1992 gypsy moth suppression project Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Natiional Military Park mid-atlantic region USDI National Park Service decision notice and finding of no significant impact

Burks, Maria; Clapper, Charles

At the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, biological monitoring has been conducted aggressively since 1982 when 50 male moths were trapped at Chancellorsville Battlefield. By using intensive monitoring and a variety of management tactics, such as mating disruption, burlap banding, and aerial and ground application of Bt, the Park has limited the spread and impact of the infestation. The current survey, which was conducted in the fall of 1991 by the USDA Forest Service and Park personnel, found a slight increase in the population in the Chancellorsville and Wilderness Battlefields. Analysis of the egg mass data shows that moderate to heavy defoliation can be expected at Chancellorsville Visitor Center, Ellwood, and the junction of State Routes 613 & 621. This Environmental Assessment (EA) documents a site-specific environmental analysis conducted by the USDI National Park Service for a gypsy moth suppression project in 1992. The EA is tiered (40 CFR 1502;1508.28) to the USDA Forest Service's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) as Supplemented, 1985, the Addendum to the FEIS, and the Record of Decision (ROD) signed February 12, 1986. It includes a site-specific discussion of: (1) the purpose and need for action; (2) issues, concerns, and opportunities; (3) the alternatives; (4) affected environment; (5) environmental consequences of the alternatives, including the risks to human health; and (6) the specific procedures used to facilitate public participation in the decision making process. The USDI National Park Service proposes to treat the infested areas. The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed project and, if so, by what means. The Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Park is mandated to "... to preserve the present outline of the battlefields...". With this clear direction, a decision that supports intervention and control of anything adversely affecting forest health and vigor is required. At the present time, parts of the Chancellorsville and Wilderness Battlefields are infested with gypsy moth. Over 300 acres have been identified as being in danger of defoliation if they are not treated in 1992. The primary objective of the 1992 cooperative suppression project is to prevent tree mortality attributable to defoliation by the gypsy moth. To meet this objective, we must prevent noticeable defoliation (greater than 30%) as determined by optical bar photography and aerial survey conducted by the USFS. The defoliation that exceeds 30% will cause the tree to refoliate. Refoliation is one of the processes which causes the stress that ultimately leads to the death of the tree. In addition to the prevention of defoliation, our objective is to reduce egg mass densities by 70% to below the threshold of 250 egg masses per acre. The project will be considered successful if retreatment in 1993 is necessary on less than 20% of the land that is to be treated in 1991.