[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19452]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 10, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability: Records of Decision and Statement of
Findings for the Environmental Impact Statement on Reintroduction of
the Gray Wolf to Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) announces the availability of the Records of Decision
and Statement of Findings upon consideration of the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the reintroduction of gray wolves to
Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. The FEIS was filed with
the Environmental Protection Agency on May 4, 1994, and its
availability was announced to the public on May 13, 1994.
DATES: The Record of Decision and Statement of Findings was approved by
the Secretary of the Interior on June 15, 1994. A concurring Record of
Decision was approved by the Secretary of Agriculture on July 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The documents announced in this notice are available from:
Gray Wolf Reintroduction, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
8017, Helena, Montana 59601.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Edward E. Bangs, at the above address, or telephone (406) 449-5202.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the provisions of NEPA, the Service prepared an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the reintroduction of gray wolves to
Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. The conference report
(House Report No. 102-256) that accompanied the 1992 U.S. Department of
the Interior appropriations bill (Public Law 102-154) directed the
Service to prepare a draft EIS on wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone
National Park and central Idaho, in consultation with the National Park
Service and Forest Service. The conference report further directed that
the EIS cover a broad range of alternatives and follow normal
distribution patterns including appropriate Congressional distribution.
The 1993 U.S. Department of the Interior appropriations bill (Public
Law 102-381) directed the Service to finalize the EIS and stated that
it expected the preferred alternative to conform to existing law.
The Service evaluated and considered alternatives for the long
range recovery and management of wolf populations in the Yellowstone
National Park and central Idaho areas as presented in the FEIS and
reviewed and considered public and agency comments. Based upon that
evaluation and review, the Service selected the Proposed Action
Alternative as described in the FEIS for implementation. Reintroduced
populations of gray wolves are proposed to be designated as
nonessential experimental populations according to the provisions of
section 10(j) of the Act. A proposed nonessential experimental
population rule will be published in the Federal Register and provided
for review by the public. Based upon public comment and the results of
a continuing Service-led monitoring program to document wolf breeding
activity in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, the Service will decide
whether to issue and implement a final rule as soon as practicable. The
process to establish these regulatory guidelines and the opportunity
for public comment will be widely publicized. This determination was
based on a thorough analysis of environmental, social, economic, and
similar considerations.
On June 15, 1994, the Secretary of the Interior approved a
Statement of Findings and Record of Decision adopting the selected
alternative. On July 19, 1994, the Secretary of Agriculture approved a
concurring Record of Decision. These documents are available from the
office named above under ADDRESSES.
Dated: August 4, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-19452 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
