[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14196-14197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Santa Cruz Island Primary Restoration Plan Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement, 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 (Public Law 81-190 as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has undertaken a conservation 
planning and environmental impact analysis effort assessing the 
potential impacts of restoring Santa Cruz Island by eradicating feral 
pigs from the island. A draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has 
been prepared which analyzes the foreseeable effects of implementing 
proposed actions that accomplish the following objectives: (1) Restore 
native plant communities; (2) protect plant species that have been 
listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act; 
(3) reduce the spread of noxious weeds; (4) protect the native Island 
fox; (5) protect archeological sites; and (6) conserve soil resources 
on the island. The proposed action was developed in coordination with 
The Nature Conservancy, owners of 75% of Santa Cruz Island. The actions 
proposed in this DEIS are necessary because of the adverse ecological 
impacts the pigs are having on Santa Cruz Island.
    Proposal: The proposal for eradicating pigs from Santa Cruz Island 
is to divide the island into six fenced zones and to sequentially 
eradicate pigs zone by zone. Approximately 45 miles of fence would be 
constructed along existing fence lines, thereby creating six distinct 
management units of about 12,000 acres each. Complete eradication would 
be achieved in each of the zones in a coordinated effort lasting 
approximately one year using trained, professional hunters. The 
techniques and tools for achieving the eradication goal would be 
similar to other pig eradication efforts such as neighboring Santa Rosa 
Island and Santa Catalina Island. A helicopter may occasionally be used 
to transport hunters or serve as a hunting platform.
    The eradication campaign would occur in four distinct phases. Phase 
I (Administration, Infrastructure, and Acquisition) includes putting in 
place the necessary staff to oversee, manage, direct, and carry out the 
project including fencing and hunting contractors. It also includes 
bolstering current housing structures and establishing adequate 
communications on the island. Necessary equipment and supplies would 
also be secured at this time. Phase II (Fencing) involves constructing 
six distinct zones of pig-proof fence across the island. Hunting and 
trapping in a zone may begin as soon as the zone fence is completed, 
and prior to the next sequential zone fence being completed. Phase III 
(Hunting) involves eradicating pigs within a zone, then moving to the 
next zone in sequential order. Eradication techniques include trapping 
and baiting, as well as ground hunting with dogs. Once hunting 
commences, it is estimated that a near complete island-wide eradication 
could be achieved within six years. Phase IV (Final Hunting and 
Monitoring) is perhaps the most important, as the intention is to 
exhaustively search the island for remnant pigs and pig sign. A 
systematic protocol of monitoring for remnant feral pigs would be 
developed for the island. Monitoring of the island would continue for 
five years after elimination of the ``last pig'' in order to insure 
success. Long term ecological monitoring to assess ecosystem changes 
due to pig eradication would continue into the foreseeable future.

[[Page 14197]]

    It has been determined that in order to successfully eradicate pigs 
from Santa Cruz Island that fennel will have to be controlled in areas 
where it has formed large dense thickets. These dense thickets of 
fennel create a safe harbor for pigs to escape from being hunted, and 
thus potential failure of the project. Fennel would be burned in the 
fall with a follow-up treatment of herbicide (Garlon 3A) in the two 
springs following the burn. The Nature Conservancy developed this 
protocol in an extensive 600-acre test program in the Central Valley of 
Santa Cruz Island. The fire and herbicide treatment would involve 
application by hand, from a vehicle, and from a helicopter.
    Alternatives: After identifying the significant environmental 
issues associated with the proposed action, the Park began developing 
alternatives to the proposed action. Modifying the eradication 
strategies to address the environmental issue concerns was the basis 
used to develop alternatives. In all, three alternatives were 
developed, including the ``No Action'' Alternative (which maintains the 
existing minimal management). The two ``action'' alternatives are as 
follows: Alternative Two, ``Simultaneous Island-wide Eradication of 
Pigs'', involves eradicating pigs island-wide without the use of fenced 
zones. A simultaneous island-wide operation would require several teams 
of hunters and dogs repeatedly working sections of the island. This is 
considered to be a high intensity effort for a short period of time, 
approximately 2-3 years in duration to have near complete eradication 
island-wide. Alternative Three would eradicate pigs from eastern Santa 
Cruz Island but only exclude pigs from selected sensitive resources on 
central and western Santa Cruz Island. Selected sensitive resources 
including archeological sites, and threatened and endangered plant 
species, would be protected from pigs by constructing and maintaining 
pig-proof fence around these selected sensitive sites.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public meetings will be held in the area, 
with confirmed dates and locations to be announced on the park's 
website. The DEIS is now available for public review (distribution 
began during mid-February); copies can be obtained at the park, on the 
Park's website (http:www.nps.gov/chis/homepage/restoringsci.html), 
Ventura's Foster Library, and Santa Barbara's Central Library. After a 
reasonable number of printed copies have been made available, CD copies 
will be the preferred method of distribution of the DEIS. Inquiries and 
comments regarding the DEIS should be directed to: Superintendent, 
Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Dr, Ventura, California 
93001. The telephone number for the park is (805) 658-5700.
    All written comments must be postmarked on or before May 8, 2001 
(as soon as this date has been determined it will be confirmed on the 
park's website). Persons wishing to express any new concerns about 
management issues and future land management direction are encouraged 
to address these to the Superintendent, as noted above. If individuals 
submitting comments request that their name or/and address be withheld 
from public disclosure, it will be honored to the extent allowable by 
law. Such requests must be stated prominently in the beginning of the 
comments. There also may be circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold 
a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As always, NPS will make 
available to public inspection all submissions from organizations or 
businesses and from persons identifying themselves as representatives 
or officials of organizations and businesses; and, anonymous comments 
may not be considered.
    Decision: After the formal draft EIS review period has concluded, 
all comments and suggestions received will be considered in preparing a 
final EIS. The park expects to complete the final EIS during July 2001. 
Its availability will be announced in the Federal Register and in local 
and regional news media. Subsequently a Record of Decision would be 
executed no sooner than 30 (thirty) days after release of the final 
EIS. The official responsible for the final decision is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region; the official responsible for 
implementation is the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park.

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-5948 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
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