[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72826-72828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28416]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2008-N0207; 1265000010137-S3]
James Campbell and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges, Oahu,
HI
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; announcement of public open house
meetings; and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the James Campbell
and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges (refuges). We will also
prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the effects of
various CCP alternatives. This notice also announces two public open
house meetings; see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the details. Both
refuges are located on the island of O`ahu, HI. We furnish this notice
in compliance with CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public
of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the
scope of issues to consider in the planning process.
DATES: Please provide written comments by January 15, 2009. We will
hold two public open house meetings to begin the CCP planning process;
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for date, time, and location.
ADDRESSES: Send your written comments or requests for more information
by any of the following methods.
U.S. Mail: Sylvia Pelizza, Refuge Manager, O`ahu National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Hale'iwa, HI 96712.
Fax: (808) 637-3578.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``James Campbell and
Pearl Harbor Refuges'' in the subject line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Pelizza, Refuge Manager, phone
(808) 637-6330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we initiate the CCP
planning process for the James Campbell and Pearl Harbor Refuges
located on the island of Oahu, HI.
Background
The CCP Planning Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
(Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of
developing a CCP is to provide a refuge manager a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes, and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System consistent with sound principles of
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service
policies.
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In addition to outlining broad management direction for conserving
wildlife and habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities compatible with each refuge's establishing purposes and
the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation.
The Service will prepare an EA to evaluate the environmental
effects of CCP alternatives in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq. ); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established for
specific purposes. We use a refuge's purposes to develop and prioritize
its management goals and objectives within the National Wildlife Refuge
System's mission. The CCP planning process provides opportunities for
the public to participate in evaluating our management goals and
objectives for conserving important wildlife habitat while providing
for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible
with a refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System.
Public Involvement
We will conduct the CCP planning process for the refuges in a
manner that will provide participation opportunities for the public;
other Federal, State, and local government agencies; Native Hawaiian
organizations; and other interested parties. We request your input
regarding issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions important to you and
the future management of the James Campbell and Pearl Harbor Refuges.
An Overview of the Refuges
The James Campbell and Pearl Harbor Refuges are part of the larger
O`ahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Both refuges encompass two or
more units. A brief summary of each refuge and their units, and the
habitat each unit contains, follows.
James Campbell Refuge
The James Campbell Refuge is located near O`ahu's North Shore, the
northern most point on the island, it contains two wetland units, the
Ki'i and Punamano Units. It was established in 1976 for the purpose of
providing habitat for Hawai'i's four endangered waterbirds, the
Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian moorhen, and Hawaiian duck.
The Ki`i Unit is a 126-acre remnant of a much larger historic marsh
system, and the 134-acre Punamano Unit is a natural spring-fed marsh.
Both units are managed to protect and provide habitat for Hawaii's
endangered waterbirds. Habitats found on these units include open
water, freshwater marsh, mudflat, grassland, and shrubland.
The James Campbell Expansion Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-225),
expanded the refuge's boundary to approximately 1,100 acres,
incorporating additional wetland acreage, and the last remaining intact
coastal dune system on O`ahu. The purpose of this expansion is to:
Permanently protect an ecologically intact unit; provide habitat for
migratory shorebirds, waterfowl, seabirds, endangered and native plant
species, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, and green turtles; allow
increased wildlife-dependent public uses; and assist with reducing
flood damage to the refuge and local community.
The James Campbell Refuge contains one of the largest
concentrations of wetland birds in Hawai`i. It is an important
breeding, feeding, and resting area for the Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian
coot, and Hawaiian moorhen. The Hawaiian duck is also found here. In
addition, the refuge supports significant numbers of migrating and
wintering bristle-thighed curlews. The refuge provides a strategic
landfall for migratory birds coming from Alaska, Siberia, and Asia. It
also supports a substantial variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds,
and other wetland birds. Although these migratory populations are small
by continental standards, they represent some of the largest
concentrations in Hawai`i and the Pacific Ocean. A total of 117 bird
species has been documented on the refuge. The refuge is closed to
general public access, however, guided tours and grade school
educational programs are periodically offered.
Pearl Harbor Refuge
The Pearl Harbor Refuge is located on the southern coast of the
island of O`ahu and encompasses three units. Two wetland units,
Honouliuli and Waiawa, are located on the shores of Pearl Harbor. The
Kalaeloa Unit is a coastal upland unit located on O`ahu's southwestern
point, on a portion of the decommissioned Barbers Point Naval Air
Station.
All units were established to protect and provide habitat for
endangered species. The 37-acre Honouliuli Unit and the 25-acre Waiawa
Unit were established in 1972 as mitigation for construction of the
Honolulu International Airport's Reef Runway, to protect and enhance
habitat for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. In addition, these refuge
units support a variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other
wetland birds. Although small by continental standards, these units
contain some of the largest concentrations of wetland birds found in
Hawai`i and the Pacific Ocean.
The 38-acre Kalaeloa Unit was transferred in fee title to the
Service from the U.S. Navy in 2001, to protect and enhance habitat for
the endangered 'Ewa hinahina plant. This unit contains the largest
remnant stand of 'Ewa hinahina, and a reintroduced population of the
endangered 'akoko plant. The Kalaeloa Unit also contains a unique
microhabitat called anchialine pools or sinkholes which support unique
insects, plants, and animals including two imperiled species of native
shrimp.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP, including--methods for protecting the
refuges' resources for the long term while providing high quality
opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation; wildlife and habitat
management; inholdings acquisition; visitor services management;
historic and cultural resources protection; floodwater management; and
facilities maintenance. During public scoping we may identify
additional issues.
Public Open House Meetings
Two public open house meetings will be held to provide information
on the CCP and receive public comments. Opportunities for additional
public input will be announced throughout the planning process. Details
on the upcoming public meetings follow.
1. December 9, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Leeward Community
College, 96-045 Ala Ike, General Technology Bldg., Room 105, Pearl
City, HI.
2. December 11, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Kahuku Community
Center, 56-576 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, HI.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While
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you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
We will make all comments part of the official public record. We
will handle requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom
of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Departmental policies and
procedures.
Dated: November 24, 2008.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E8-28416 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
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