DCCO EA for public comment TOC and acronyms

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Description

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REDUCING DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT DAMAGE IN OHIO Prepared By: United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services In Cooperation with United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management Office Fish and Wildlife Service, West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment 1 January 2006 Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION 6 ACRONYMS 7 CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1 PURPOSE 1.2 OBJECTIVES 1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE 1.4 NEED FOR ACTION 1.4.1 Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including Threatened and Endangered Species Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.4.2 Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources 1.4.3 mpact on Aquaculture 1.4.4 Potential DCCO Impact on Property 1.4.5 mpact on Human Health and SafetyError! Bookmark not defined. 1.5 BACKGROUND Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.5.1 Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including T&E Species 1.5.2 Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources 1.5.3 mpact on Aquaculture 1.5.4 Potential DCCO Impact on Property 1.5.5 mpact on Human Health and SafetyError! Bookmark not defined. ...

Informations

• Publié par: Odwou
• Nombre de lectures: 15
• Langue: English

Extrait

Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

REDUCING DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

DAMAGE IN OHIO

Prepared By:

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Wildlife Services

In Cooperation with

United States Department of Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management Office

United States Department of Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service, West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment

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January 2006

Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION

6

ACRONYMS

7

CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

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1.1 PURPOSE

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1.2 OBJECTIVES

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1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE

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1.4 NEED FOR ACTION

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1.4.1

Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including Threatened

and Endangered Species

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1.4.2

Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources

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1.4.3

Potential DCCO Impact on Aquaculture

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1.4.4

Potential DCCO Impact on Property

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1.4.5

Potential DCCO Impact on Human Health and Safety

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defined.

1.5 BACKGROUND

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1.5.1

Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including T&E

Species

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1.5.2

Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources

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1.5.3

Potential DCCO Impact on Aquaculture

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1.5.4

Potential DCCO Impact on Property

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1.5.5

Potential DCCO Impact on Human Health and Safety

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1.5.6

Double-crested Cormorants in Ohio

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1.5.7

Ohio DCCO Management Working Group

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1.5.8

Examples of CDM efforts in Ohio

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1.6 WS RECORD KEEPING REGARDING REQUESTS FOR CDM ASSISTANCE

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1.7 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS

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1.8 SCOPE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

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1.8.1

Actions Analyzed

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1.8.2

Period for which this EA is Valid

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1.8.3

American Indian Tribes and Land

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1.8.4

Site Specificity

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1.8.5

Summary of Public Involvement

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1.9 AUTHORITY AND COMPLIANCE

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1.9.1

Authority of Each Lead and Cooperating Agency in CDM in Ohio

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1.9.2

Compliance with Other Laws, Executive Orders, Treaties, and Court Decisions

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CHAPTER 2: ISSUES

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2.0 INTRODUCTION

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2.1 SUMMARY OF ISSUES

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2.1.1

Effects on DCCO Populations

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2.1.2

Effects on other Wildlife and Fish Species, Including Threatened and Endangered

Species

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2.1.3

Effects on Human Health and Safety

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2.1.4

Effects on Aesthetic Values

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2.1.5

Humaneness and Animal Welfare Concerns of Methods Used by WS

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2.1.6

Effects of Carcass Disposal

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2.1.7

Effects of CDM on Recreation

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2.2 ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT IN DETAIL WITH RATIONALE

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2.2.1

Impacts on Biodiversity

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2.2.2

A “Threshold of Loss” Should Be Established Before Allowing Any Lethal CDM

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2.2.3

Cormorant Conflict Management as proposed in the preferred alternative is

contrary to the purpose and mission of a National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness

area.

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2.2.4

There are effective mechanisms in place to address DCCO damage to property

and aquaculture facilities and to reduce risks from DCCOs at airports. There is no

need to expand DCCO removals for these issues.

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CHAPTER 3: ALTERNATIVES

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3.0 INTRODUCTION

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3.1 ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED IN DETAIL

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3.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES

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3.2.1

Alternative 1. Integrated CDM Including Implementation of the PRDO

(Proposed Action)

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3.2.2

Alternative 2. Only Non-lethal CDM by Federal Agencies

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3.2.3

Alternative 3. Only Technical Assistance by Federal Agencies

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3.2.4

Alternative 4. No CDM by Federal Agencies

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3.2.5

Alternative 5. - Integrated CDM Program, Excluding Implementation of the

PRDO (No Action)

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3.3 CDM STRATEGIES AND METHODOLOGIES

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3.3.1

Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM)

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3.3.2

Decision Making

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3.3.3

Cormorant Conflict Management Methods Available for Use

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3.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT NOT ANALYZED IN DETAIL WITH

RATIONALE

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3.4.1

Lethal CDM Only

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3.4.2

Compensation for DCCO Damage Losses

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3.4.3

Non-lethal Methods Implemented Before Lethal Methods

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3.5 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs) FOR CDM

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3.5.1

Standard Operating Procedures

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3.5.2

Standard Operating Procedures Specific to the Issues

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CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

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4.0 INTRODUCTION

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4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES FOR ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL

