[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 19809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10531]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Resources Management 
Plan to Improve Water Quality and Conserve Rare Species and Their 
Habitats on Santa Rosa Island; Channel Islands National Park, Santa 
Barbara County, California; Notice of Availability

Summary

    Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement assessing the potential impacts of alternatives identified in 
a Resources Management Plan proposed for improving water quality and 
conserving rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island in 
California. Once approved, the plan will guide resources management on 
Santa Rosa Island for the next 15 years.

Background

    The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Resources Management 
Plan (FEIS/RMP) presents and analyzes a proposal and four alternatives 
for improving water quality and riparian areas and promoting 
conservation of rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island. 
``Rare species'' includes: species which have been listed or proposed 
for listing as threatened or endangered in accordance with the 
Endangered Species Act; those species which are candidates for such 
listing; and those which were formerly candidates.

Alternatives

     The Draft EIS/RMP (Draft) was made available for public review and 
comment on May 6, 1996, and had identified Alternative C, Targeted 
Management Action, as a preferred alternative. In response to public 
comment on the Draft, the National Park Service has identified a 
different alternative as the proposed action in the FEIS/RMP. The new 
proposed action, Alternative D, Revised Conservation Strategy, would 
improve water quality, protect riparian habitat areas, and conserve 
rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island, in part by 
requiring changes in the Vail & Vickers cattle grazing-commercial 
hunting operation over the next 14 years. Additional actions proposed 
include: the immediate closure of two pastures to cattle and horses, 
and reduction in the number of cattle grazing in other pastures with 
resources at risk; removing deer from the island within three (3) years 
and phased removal of elk over a fourteen (14) year period. The Park 
would also implement road management actions to reduce impacts to 
island streams from existing practices; develop a comprehensive weed 
management plan to address problems resulting from invasion of alien 
plant species; and develop monitoring programs for rare species, water 
quality and riparian areas.
    The following alternatives to the proposal are also evaluated in 
the FEIS/RMP:
    Alternative A, No Action, would continue the existing cattle 
ranching and commercial hunt operation, with no changes.
    Alternative B, Minimal Action, includes exclusion of cattle from 
one pasture, removal of deer from the island, and construction of small 
riparian exclosures in several drainages.
    Alternative C, Targeted Action, includes removal of cattle and 
horses from one pasture, implementation of a seasonal grazing rotation 
in another pasture, construction of small riparian exclosures, and 
removal of deer and reduction of elk.
    Alternative E, Immediate Removal of Ungulates, includes removal of 
all cattle, horses, elk and deer from the island within three years.

Decision Process

     A ``no action'' period on the part of the National Park Service 
will end 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of 
receipt of this FEIS/RMP is filed in the Federal Register. 
Subsequently, notice of a Record of Decision (ROD) will be published, 
prior to any implementation of elements of the proposed action. 
Anticipated elements include the following: after the ROD has been duly 
noticed, the National Park Service will revise terms of an existing 
Special Use Permit issued to Vail & Vickers, so as to make their 
forthcoming operations consistent with the alternative selected and 
identified in the ROD. Accordingly, at that time the existing Special 
Use Permit would be revoked and replaced with a new permit 
incorporating pertinent management practices prescribed in the selected 
FEIS/RMP alternative.

Information

    Inquiries about the FEIS/RMP or requests for copies should be 
directed to Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, 
Ventura, CA 93001, or by telephone at (805) 658-5776.

    Dated: April 11, 1997.
Stanley T. Albright,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 97-10531 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P