[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38414-38415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16466]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2011-N068; 1265-0000-10137-S3]


James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Honolulu County, HI; 
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and 
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for the James Campbell National 
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/
EA describes our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 
years.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
August 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The Draft CCP/EA is available on our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/jamescampbell/. A limited number of printed and CD-ROM 
copies of the Draft CCP/EA are available by request. You may request a 
copy of the Draft CCP/EA or submit comments on it by any of the 
following methods.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``James Campbell 
Refuge CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: David Ellis, Project Leader, (808) 637-3578.
    U.S. Mail: David Ellis, Project Leader, O`ahu National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex, 66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Room 2C, Hale`iwa, HI 96712.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ellis, Project Leader, (808) 
637-6330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to 
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with 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 our 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on 
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including 
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will 
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Refuge Administration Act.

Public Outreach

    We started the CCP planning process by publishing a Notice of 
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on December 1, 2008 (74 FR 8564), 
announcing our intention to complete a CCP/EA for the James Campbell 
and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges (the Pearl Harbor National 
Wildlife Refuge CCP was completed in fall 2010). Simultaneously, we 
released Planning Update 1. We invited the public to two open house 
meetings and requested public comments in the NOI and Planning Update 
1. We held the open house meetings in Pearl City, Hawai`i, on December 
9, 2008; and in Kahuku, Hawai`i on January 8, 2009. In Planning Update 
2, distributed in June 2009, we provided a summary of the comments we 
received and described Refuge resources. Planning Update 3, distributed 
in August 2010, provided a preview of the management goals as well as a 
summary of each management alternative designed to accomplish these 
goals. All of the public comments we

[[Page 38415]]

have received to date were considered during development of the Draft 
CCP/EA.

Draft CCP Alternatives We Are Considering

Alternative A, No Action

    Under Alternative A, we would continue current management. This 
includes focusing threatened and endangered species management on 
protection and successful nesting, in support of the statewide effort 
to implement the Hawaiian Waterbird Recovery Plan. Public use programs 
would remain virtually unchanged. Units would remain closed to general 
public entry except for seasonal docent-guided tours and Special Use 
Permits issued on a case-by-case basis for environmental education, 
research, and other compatible uses. Newly acquired expansion lands 
would receive custodial oversight only, no habitat restoration would 
occur, and no additional visitor services would be provided. Both 
current commercial aquaculture leases would remain in effect until 2023 
at which time, by prior agreement, they would expire.

Alternative B, Partial Restoration and Management of Refuge Expansion 
Lands

    Current habitat management programs would continue. On newly 
acquired Refuge lands, only the highest priority wetlands and coastal 
dunes would be restored and fenced to exclude large predators. Within 
five years of acquiring new Refuge lands, a Visitor Services Plan (VSP) 
would be developed to identify, evaluate, and carefully select the 
types of wildlife-oriented activities we would provide the public, and 
the sites and locations for infrastructure needed to fully support 
safe, meaningful, and high-quality programs for the public. 
Infrastructure needs identified by the VSP would include safe roads, 
parking areas, trails, and an overlook. We would also identify and 
develop any new special regulations in the VSP, which may be needed to 
protect sensitive wildlife resources, the fragile coastline, and the 
visiting public. During the interim five-year period until the VSP is 
prepared, the current public use program would continue under 
Alternative B, with slight increases in opportunities for wildlife 
observation and photography. The Refuge would participate and partner 
with other agencies and the community of Kahuku, to develop, evaluate, 
and implement projects to mitigate flood damage to the local area, if 
practical and feasible. Both current commercial aquaculture leases will 
remain in effect until 2023, at which time, by prior agreement, they 
will expire.

Alternative C, Full Restoration and Management of Refuge Expansion 
Lands

    In addition to management actions identified in Alternative B, all 
wetlands, coastal dunes/strand, and scrub/shrub habitats would be 
restored and managed. Trial use of predator-proof fencing would be 
initiated on selected dune or wetland sites, to protect seabirds or 
waterbirds. Abandoned aquaculture facilities would be cleaned up, and 
the habitat would be restored to natural conditions or other approved 
uses.

Public Availability of Documents

    We encourage you to stay involved in the CCP planning process by 
reviewing and commenting on the proposals we have developed in the 
Draft CCP/EA. Copies of the Draft CCP/EA are available by request from 
David Ellis, Project Leader, O`ahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 
66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Room 2C, Hale`iwa, HI 96712. The Draft CCP/
EA will also be available for viewing and downloading on the Internet 
at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the Final CCP and decision document.

Public Availability of Comments

    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.

    Dated: April 21, 2011.
Chris McKay,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-16466 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
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