ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Managing Damage and Threats Associated With Invasive Patas and Rhesus Monkeys In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Prepared by: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS) WILDLIFE SERVICES (WS) In Cooperation with: PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES (DNER) PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (PRDA) and UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) April 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS......................................................................................................................................................iv CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 PURPOSE OF THE EA...................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 NEED FOR ACTION..........................................................................................................................1-3 1.3.1 Need for Damage Management to Protect Human Health and Safety................................... 1-5 1.3.2 Need for Action to Protect Agriculture..................................................................................1-7 1.3.3 Need for Action to Protect Natural Resources, Including T&E Species............................... 1-8 1.3.4 Need for Action to Protect Property......................................................................................1-10 1.4 RELATIONSHIP OF THIS EA TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS......................... 1-11 1.4.1 WS’ Programmatic FEIS....................................................................................................... 1-11 1.5 DECISION TO BE MADE................................................................................................................. 1-11 1.6 SCOPE OF THIS EA.......................................................................................................................... 1-11 1.6.1 Actions Analyzed.................................................................................................................. 1-11 1.6.2 Period for which this EA is Valid..........................................................................................1-11 1.6.3 Site Specificity...................................................................................................................... 1-12 1.6.4 Summary of Public Involvement........................................................................................... 1-13 CHAPTER 2: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ISSUES 2.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT...........................................................................................................2-1 2.3 ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES................................................ 2-3 2.3.1 Issue 1 - Effects on Invasive Monkey Populations in Puerto Rico........................................ 2-3 2.3.2 Issue 2 - Effects on Non-target Species’ Populations, Including T&E Species.................... 2-3 2.3.3 Issue 3 - Effects of Management Methods on Human Health and Safety............................. 2-4 2.3.3.1 Safety of Chemical Methods Employed.................................................................. 2-4 2.3.3.2 Safety of Non-chemical Methods Employed...........................................................2-5 2.3.3.3 Effects of not Employing Methods to Reduce Threats to Human Safety................ 2-6 2.3.4 Issue 4 - Humaneness of Management Methods................................................................... 2-6 2.3.5 Issue 5 - Effects of Management on the Aesthetic Values of Target Species........................ 2-7 2.4 ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT IN DETAIL WITH RATIONALE............................................ 2-8 2.4.1 Appropriateness of Preparing an EA for Such a Large Area................................................. 2-8 2.4.2 Legal Constraints on Implementation of Management Actions............................................ 2-8 2.4.3 Cost Effectiveness of Management Methods........................................................................ 2-8 2.4.4 A Loss Threshold Should Be Established Before Allowing Lethal Methods....................... 2-9 2.4.5 Wildlife Damage Management should not occur at Taxpayer Expense................................ 2-9 2.4.6 Effectiveness of Management Methods.................................................................................2-9 2.4.7 Potential for Monkeys to Disperse to Other Areas Due to Management Activities...............2-10 ii 2.4.8 Based on Previous Efforts, Proposed Monkey Removal Efforts Likely to be Unsuccessful......................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.4.9 Lack of Expertise of Cooperating Agencies in Managing Damage caused by Monkeys...... 2-11 2.4.10 Increase in Biohazards Associated with Captured and Deceased Monkeys.......................... 2-12 CHAPTER 3: ALTERNATIVES 3.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES..................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Alternative 1 – Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (Proposed Action/No Action)............................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Alternative 2 – Technical Assistance Only........................................................................... 3-3 3.2.3 Alternative 3 – No Monkey Damage Management in Puerto Rico....................................... 3-3 3.3 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT NOT ANALYZED IN DETAIL WITH RATIONALE..... 3-4 3.3.1 Trap, Sterilize, and Release (TSR)........................................................................................ 3-4 3.3.2 Trap and Relocate Back into the Wild.................................................................................. 3-5 3.3.3 Use of Non-Lethal Methods Only......................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.4 Use of Non-Lethal Methods before Lethal Methods............................................................. 3-5 3.3.5 Use of Lethal Methods Only................................................................................................. 3-6 3.3.6 Establish a Harvest Season on Monkeys in Puerto Rico....................................................... 3-6 3.4 MINIMIZATION AND SOPs FOR WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES.......3-7 3.4.1 Minimization Measures......................................................................................................... 3-7 3.5 ADDITIONAL MINIMIZATION MEASURES SPECIFIC TO THE ISSUES..................................3-8 3.5.1 Issue 1 - Effects on Invasive Monkey Populations in Puerto Rico........................................ 3-8 3.5.2 Issue 2 - Effects on Non-target Species’ Populations, including T&E Species..................... 3-8 3.5.3 Issue 3 - Effects of Management Methods on Human Health and Safety............................. 3-9 3.5.4 Issue 4 - Humaneness of Management Methods................................................................... 3-9 3.5.5 Issue 5 - Effects of Management on the Aesthetic Values of Target Species........................ 3-10 CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 4.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES FOR ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL........................ 4-1 4.2.1 Issue 1 - Effects on Invasive Monkey Population in Puerto Rico......................................... 4-1 4.2.2 Issue 2 - Effects on Non-target Species’ Populations, Including T&E Species.................... 4-5 4.2.3 Issue 3 - Effects of Management Methods on Human Health and Safety............................. 4-9 4.2.3.1 Safety of Chemical Methods Employed.................................................................. 4-9 4.2.3.2 Safety of Non-chemical Methods Employed.......................................................... 4-12 4.2.3.3 Effects of not Employing Methods to Reduce Threats to Human Safety............... 4-14 4.2.4 Issue 4 - Humaneness of Management Methods................................................................... 4-15 4.2.5 Issue 5 - Effects of Management on the Aesthetic Values of Target Species........................ 4-18 4.3 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION BY ISSUE.......................................... 4-19 iii 4.3.1 Issue 1 - Effects on Invasive Monkey Populations in Puerto Rico........................................ 4-20 4.3.2 Issue 2 - Effects on Non-target Species’ Populations, including T&E species..................... 4-21 4.3.3 Issue 3 - Effects of Management Methods on Human Health and Safety............................. 4-21 4.3.4 Issue 4 - Humaneness of Management Methods................................................................... 4-22 4.3.5 Issue 5 - Effects of Management on the Aesthetic Values of Target Species........................ 4-23 4.4 ADDITIONAL ANALYSES OF POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE IMPACTS...................................