[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]


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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.

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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