Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts; Environmental Assessment: Interim Pheasant Management Program

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts; Environmental

Assessment: Interim Pheasant Management Program

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Comment Period for the

Environmental Assessment, Interim Pheasant Management.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (NEPA 42 USC 4321 et. seq.), the National Park Service, Cape Cod

National Seashore, announces that an Environmental Assessment (EA) for

the Interim Pheasant Management Program is available for public review

and comment.

The public comment period is from August 29, 1996 to September 29,

1996. Interested persons may review the document and make written

comments to the Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore,

Headquarters Building, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

02667. Written comments and visits or phone inquiries by interested

parties will be accepted.

The EA analyzes the impacts of two alternatives for an interim

proposal for the research and management of the Ring-Necked Pheasant

(Phasianus colchicus) hunting and stocking program at Cape Cod National

Seashore. The two alternatives include a no action option which

continues current management, and a two year research and evaluation

alternative to assess impacts to native resources and provide an

objective evaluation of the stocking and hunting program.

Numerous groups interested in the issue of pheasant management have

increasingly questioned or requested review or changes as to how the

State of Massachusetts and the National Park Service manage the

pheasant hunting program. Many hunting interests have also asked that

the program be preserved and allowed to continue within the seashore.

Currently, little or no data exist on pheasant survival, population,

movement patterns, harvest numbers, and impacts the release may have on

the native Seashore ecosystems. Based on this lack of data, the long

history of pheasant stocking in the Seashore, and policy questions that

require data on which to base informed management decisions, the EA

analyzes impacts and provides for public review of the two alternatives

to initiate an appropriate research and management program.

Copies of the document are available at the address listed above or

by calling Mike Reynolds at (508) 349-3785 x216 at the Seashore

Headquarters for copies, questions, or other inquiries.

Dated: August 20, 1996.

Maria Burks,

Superiontendent, Cape Cod National Seashore.

[FR Doc. 96-21747 Filed 8-26-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M