37050 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 142 / Monday, July 27, 2009 / Notices 

(3) The quality, utility and clarity of 

the information to be collected; and 

(4) How to minimize the information 

collection burden on those who are to 

respond, including the use of 

appropriate automated, electronic, 

mechanical, or other forms of 

information technology. 

Please send comments to the 

addresses listed under ADDRESSES. 

Please refer to OMB control number 

1004–0185 in your correspondence. 

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. 

Jean Sonneman, 

Acting Information Collection Clearance 

Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–17875 Filed 7–24–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

White-tailed Deer Management Plan, 

Final Environmental Impact Statement, 

Valley Forge National Historical Park, 

PA 

AGENCY: National Park Service, 

Department of the Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

for the White-tailed Deer Management 

Plan, Valley Forge National Historical 

Park. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 

amended, the National Park Service 

(NPS) announces the availability of the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS) for the White-tailed Deer 

Management Plan for Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, Pennsylvania. 

The purpose of the FEIS is to evaluate 

a range of alternatives for establishing a 

white-tailed deer management plan that 

supports forest regeneration and 

provides for long-term protection, 

preservation, and restoration of native 

vegetation and other natural and 

cultural resources. The FEIS evaluates 

four alternatives for managing whitetailed deer in the park. Alternatives for 

response to chronic wasting disease 

(CWD) have been integrated into each 

deer management alternative to address 

the elevated risk of disease in proximity 

to the park and because of the 

efficiencies and cost savings associated 

with incorporating CWD response into 

the deer management plan. The FEIS 

describes and analyzes the 

environmental impacts of three action 

alternatives and the no-action 

alternative. The FEIS responds to, and 

incorporates, agency and public 

comments received on the Draft Whitetailed Deer Management Plan/ 

Environmental Impact Statement, which 

was available for public review from 

December 19, 2008 through February 17, 

2009. Agency and public comments 

with NPS responses are provided as 

Appendix F of the FEIS. When 

approved, the plan will guide deer 

management actions over the next 15 

years. 

DATES: No sooner than 30 days 

following publication of the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Notice of Availability of the FEIS in the 

Federal Register, the Northeast Regional 

Director will sign a Record of Decision 

that will document NPS approval of the 

FEIS and identify the alternative 

selected for implementation. 

ADDRESSES: The White-tailed Deer 

Management Plan/FEIS will be available 

online through the NPS Planning, 

Environment, and Public Comment 

(PEPC) Web site at http:// 

parkplanning.nps.gov/vafo. A limited 

number of hard copies will be available 

at the Valley Forge National Historical 

Park Visitor Center located at the 

intersection of North Gulph Road and 

Route 23 and at the Lower Providence 

Community Library (50 Parklane Drive, 

Eagleville, PA 19403–1171), Tredyffrin 

Public Library (582 Upper Gulph Road, 

Strafford-Wayne, PA 19087–2052), 

Phoenixville Public Library (183 Second 

Avenue, Phoenixville, PA 19460), 

Upper Merion Township Library (175 

West Valley Forge Road, King of 

Prussia, PA 19406) and Montgomery 

County-Norristown Public Library (1001 

Powell Street, Norristown, PA 19401). 

You may request a hardcopy or CD by 

contacting Kristina M. Heister, Valley 

Forge National Historical Park, at the 

phone or address provided below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristina M. Heister, Natural Resource 

Manager, Valley Forge National 

Historical Park, 1400 North Outer Line 

Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, (610) 

783–0252. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Development of the Environmental 

Impact Statement for the White-tailed 

Deer Management Plan for Valley Forge 

National Historical Park was initiated in 

2006, pursuant to the 2006 House 

Appropriations Report (HR 109–465): 

‘‘The public has been patient as the NPS 

has worked through its process in regard 

to management of the over-abundance of 

white-tailed deer at the park. Within 

existing funds, NPS is directed to begin 

the environmental impact statement for 

deer management. The Committee 

expects that the plan will be funded 

fully so that it can be completed in 

fiscal year 2008. The Committee further 

expects that implementation of the 

selected action will begin immediately 

upon signing of the Record of Decision.’’ 

A Notice of Intent to prepare a deer 

management plan and environmental 

impact statement was published in the 

Federal Register on September 7, 2006. 

Extensive agency and public scoping 

was conducted and the Draft WhiteTailed Deer Management Plan/ 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

was released on December 19, 2008 for 

a 60-day public review period that 

ended on February 17, 2009. Two public 

meetings were held in January, 2009. 

During the comment period, 1,168 

pieces of correspondence were received, 

from which 3,884 comments were 

derived. Agency and public comments 

received on the DEIS were carefully 

reviewed and incorporated into the 

FEIS. 

The FEIS 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 noaction alternative. 

Alternatives: Alternative A (no action) 

would continue the existing deer 

management activities of monitoring 

deer population size and vegetation, 

small scale fencing of selected 

vegetation, removal of deer killed on 

roadways, public education, 

coordination with the Pennsylvania 

Game Commission, and continuation of 

limited CWD surveillance; no new deer 

management actions would be 

implemented. 

Alternative B would combine several 

non-lethal actions, including large-scale 

rotational fencing of 10% to 15% of the 

park’s forested area and reproductive 

control of does to gradually reduce deer 

population in the park. Chronic wasting 

disease surveillance would include live 

testing (via tonsillar biopsy) and 

removal of CWD-positive individuals. 

Under Alternative C, qualified federal 

employees or contractors would directly 

reduce the deer population in the park 

through sharpshooting and through 

capture and euthanasia, where 

appropriate. CWD response would 

include rapid reduction of the deer 

population to the target deer density 

and the potential for a one-time 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 142 / Monday, July 27, 2009 / Notices 37051 

reduction action to not less than 10 deer 

per square mile through sharpshooting 

and through capture and euthanasia. 

