[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78386-78387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30308]


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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0282; 81640-1265-0000-S3]


Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, San Francisco County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments: draft 
comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
that the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Draft Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (draft CCP/EA) is 
available for review and comment. Also available for review are the 
draft compatibility determinations for research and monitoring, media 
access, and environmental education and monitoring through a remote 
camera system.

DATES: To ensure that we have adequate time to evaluate and incorporate 
suggestions and other input into the planning process, we must receive 
comments on or before February 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: For information on obtaining documents and submitting 
comments, see ``Public Review and Comment'' under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Winnie Chan, Refuge Planner, (510) 
792-0222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the Improvement Act, requires us to develop a CCP for each 
National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide 
refuge managers with a 15-year strategy 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. In 
addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife 
and their habitats, the CCP identifies wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities available to the public, which can include opportunities 
for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation.

Background

    The Refuge is located off the coast of San Francisco and is within 
San Francisco County. The 211-acre Refuge consists of four island 
groupings that were first designated as a Refuge in 1909 ``as a 
preserve and breeding ground for native birds'' (Executive Order 1043, 
Feb. 27, 1909). The Refuge supports the largest seabird breeding colony 
in the contiguous United States and provides wintering and nesting 
habitat for migratory seabirds and pinnipeds. In 1974, Congress enacted 
Pub. L. 93-550, which designated all the islands except for Southeast 
Island as the Farallon Wilderness, totaling 141 acres.

Alternatives

    The draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates four alternatives for 
managing Farallon National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. Each 
alternative describes a combination of wildlife, habitat, and public 
use management prescriptions designed to achieve Refuge purposes. Of 
the alternatives described below, we believe Alternative C would best 
achieve the purposes of the Refuge, and therefore we have identified C 
as the Preferred Alternative.
    Alternative A, the no-action alternative, assumes no change from 
current management programs and is considered the baseline with which 
to compare other alternatives. Under this alternative, the focus of the 
Refuge would be to continue to protect and maintain habitats for 
nesting seabirds including restoration of native vegetation. Wildlife 
research and monitoring would continue. The Refuge would remain closed 
to the public, with the exception of requested media visits that are 
closely supervised by Refuge staff.
    Alternative B calls for the development of a vegetation management 
and monitoring plan to accelerate weed removal and restoration of 
native vegetation. Non-native house mice would be eradicated to reduce 
predation of seabirds and a tiered National Environmental Policy Act 
planning document would be prepared to evaluate the eradication methods 
and protocols. Public involvement opportunities for this tiered plan 
would be provided. New research and monitoring methods would be 
implemented to improve wildlife management. In addition, new or 
expanded research studies will also be implemented to study other 
wildlife on the Refuge (e.g., arboreal salamanders, hoary bats, and 
insects). Law enforcement to reduce wildlife disturbance would be 
increased through coordination with other agencies and outreach to 
boaters and pilots. The Refuge would remain closed to public access 
under this alternative, but limited supervised access for media 
personnel in order to further public education and provide outreach 
opportunities for the public would be allowed. While land-based 
wildlife observation would not be allowed, Refuge staff will coordinate 
with charter boat operators to enhance their wildlife tours in waters 
surrounding the Refuge. This alternative also includes outreach and 
environmental education objectives, including coordination with other 
outreach organizations in the San Francisco area, the development of 
environmental education programs and materials for outreach events, a 
remote camera system, and expanding the existing Farallon program in 
elementary schools.
    Alternative C, the preferred alternative, would include the same 
components as Alternative B. In addition, a visitor service plan would 
be developed to consider on-site visitor opportunities such as tours 
and volunteer activities. Additional areas on Southeast Island would 
also be considered for seasonal closure to

[[Page 78387]]

human access (for management purposes) to provide additional nesting 
habitat and reduce spread of non-native vegetation.
    Alternative D would include the same components as Alternative B, 
but would be more restrictive in terms of access. Human access (for 
management purposes) would be prohibited at North Landing, portions of 
Lighthouse Hill, and additional areas during the seabird nesting season 
to reduce disturbance, encourage expansion of nesting habitat, and 
prevent the spread of invasive plants. Wildlife monitoring would be 
reduced as a result of the closures. The Refuge would remain closed to 
public access. This alternative would also include use of a remote 
camera system to provide remote monitoring and wildlife observation 
opportunities.

Public Review and Comment

    To obtain a copy of the draft CCP/EA, write to Winnie Chan, Refuge 
Planner, Farallon NWR CCP, San Francisco Bay NWR Complex, 9500 Thornton 
Avenue, Newark, CA 94560. You may view a copy of the draft CCP/EA at 
this address, or you may view it or download it online at: http://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/farallon/.
    Hard copies of the draft CCP/EA are also available at the following 
locations:
     San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1 
Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94536.
     San Francisco Public Library, Federal Documents, 100 
Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
     CA/NV Refuge Planning Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, 
Sacramento, CA 95825.
    Address any comments on the draft CCP/EA to: Winnie Chan, Refuge 
Planner, Farallon NWR CCP, San Francisco Bay NWR Complex, 9500 Thornton 
Avenue, Newark, CA 94560. You may also e-mail comments to 
[email protected] or fax them to (510) 792-5828. If submitting by fax 
or e-mail, please type ``FNWR CCP'' in the subject line.

Public Comments

    After the review and comment period ends for this Draft CCP/EA, we 
will analyze comments and address them in our final CCP/EA. Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, 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 you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Richard E. Sayers, Jr.,
Acting Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. E8-30308 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P