ha) of black-tailed prairie
dog colonies. A nonessential 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
nonessential experimental to allow for greater management flexibility.
All of the proposed reintroduction area is public land administered by
either the National Park Service or the Forest Service.
The 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 in the Conata Basin/
Badlands experimental population area near Wall, South Dakota. The
released black-footed ferrets and their progeny will be classified as a
nonessential experimental population under Federal rulemaking
requirements.
Other Alternatives Considered
Five alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were
analyzed in the final environmental impact statement. All action
alternatives propose to reintroduce black-footed ferrets as a
nonessential experimental population. The alternatives included:
Alternative A--Black-footed ferrets would not be reintroduced into
BNP or BGNG (No Action).
Alternative B--Black-footed ferrets would be released only in BNP
in a reintroduction area of approximately 25,000 acres which contains
about 3,200 acres of prairie dog colonies.
Alternative D--Reintroduce black-footed ferrets into a 42,000 acre
reintroduction area on BNP and BGNG with initial releases in BGNG. The
reintroduction area is similar to that of Alternative C and contains
approximately 8,000 acres of prairie dog colonies.
Alternative E--Release black-footed ferrets into a 172,000 acre
reintroduction area on BNP and BGNG consisting of the entire north unit
of the BNP and the BGNG in the Conata Basin. No priority release site
is identified in this alternative. The initial black-footed ferret
releases would occur in the most biologically suitable habitat within
the reintroduction area.
Environmentally Preferable Alternative
The Fish and Wildlife Service consider Alternative E to be the most
environmentally preferred alternative. The levels of active prairie dog
habitat would not increase over Alternatives C and D. Alternative E
provides the least potential risks to the black-footed ferret due to
expanded protection measures through the expansion of off-road travel
and trapping restriction and possible long-term shooting restrictions
to an expanded reintroduction area. Alternative C was selected because
it prescribes a reintroduction program that is more compatible with the
existing recreational and agricultural land uses in the area thereby
garnishing additional support. It is the Fish and Wildlife Service's
assessment that the benefits of additional support outweigh the
possible benefits of extending land use restrictions associated with
the expanded reintroduction area of Alternative E.
Minimization of Impacts
Public concerns, potential impacts, and methods to mitigate those
impacts are addressed in the final environmental impact statement. The
Fish and Wildlife Service considers that all practicable means to avoid
or minimize environmental impacts that could result from implementation
of the preferred plan have been identified and are considered
acceptable.
Decision
The Fish and Wildlife Service will accept the proposed action to
release captive reared black-footed ferrets into the Conata Basin/
Badlands area near Wall, South Dakota as described in Alternative C in
the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Black-Footed Ferret
Reintroduction, Conata Basin/Badlands, South Dakota.
After careful evaluation of each alternative and considering the
issues of public response; legislative intent; management objectives;
and cost, socioeconomic, and environmental effects, the Fish and
Wildlife Service believes that the proposed action represents the most
balanced course of action for the future management of the black-footed
ferret.
Dated: June 21, 1994.
Robert D. Jacobsen,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain Prairie States Region.
[FR Doc. 94-15478 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
