The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), invites the public to review and comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to allow limited use of some Indiana Fish and Wildlife properties for field trials. The draft EA evaluates several alternatives, including the proposed alternative, to allow limited field trials on Glendale, Pigeon River, Tri-County, and Winamac Fish and Wildlife Areas only during a restricted time period.
Field trials or tests are competitions in which hunting dogs are tested for their ability to track, locate, flush, or retrieve game birds or mammals. A trial may be formally organized by a regional or national organization or may be an informal field trial conducted by a local club. Trials include pointer dog trials conducted and viewed from horseback, and non-horseback events such as pointer, flusher, retriever, beagle, and coon dog trials in which dog handlers and observers follow on foot. Pen-raised game birds such as pheasants or quail are usually placed on the course for dogs to point, flush, or retrieve. These birds may or may not be shot for retrieval.
A Service audit for Indiana (Appendix E of the Environmental Assessment) concluded that environmental damage was occurring as a result of field trials on some fish and wildlife areas and specified that all field trial/test activity must stop until such activities were reviewed and an EA prepared.
The DNR has determined that there is a public demand for and a need to provide for limited field trials on fish and wildlife properties while protecting wildlife and their habitats.
The proposed alternative that would address this need involves; 1) limiting the properties where field trials could occur to Glendale, Pigeon River, Tri-County, and Winamac; 2) allowing trials only from February 1 to April 15; 3) restricting participants to walking; and 4) limiting the use area to no more than a 100-acre block in an area designated by the property manager. The two other alternatives considered are the "No Action" alternative, which continues the prohibition on field trials, and an alternative where field trials will be phased out after 10 years.
The EA was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which applies to the actions of all federal agencies. This action proposed by the DNR will occur on property purchased in whole or in part and managed with funding through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Act, administered by the Service.
The proposed project is also being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The area of potential effect for this undertaking is the Glendale, Pigeon River, Tri-County, and Winamac Fish and Wildlife Areas. The public is requested to inform the Service about archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the project.
Copies of the draft EA are available at the Indiana DNR, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 (telephone 317 -232- 4080); Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA), RR #2 Box 300, Montgomery, IN 47558 (812-644-7711); Tri-County FWA, 8432 N. 850 E., Syracuse, IN 46567 (219-834-4461); Winamac FWA, 1493 W. 500 N., Winamac, IN 46996 (574-946-4422), and Pigeon River FWA, 8310 E. 300 N. Box 71, Mongo, IN 46771 (260-367-2164. The draft EA is also available on the Services Regional Internet site at: http://midwest.fws.gov/nepa . Written comments should be sent to Mr. John Olson at the above Indianapolis address; via email to jolson@dnr.state.in.us; or via fax to 317-233-9593. Comments on the proposed field trial are welcome and should be submitted in writing. Comments should be received by Mr. Olson not later than May 28, 2002.
