2015 Mammal Damage Management in Maryland and DC EA
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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MAMMAL DAMAGE MANAGEMENT IN MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON D.C. Prepared By: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE WILDLIFE SERVICES In Consultation With: MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE May 2015 SUMMARY Maryland’s wildlife has many positive values and is an important part of life in the state. However, as human populations expand, and land is used for human needs, there is increasing potential for conflicting human/wildlife interactions. This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the potential environmental impacts of alternatives for United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS) involvement in the reduction of conflicts by mammals in Maryland, including damage to property, agricultural and natural resources, and risks to human and livestock health and safety. The proposed wildlife damage management activities could be conducted on public and private property in Maryland when the property owner or manager requests assistance and/or when assistance is requested by an appropriate state, federal, tribal or local government agency. The preferred alternative considered in the EA, would be to continue and expand the current Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) program in Maryland. The IWDM strategy encompass the use of practical and effective methods of preventing or reducing damage while minimizing harmful effects of damage management measures on humans, target and non-target species, and the environment. Under this action, WS could provide technical assistance and direct operational assistance including non-lethal and lethal management methods, as described in the WS Decision Model (Slate et al. 1992). When appropriate, non-lethal methods like physical exclusion, cultural practices, habitat modification, repellents or harassment would be recommended and utilized to reduce damage. In other situations, mammals would be removed as humanely as possible using shooting, trapping, snare/cable restraints, or registered euthanasia drugs. 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 damage problem. The most appropriate response could often be a combination of non-lethal and lethal methods, or could include instances where application of lethal methods alone would be the most appropriate strategy. Other alternatives examined in the EA include an alternative in which WS does not become involved in mammal damage management (MDM), and an alternative in which WS is restricted to the use and recommendation of only non-lethal MDM methods (Chapter 3). WS involvement in mammal damage management in Maryland is closely coordinated with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and all WS activities are conducted in accordance with applicable state, federal, and local laws and regulations. The EA provides a detailed analysis of the impacts of each alternative on target mammal populations, non-target species including state and federally-listed threatened and endangered species, human health and safety, humaneness of the alternatives used, impacts on stakeholders, including impacts on aesthetic values, and impacts on regulated harvest of mammals. 2 ACRONYMS AMDUCA Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association CDC Center for Disease Control CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations CWD Chronic Wasting Disease DEA Drug Enforcement Administration EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act FAA Federal Aviation Administration FDA Food and Drug Administration FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act FMIA Federal Meat Inspection Act FY Fiscal Year (October 1, XXXX – September 30, XXXX) IWDM Integrated Wildlife Damage Management MDA Maryland Department of Agriculture MDHMH Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene MDM Mammal Damage Management MDNR Maryland Department of Natural Resources MIS Management Information System MOU Memorandum of Understanding NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA Natural Historic Preservation Act NWRC National Wildlife Research Center SOP Standard Operating Procedure T&E Threatened and Endangered US United States USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers USC United States Code USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFWS United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service WDM Wildlife Damage Management WS Wildlife Services WWHC Western Wildlife Health Committee 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 2 ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION .......................................................................... 6 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 PURPOSE OF THIS EA .................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 NEED FOR ACTION ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.1 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Human Health and Safety .................................................................................................................................. 9 1.2.2 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Agricultural Resources ................... 15 1.2.3 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Property .......................................... 18 1.2.4 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Natural Resources .......................... 19 1.2.5 Need to Protect T&E Species ........................................................................................... 20 1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE ............................................................................................................ 21 1.4 SCOPE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 21 1.4.1 Actions Analyzed .............................................................................................................. 21 1.4.2 Period for which this EA is Valid ..................................................................................... 21 1.4.3 Site Specificity .................................................................................................................. 21 1.4.4 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................... 22 1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ......................................... 23 1.6 AUTHORITY AND COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................ 23 1.6.1 Wildlife Services Legislative Authority ........................................................................... 23 1.6.2 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Legislative Authority ................................. 24 1.6.3 Maryland Department of Agriculture ............................................................................... 24 1.6.4 Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ...................................................... 24 1.6.5 Compliance with Federal Laws ........................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER 2: ISSUES AND AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................. 29 2.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 29 2.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 29 2.2 ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL IN CHAPTER 4 .................................................................... 30 2.2.1 Effects on Target Mammal Species 30 2.2.2 Effects on Other Wildlife Species, including T&E Species 31 2.2.3 Effects of Damage Management Methods on Human Health and Safety 31 2.2.4 Humaneness and Animal Welfare Concerns of Methods Used 32 2.3 ISSUES NOT CONSIDERED IN DETAIL WITH RATIONALE ............................................... 33 2.3.1 No Wildlife Damage Management at Taxpayer Expense; Wildlife Damage Management should be Fee Based .................................................................................... 33 2.3.2 Mammal Damage Should be Managed by Private Nuisance Wildlife Control Agents ............................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.3 Appropriateness of Preparing an EA (Instead of an EIS) for Such a Large Area ................................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.4 Cost Effectiveness of Management Methods ...................................................................