Release of Record of Decision on the Non-Native Deer Management Plan for Point Reyes National Seashore

Date: December 8, 2006
Contact: John A. Dell’Osso, 415-464-5135

The National Park Service (NPS) announced the release of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) Non-Native Deer Management Plan: Protecting the Seashore’s Native Ecosystems, Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS has been developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published ROD in the Federal Register on November 29, 2006.

This FEIS is an important document for PRNS, setting forth how the park will protect the long-term health of its ecosystems, especially the preservation of native black-tailed deer and tule elk populations. It also meets park objectives for preserving native ecosystems from invasive non-native species. Public involvement has been a key element in the development of the plan over a four-year planning period.

The preferred alternative features a long-term strategy targeting a combination of fertility control and lethal removal over the next 15 years. This strategy will be instituted sometime in the next year. The Seashore has also received requests from food banks and the California Condor Recovery Program for the use of the meat.

A Record of Decision, describing the selected alternative and project commitments, was signed by the NPS Regional Director on October 17, 2006.  Following the issuance of the Record of Decision, implementation is the responsibility of the Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore. 

Please visit our expanded website at www.nps.gov/pore.

-NPS-

Attachment via fax – Federal Register Notice, November 29, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 229), Page 69141-69142