[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]
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