[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56308-56309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22372]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Santa Cruz Island 
Primary Restoration Plan Channel Islands National Park Santa Barbara 
County, CA; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 81-190 as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) assessing the potential impacts of restoring 
Santa Cruz Island by eradicating feral pigs from the island and 
controlling fennel (both are non-native species). This Final EIS 
analyzes the 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 Final 
EIS are necessary because of the adverse ecological impacts these non-
native species 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

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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. Techniques and tools for achieving eradication goals 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. Contracted professional hunters would 
use American Veterinarian Medial Association (AVMA) approved techniques 
for euthanasia. Eradication techniques that would be used include walk-
in traps, baiting, ground hunting with dogs, and aerial shooting. Once 
hunting commences, it is estimated that a 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.
    It has been determined that in order to successfully eradicate pigs 
from Santa Cruz Island that fennel will have to be manipulated 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 will also be controlled 
in this area by using a technique developed by The Nature Conservancy 
(TNC) that consists of a fall prescribed burn with a follow-up 
treatment of herbicide (Garlon 3A) at 1 lb. AI/acre in the two springs 
following the burn. Herbicide application would use ground and aerial 
application techniques. TNC developed this protocol in an extensive 
600-acre test program in the Central Valley of Santa Cruz Island. 
Approximately 1,800 acres of fennel infestation would be treated.

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 the Park used to develop 
alternatives. In all, three alternatives were developed, including ``No 
Action'' (Alternative One). The 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 order to complete island-wide eradication. 
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. To keep pigs from impacting sensitive 
resources, pig-proof fence would be constructed that would enclose 
selected resources such as archeological sites, and threatened and 
endangered plant species. Alternative Two was determined to be the 
``environmentally preferred alternative'' because it accomplishes 
eradication in a shorter period of time and does not require the 
construction of fence i.e. less physical disturbance. Alternative Four 
is the ``agency preferred'' alternative because this deliberate longer 
term strategy can be implemented more easily given the logistical and 
financial challenges of supporting a complex program on an offshore 
island.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS is now available for public 
review. CD copies are available at park headquarters. Paper copies will 
be made available at Ventura's Foster Library, and Santa Barbara's 
Central Library. A digital version will also be available on-line at 
the Park's Web site (http://www.nps.gov/chis/restoringsci/island.html). 
Distribution of the Final EIS to interested publics will be on digital 
compact disk (CD) in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. Inquiries regarding the 
Final EIS 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.
    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

    No sooner than 30 (thirty) days after the Environmental Protection 
Agency has published its notice of filing of Final EIS in the Federal 
Register, a Record of Decision (ROD) will be executed. As a delegated 
EIS, the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, is responsible for the 
final decision; subsequently the Superintendent, Channel Islands 
National Park, would be responsible for plan implementation and 
monitoring activities.

    Dated: June 24, 2002.
James R. Shevock,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 02-22372 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P