These actions would be taken for the 

purposes of assessing disease presence, 

prevalence, and distribution. These 

actions may also minimize the 

likelihood of CWD becoming 

established, minimize the likelihood of 

amplification and spread if the disease 

is introduced, and promote elimination 

of CWD, if possible. 

Alternative D, the NPS Preferred 

Alternative, would combine actions of 

Alternative C to directly reduce the deer 

population with reproductive control of 

does as under Alternative B to maintain 

population levels. CWD response 

actions would be the same as described 

for Alternative C. 

Changes to the FEIS as a result of 

public comment on the DEIS consist of 

factual updates to baseline data and 

clarifications added to the text. No 

changes were made to the preferred 

alternative or other alternatives 

evaluated nor was the outcome of the 

impact analysis changed. Agency and 

public comments received on the DEIS 

with NPS responses are provided as 

Appendix F of the FEIS. 

Dennis R. Reidenbach, 

Regional Director, Northeast Region, National 

Park Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–17807 Filed 7–24–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–DJ–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLWO350000.L14300000] 

Notice of Extension of Public 

Comment Period for Programmatic 

Environmental Impact Statement To 

Develop and Implement AgencySpecific Programs for Solar Energy 

Development 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of extension. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy 

and the Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) (the Agencies) are extending the 

public comment period for the 

Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement to Develop and Implement 

Agency-Specific Programs for Solar 

Energy Development (Solar PEIS). The 

Solar PEIS includes BLM-administered 

lands in the States of Arizona, 

California, Colorado, New Mexico, 

Nevada, and Utah. A notice published 

in the Federal Register on June 30, 2009 

[74 FR 31307] provided for a public 

comment period ending on July 30, 

2009. 

DATES: Several individuals and 

organizations have requested an 

extension of the comment period. The 

Agencies have decided to act in 

accordance with these requests; 

therefore, comments on the solar energy 

study areas will now be accepted 

through September 14, 2009. Comments 

received or postmarked after September 

14, 2009 will be considered to the extent 

practicable. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit written 

comments by the following methods: 

• Electronically, using the online 

comment form available on the project 

Web site: http://solareis.anl.gov. This is 

the preferred method of commenting. 

• In writing, addressed to: Solar 

Energy PEIS, Argonne National 

Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue—EVS/ 

900, Argonne, IL 60439. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information contact: Linda 

Resseguie, BLM Washington Office, 

linda_resseguie@blm.gov, 202–452– 

7774; or Lisa Jorgensen, Department of 

Energy, Golden Field Office, 

lisa.jorgensen@go.doe.gov, 303–275– 

4906. You may also visit the Solar PEIS 

Web site at http://solareis.anl.gov. 

Mike Pool, 

Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management. 

[FR Doc. E9–17782 Filed 7–24–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Madera Irrigation District Water Supply 

Enhancement Project 

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice 

of public meeting for the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (Draft 

EIS). 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation 

(Reclamation) has made available for 

public review and comment the Draft 

EIS for the Madera Irrigation District 

Water Supply Enhancement Project 

(MID WSEP). Reclamation proposes to 

approve the banking of up to 55,000 

acre-feet per year of Central Valley 

Project (CVP) water outside the MID 

service area and the alteration of 

Reclamation-owned facilities. The total 

banking capacity of the MID WSEP is 

250,000 acre-feet. 

The draft EIS evaluates the potential 

environmental effects of the proposed 

MID WSEP on the property known as 

Madera Ranch (west of the City of 

Madera, Madera County, CA), and the 

improvements to associated facilities 

needed to operate the MID WSEP. 

Portions of the 24.2 Canal, Section 8 

Canal, Main Number 1 Canal, 

Cottonwood Creek, and Gravelly Ford 

Canal would be enlarged, extended, or 

improved. 

The MID WSEP would be completed 

in two phases. Phase 1 would involve 

recharge-related facilities only. Phase 2 

would involve supplemental recharge 

facilities and facilities for recovery of 

banked water. The draft EIS addresses 

both phases. 

DATES: Submit written comments on the 

draft environmental document on or 

before September 25, 2009. 

A public meeting will be held on 

August 27, 2009 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in 

Madera, CA to discuss the purpose and 

content of the draft environmental 

document and to provide the public an 

opportunity to comment on the draft 

environmental document. Written 

comments will also be accepted at the 

public meeting. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be 

held at Madera Irrigation District Office, 

2152 Road 281⁄4, Madera, CA 93637. 

Written comments on the Draft EIS 

should be addressed to Ms. Patricia 

Clinton, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N 

Street, Fresno, CA 93721–1831. 

Copies of the draft document may be 

requested from Ms. Patricia Clinton at 

the above address, by calling 559–487– 

5127, TDD 559–487–5933, or at 

pclinton@usbr.gov. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section for locations where 

copies of the Draft EIS are available. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Patricia Clinton, Bureau of Reclamation 

at the phone numbers or e-mail address 

above. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Groundwater levels in the Madera 

subbasin have experienced steep 

declines. These conditions have made it 

increasingly expensive for farmers to 

pump groundwater. In addition, in 

many years, MID has been unable to 

deliver sufficient surface water to 

farmers either because surface water is 

available primarily during the early 

months of the year when irrigation 

demand is low, or surface water is 

available only for short periods of time 

during the growing season. 

To increase water storage, enhance 

water supply reliability and flexibility 

for current and future water demand 

and reduce local overdraft, MID 

proposes to implement the WSEP. MID 

would bank CVP water and other 

imported water in the aquifer 

underlying Madera Ranch. In wet years, 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES