Public Comments on Cormorant Damage Management
Larry Meier, Cormorant Citizen Advisor
2704 East West Branch
Prudenville, MI 48651
Members and Others,
I have received several comments since I sent the draft cormorant letter to everyone on the mailing list concerning the 2003 Final Environmental Impact Statement: Double-Crested Cormorant Management in the United States. This Environmental Impact Statement provides the authority to the states to manage cormorant damage and the regulations are due to be revised. The Department of Natural Resources supports continuing the current cormorant management program but with modifications which would incorporate a regional approach. All the comments that I received were supportive of the draft letter that I proposed sending to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The letter supports the Department of Natural Resources’ position of expanding the current cormorant management approach to include a regional approach. The letter that I submitted from the Committee is attached and can also be viewed on the government website as described below.
As we all know, cormorant control in Michigan is vital for the management of the fisheries throughout the State so it is imperative that we provide as many comments as possible to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the program continues. I am encouraging organizations and individuals to submit a letter either through the federal website or by regular mail as described below. Even a short letter supporting the Department and asking for base federal funding for the cormorant management program would be very helpful. Currently, cormorant control is critical to many fisheries around the State including: Les Cheneaux Islands, Bay de Noc, Thunder Bay, Beaver Islands, Ludington Pump Storage Project, Lake George, Nubinway Island, Paquin Island, Isle aux Galets, Bellow Island, St Mary’s River, Tahquamenon Island, South Manitou Island, Drummond Island, Brevoort Lake, Big Manistique Lake, South Manistique Lake, Indian Lake, Long Lake, Grand Lake and others. Every positive letter submitted will be important for ensuring the program continues in an effective manner.
The comments must be submitted by April 6, 2012 to:
By regular Mail:
Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-R9-MB-2011-0033
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive
Mail Stop 2042-PDM
Arlington; VA, 22203-1610
Comments may also be submitted through the internet at the Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. The website was updated since I sent the instructions to you last month and currently it is much simpler to use. When you arrive at the website paste FWS-R9-MB-2011-0033 into the large search box and click the Search button to the right. A page will appear and the top line will be titled “Migratory Bird Permits: Double-Crested Cormorant Management in the United States”. To submit a comment, look to the extreme right under “Actions” and click “Submit a Comment” and follow the instructions. If you would like to view the comments provided already, the links to them are listed in the rows below the top line. Over 30 comments have been submitted, inc
