ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MAMMAL DAMAGE MANAGEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA Prepared By: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE WILDLIFE SERVICES In Consultation With: PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE December 2014 SUMMARY Pennsylvania’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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. The IWDM strategy encompasses 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, aerial shooting from aircraft (feral swine only), 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 Pennsylvania is closely coordinated with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) 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 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 FMD Foot and Mouth Disease FMIA Federal Meat Inspection Act FY Fiscal Year (October 1, XXXX – September 30, XXXX) HIA Harrisburg International Airport HPS Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome IWDM Integrated Wildlife Damage Management MDM Mammal Damage Management MIS Management Information System MOU Memorandum of Understanding NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA Natural Historic Preservation Act NOA Notices of Availability NWRC National Wildlife Research Center PADCNR Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources PAFBC Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission PDA Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture PDH Pennsylvania Department of Health PGC Pennsylvania Game Commission PNHP Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program SARAA Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority SOP Standard Operating Procedure T&E Threatened and Endangered US United States 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 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 ......................................................................................................................10 1.2.2 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Agricultural Resources ..................17 1.2.3 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Property .......................................20 1.2.4 Need for Mammal Damage Management to Protect Natural Resources ........................21 1.2.5 Need to Protect T&E Species ....................................................................................23 1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE ............................................................................................................ 23 1.4 SCOPE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 24 1.4.1 Actions Analyzed .....................................................................................................24 1.4.2 Period for which this EA is Valid ..............................................................................24 1.4.3 Site Specificity .........................................................................................................24 1.4.4 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................25 1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ......................................... 25 1.6 AUTHORITY AND COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................ 27 1.6.1 Wildlife Services Legislative Authority ......................................................................26 1.6.2 Pennsylvania Game Commission Legislative Authority ..............................................26 1.6.3 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture .......................................................................... 28 1.6.4 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ..............................................................28 1.6.5 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources……… ...................... 28 1.6.6 Pennsylvania Department of Health ...........................................................................29 1.6.7 Compliance with Federal Laws ..................................................................................27 1.7 PREVIEW OF THE REMAINDER OF THIS EA ........................................................................ 31 CHAPTER 2: ISSUES AND AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................. 31 2.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 31 2.2 ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL IN CHAPTER 4 .................................................................... 32 2.2.1 Effects on Target Mammal Species……………………………………….… .................. 32 2.2.2 Effects on Other Wildlife Species, including T&E Species ............................................. 33 2.2.3 Effects of Damage Management Methods on Human Health and Safety ......................... 33 2.2.4 Impacts to Stakeholders, Including Aesthetics ................................................................. 35 2.2.5 Humaneness and Animal Welfare Concerns of Methods Used ........................................ 36 2.3 ISSUES NOT CONSIDERED