[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67633-67634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9331]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft White-tailed Deer Management 
Plan Environmental Impact Statement, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft White-tailed Deer 
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Catoctin Mountain 
Park.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft 
White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont, Maryland. The purpose of the DEIS 
is to identify a preferred white-tailed deer management plan from a 
range of alternatives that supports forest regeneration and provides 
for long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of native 
species and cultural resources. The DEIS evaluates four alternatives 
for managing white-tailed deer in the park. The document describes and 
analyzes the environmental impacts of three action alternatives and the 
no-action alternative. When implemented, the plan will guide deer 
management actions over the next 15 years.

DATES: The NPS invites comments regarding the DEIS from the public. 
Comments will be accepted for a period of 60 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability is published 
in the Federal Register. In addition, the NPS intends to conduct a 
public meeting. Please check local newspapers, the park's Web site, 
http://www.nps.gov/cato, or contact the name listed below to find out 
when and where the meeting will be held. A brochure has been prepared 
that describes the DEIS and provides information regarding the public 
meeting.
    There are several ways to submit comments. During the public 
meeting, the NPS will accept written comments as well as provide for 
verbal comments to be recorded. We encourage comments to be submitted 
electronically through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public 
Comment (PEPC) Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Written comments 
may also be submitted to: Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 
Foxville Road, Thurmont, Maryland, 21788.

ADDRESSES: The DEIS will be available for public review online at the 
PEPC Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Once on the PEPC Web 
site, select ``Catoctin Mountain Park'' in order to access the DEIS. 
Bound copies of the DEIS will be available at the Catoctin Mountain 
Park Visitor Center located at the intersection of Maryland Route 77 
and Park Central Road, at park headquarters located approximately 2 
miles west of Thurmont on Maryland Route 77, and at public libraries in 
Frederick, Thurmont, Smithsburg, and Hagerstown, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Swauger, Environmental 
Protection Specialists, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, 
Thurmont, Maryland 21788, (301) 416-0135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS evaluates four alternatives for 
managing white-tailed deer in the park. The document describes and 
analyzes the environmental impacts of three action alternatives and the 
no-action alternative.
    Alternative A (no action) would continue the existing deer 
management plan of limited fencing, use of repellents in landscaped 
areas, monitoring, data management, and research; no new deer 
management actions would be implemented.
    Alternative B would combine several non-lethal actions including 
large-scale exclosures (fencing), additional use of repellents in 
limited areas, and reproductive control of does to gradually reduce 
deer population in the park.
    Under Alternative C (NPS Preferred Alternative), qualified federal 
employees or contractors would directly reduce the deer population in 
the park through sharpshooting and capture and euthanasia, where 
appropriate.
    Alternative D would combine actions of Alternative C to directly 
reduce the deer population and reproductive control of does as under 
Alternative B to maintain population levels.
    Comments will be analyzed and responded to within the final White-
tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. Our 
practice is to make comments, including names, home addresses, home 
phone numbers and e-mail addresses of respondents, available for public 
review. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their names 
and/or home addresses, etc., but if you wish us to consider withholding 
this information you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comments. In addition, you must present a rationale for 
withholding this information. This rationale must

[[Page 67634]]

demonstrate that disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted 
invasion of privacy. Unsupported assertions will not meet this burden. 
In the absence of exceptional, documental circumstances, this 
information will be released. We will always make submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives of or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: October 20, 2006.
Joseph M. Lawler,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 06-9331 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-59-M