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4.1.1

Effects on DCCO Populations

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4.1.2

Effects on Other Fish and Wildlife Species, Including Threatened and

Endangered Species

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4.1.3

Effects on Human Health and Safety

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4.1.4

Effects on Aesthetic Values

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4.1.5

Humaneness and Animal Welfare Concerns of the Methods Used

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4.1.6

Impacts of Carcass Disposal

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4.1.7

Effects on Recreation in Surrounding Area

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4.2 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

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4.3 SUMMARY

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CHAPTER 5: LIST OF PREPARERS AND PERSONS CONSULTED

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APPENDIX A: LITERATURE CITED

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APPENDIX B: SPECIES THAT ARE FEDERALLY LISTED AS THREATENED OR

ENDANGERED IN THE STATE OF OHIO

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APPENDIX C: SPECIES THAT ARE LISTED AS ENDANGERED AND THREATENED BY

THE STATE OF OHIO

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APPENDIX E: LOCATION AND SIZE OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

BREEDING COLONIES IN THE STATE OF OHIO WITH INFORMATION

ON CO-NESTING COLONIAL WATERBIRDS

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APPENDIX E: INTERACTION AMONG AGENCY DECISIONS

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APPENDIX F: LIST OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES

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APPENDIX G: USFWS FINAL RULEMAKING AND RECORD OF DECISION ON

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT MANAGEMENT

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Ohio Cormorant Environmental Assessment

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SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION

The United States Department of Agriculture’s, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,

Wildlife Services (USDA, APHIS, WS), the Department of Interior’s, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (USFWS), and the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODW) propose to implement a double-

crested cormorant (DCCO) damage management program in Ohio, including the implementation

of the Public Resource Depredation Order (PRDO) (50 CFR 21.48) as promulgated by the

USFWS. An Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) approach would be

implemented to reduce DCCO damage to aquaculture, property, and natural resources, and

reduce risks to human health and safety in localized situations when it is deemed necessary.

Cormorant damage management (CDM) may be conducted on public and private property in

Ohio when the resource owner (property owner) or manager requests assistance and any

necessary permits and authorizations are obtained. An IWDM strategy would be recommended

and used, encompassing the use of practical and effective methods of preventing or reducing

damage while minimizing harmful effects of CDM measures on humans, target and non-target

species, and the environment. Under this action, the agencies could provide technical assistance

and direct operational damage management, including non-lethal and lethal management

methods. When appropriate, physical exclusion, habitat modification, or harassment would be

recommended and used to reduce damage. In other situations, birds would be humanely

removed through shooting, egg addling/destruction, nest destruction, or euthanasia following live

capture. In determining the damage management strategy, preference would be given to

practical and effective non-lethal methods. However, non-lethal methods may not always be

applied as a first response to each problem. The most appropriate response could be a

combination of non-lethal and lethal methods, or there could be instances where the application

of lethal methods alone would be the most appropriate strategy. Landowner/resource manager

permission would be obtained prior to conducting CDM activities. Management activities would

comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws. The USFWS would be responsible for

ensuring compliance with the regulations at 50 CFR 21.48 and that the long-term sustainability

of regional DCCO populations is not threatened by CDM activities.

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ACRONYMS

ADC

Animal Damage Control

APHIS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

AVMA

American Veterinary Medical Association

BCNH

Black-crowned night heron

CCP

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

CDC

Center for Disease Control

CDFG

California Department of Fish and Game

CDM

Cormorant Damage Management

CEQ

Council on Environmental Quality

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

DCCO

Double-crested cormorant

DOI

U.S. Department of the Interior

EA

Environmental Assessment

EIS

Environmental Impact Statement

EJ

Environmental Justice

END

Exotic Newcastle Disease

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. or OH)

ESA

Endangered Species Act

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

FEIS

Final Environmental Impact Statement

FY

Fiscal Year

IWDM

Integrated Wildlife Damage Management

MBP

Migratory Bird Permit

MBTA

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

MIS

Management Information System

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

NEPA

National Environmental Policy Act

NFH

National Fish Hatchery

NHPA

National Historic Preservation Act

NOA

Notice of Availability

NWPS

National Wildlife Preservation System

NWRC

National Wildlife Research Center

OARDC

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

ODA

Ohio Department of Agriculture

ODH

Ohio Department of Health

ODOT

Ohio Department of Transportation

ODW

Ohio Division of Wildlife

ODSW

Ohio Division of Soil and Water

ODNR

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

OMNR

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

ONWR

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

ORC

Ohio Revised Code

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OSUE

Ohio State University Extension

PRDO

Public Resource Depredation Order

ROD

Record of Decision

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure

T&E

Threatened and Endangered

TAC

Total Allowable Catch

TPI

Turning Point Island

USC

United States Code

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

WNV

West Nile Virus

WS

Wildlife Services

WSI

West Sister Island

WSINWR

West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge

NOTE:

On August 1, 1997, the Animal Damage Control program was officially renamed to Wildlife Services. The

terms Animal Damage Control, ADC, Wildlife Services, and WS are used synonymously throughout this

Environmental Assessment.

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