96-32640. Notice of Intent to Prepare a National Environmental Policy Act document on the control of invading Spartina alterniflora grass on Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay, Pacific County, WA  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 67843-67844]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-32640]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Fish and Wildlife Service
    
    
    Notice of Intent to Prepare a National Environmental Policy Act 
    document on the control of invading Spartina alterniflora grass on 
    Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tidelands of Willapa 
    Bay, Pacific County, WA
    
    AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife 
    Service (FWS) intends to gather information necessary for the 
    preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for 
    the control of invading Spartina alterniflora grass on Willapa National 
    Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay, Pacific 
    County, Washington. Public scoping meetings to solicit comments from 
    all interested parties regarding the scope and content of the NEPA 
    document will also be held. This notice is being furnished pursuant to 
    the National Environmental Policy Act, implementing regulations, and 
    FWS policy to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies 
    and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the document. 
    Comments and participation in this scoping process are solicited.
    
    SCOPING MEETINGS: Public scoping meetings will be held from 7:00 p.m. 
    to 9:00 p.m. at the Raymond Community Center (323 Third Street, 
    Raymond, WA) on January 6, 1997, and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the 
    Peninsula Church Center (5000 N. Street, Seaview, WA) on January 7, 
    1997. Interested agencies, organizations, and individuals are 
    encouraged to attend either of the scoping meetings to identify and 
    discuss major issues, concerns, and opportunities that should be 
    addressed in the NEPA Document. Interested parties are reminded that 
    the primary purpose of the scoping process is to identify, rather than 
    debate the significant issues related to the proposed action. In order 
    to insure that all issues are correctly and completely recorded and 
    considered, those persons providing oral presentations at the scoping 
    meetings are encouraged to provide agency representatives with a 
    written statement to more fully explain their remarks.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Hidy, Refuge Manager Willapa 
    National Wildlife Refuge, HC 01 Box
    
    [[Page 67844]]
    
    910, Ilwaco, WA 98624-9707, (360) 484-3482.
    
    WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments should be addressed to James A. Hidy 
    (see address provided above) and should be received by January 21, 
    1997. Written comments will also be accepted at the scoping meetings.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: James A. Hidy is the primary author of this 
    document. The Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 
    proposes to implement a long-term, integrated pest management (IPM) 
    program at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge to control and reverse the 
    invasion of the non-native grass, Spartina alterniflora (Spartina) on 
    the Refuge and the surrounding tidelands of Willapa Bay.
        Spartina is a perennial, deep-rooted saltmarsh species native to 
    the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. It was introduced to the 
    West Coast during the 1890s, and is currently found from British 
    Columbia to northern California. However, the infestation is increasing 
    most rapidly in Washington, particularly Willapa Bay. In 1991, there 
    were approximately 2,500 acres of Spartina in Willapa Bay. The grass is 
    expected to cover over 30,000 acres within 45 years.
        Spartina is spreading rapidly over tidelands of the Refuge and 
    surrounding tidelands. It is degrading and displacing habitat that 
    supports a diverse community of marine organisms including aquatic 
    migratory birds, anadromous fish, and invertebrate and plant 
    communities that support them. Widespread colonization by Spartina 
    induces major modifications of physical, hydrological, chemical, and 
    biological estuarine functions. Spartina displaces eelgrass (Zostera 
    spp.) on mudflats and native vegetation in saltmarshes. Benthic 
    invertebrate species composition in the intertidal zone changes 
    substantially as Spartina occupies the tidelands. As Spartina becomes 
    dominant in the tideland, mudflats are raised and channels are 
    deepened. This eliminates the gently sloping, bare, intertidal zone 
    that lies between the saltmarsh and the tidal channels.
        Refuge objectives are to protect habitats for wintering and 
    migrating aquatic birds including ducks, geese, swans, and shorebirds. 
    The continued spread of Spartina constitutes a significant threat to 
    those habitats. The proposed action is intended to stop habitat loss 
    and degradation, and prevent future Spartina recolonization.
        Important habitats for meeting Refuge objectives lie within the 
    Lewis, Porter Point, and Riekkola Units (collectively known as the 
    southern units), where the Service has fee-simple title to over 2,900 
    acres of tidelands supporting saltmarsh and mudflat habitats. Other 
    Refuge-associated tidelands include about 1,600 acres of State-owned 
    use deed lands adjacent to Long Island. Waterbird habitat value is 
    being rapidly lost in both areas by Spartina invasions. The proposed 
    action supports Refuge objectives by protecting and restoring aquatic 
    bird habitats on Refuge tidelands of the southern units. Refuge 
    objectives would be further supported through cooperative efforts with 
    other public and private tideland owners directed at bay-wide Spartina 
    management.
        Four alternatives are being considered in the document.
        No Action: Under this alternative, the Service would not 
    participate in Spartina control on Willapa Bay.
        Long-term Integrated Pest Management (Proposed Action): This is a 
    dynamic approach to pest management which utilizes a full knowledge of 
    a pest problem through an understanding of the ecology of the pest and 
    related organisms. Programs are carefully designed under IPM using a 
    combination of compatible techniques to limit damage caused by the pest 
    to a tolerable level. In many cases, IPM will utilize combinations of 
    mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical control techniques to 
    meet objectives. At this time, biological and cultural techniques are 
    not available for Spartina control, but they would be considered in the 
    future.
        Physical/Mechanical Controls Only: Physical and mechanical methods 
    of controlling Spartina are those that physically manipulate the grass 
    itself, or some aspect of the habitat on which the grass depends in 
    order to kill the grass or control its spread.
        Chemical Controls Only: This alternative would rely exclusively on 
    application of herbicide (currently, only the chemical glyphosate is 
    approved for use in the estuary) to Spartina using ground, water-borne, 
    and/or aerial delivery systems.
        Significant issues associated with these alternatives include 
    potential effects on:
        The Physical Environment: Soils and Topography, Hydrology, Water 
    Quality, Ambient Sound.
        The Biological Environment: Vegetation, Wildlife, Fish, Microbes 
    and Marine Invertebrates, Biodiversity.
        Social Environment: Human Health, Perceptions/Concerns, Recreation.
        Economic Environment: Tourism, Mariculture and Fisheries.
        The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
    accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
    Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 
    CFR 1500-1508), other Federal regulations, and FWS policies and 
    procedures.
        We estimate the NEPA document for this proposal will be made 
    available to the public in Spring, 1997.
    
        Dated: December 17, 1996.
    Michael J. Spear,
    Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
    [FR Doc. 96-32640 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/24/1996
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
96-32640
Pages:
67843-67844 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-32640.pdf