[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 67843-67844] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-32640] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent to Prepare a National Environmental Policy Act document on the control of invading Spartina alterniflora grass on Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay, Pacific County, WA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) intends to gather information necessary for the preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for the control of invading Spartina alterniflora grass on Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay, Pacific County, Washington. Public scoping meetings to solicit comments from all interested parties regarding the scope and content of the NEPA document will also be held. This notice is being furnished pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, implementing regulations, and FWS policy to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the document. Comments and participation in this scoping process are solicited. SCOPING MEETINGS: Public scoping meetings will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Raymond Community Center (323 Third Street, Raymond, WA) on January 6, 1997, and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Peninsula Church Center (5000 N. Street, Seaview, WA) on January 7, 1997. Interested agencies, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to attend either of the scoping meetings to identify and discuss major issues, concerns, and opportunities that should be addressed in the NEPA Document. Interested parties are reminded that the primary purpose of the scoping process is to identify, rather than debate the significant issues related to the proposed action. In order to insure that all issues are correctly and completely recorded and considered, those persons providing oral presentations at the scoping meetings are encouraged to provide agency representatives with a written statement to more fully explain their remarks. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Hidy, Refuge Manager Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, HC 01 Box [[Page 67844]] 910, Ilwaco, WA 98624-9707, (360) 484-3482. WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments should be addressed to James A. Hidy (see address provided above) and should be received by January 21, 1997. Written comments will also be accepted at the scoping meetings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: James A. Hidy is the primary author of this document. The Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, proposes to implement a long-term, integrated pest management (IPM) program at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge to control and reverse the invasion of the non-native grass, Spartina alterniflora (Spartina) on the Refuge and the surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay. Spartina is a perennial, deep-rooted saltmarsh species native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. It was introduced to the West Coast during the 1890s, and is currently found from British Columbia to northern California. However, the infestation is increasing most rapidly in Washington, particularly Willapa Bay. In 1991, there were approximately 2,500 acres of Spartina in Willapa Bay. The grass is expected to cover over 30,000 acres within 45 years. Spartina is spreading rapidly over tidelands of the Refuge and surrounding tidelands. It is degrading and displacing habitat that supports a diverse community of marine organisms including aquatic migratory birds, anadromous fish, and invertebrate and plant communities that support them. Widespread colonization by Spartina induces major modifications of physical, hydrological, chemical, and biological estuarine functions. Spartina displaces eelgrass (Zostera spp.) on mudflats and native vegetation in saltmarshes. Benthic invertebrate species composition in the intertidal zone changes substantially as Spartina occupies the tidelands. As Spartina becomes dominant in the tideland, mudflats are raised and channels are deepened. This eliminates the gently sloping, bare, intertidal zone that lies between the saltmarsh and the tidal channels. Refuge objectives are to protect habitats for wintering and migrating aquatic birds including ducks, geese, swans, and shorebirds. The continued spread of Spartina constitutes a significant threat to those habitats. The proposed action is intended to stop habitat loss and degradation, and prevent future Spartina recolonization. Important habitats for meeting Refuge objectives lie within the Lewis, Porter Point, and Riekkola Units (collectively known as the southern units), where the Service has fee-simple title to over 2,900 acres of tidelands supporting saltmarsh and mudflat habitats. Other Refuge-associated tidelands include about 1,600 acres of State-owned use deed lands adjacent to Long Island. Waterbird habitat value is being rapidly lost in both areas by Spartina invasions. The proposed action supports Refuge objectives by protecting and restoring aquatic bird habitats on Refuge tidelands of the southern units. Refuge objectives would be further supported through cooperative efforts with other public and private tideland owners directed at bay-wide Spartina management. Four alternatives are being considered in the document. No Action: Under this alternative, the Service would not participate in Spartina control on Willapa Bay. Long-term Integrated Pest Management (Proposed Action): This is a dynamic approach to pest management which utilizes a full knowledge of a pest problem through an understanding of the ecology of the pest and related organisms. Programs are carefully designed under IPM using a combination of compatible techniques to limit damage caused by the pest to a tolerable level. In many cases, IPM will utilize combinations of mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical control techniques to meet objectives. At this time, biological and cultural techniques are not available for Spartina control, but they would be considered in the future. Physical/Mechanical Controls Only: Physical and mechanical methods of controlling Spartina are those that physically manipulate the grass itself, or some aspect of the habitat on which the grass depends in order to kill the grass or control its spread. Chemical Controls Only: This alternative would rely exclusively on application of herbicide (currently, only the chemical glyphosate is approved for use in the estuary) to Spartina using ground, water-borne, and/or aerial delivery systems. Significant issues associated with these alternatives include potential effects on: The Physical Environment: Soils and Topography, Hydrology, Water Quality, Ambient Sound. The Biological Environment: Vegetation, Wildlife, Fish, Microbes and Marine Invertebrates, Biodiversity. Social Environment: Human Health, Perceptions/Concerns, Recreation. Economic Environment: Tourism, Mariculture and Fisheries. The environmental review of this project will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other Federal regulations, and FWS policies and procedures. We estimate the NEPA document for this proposal will be made available to the public in Spring, 1997. Dated: December 17, 1996. Michael J. Spear, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 96-32640 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P