[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7826-7827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3800]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement/
Resources Management Plan for Improvement of Water Quality and
Conservation of Rare Species and Their Habitats on Santa Rosa Island,
Channel Islands National Park
Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Draft Supplement to
the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Resources Management Plan for
improving water quality and conserving rare species and their habitats
on Santa Rosa Island. Upon completion of the current conservation
planning and impact analysis process, a new Record of Decision will be
prepared which will supercede the previous decision concerning this
stewardship initiative.
Background
In August, 1995, the National Park Service (NPS) began developing a
resources management plan for Santa Rosa Island, in order to address
impacts from ongoing commercial ranching and hunt operations on water
quality, riparian values, and rare plant species and their habitats
(``rare'' species includes those formally listed as threatened or
endangered per the Endangered Species Act and those identified by NPS
as species of concern). In May, 1996 the NPS completed and distributed
for public review a draft environmental impact statement for this
resources management plan (DEIS/RMP). During a 125-day public review
period, the NPS received over 240 comments. The DEIS/RMP was
subsequently revised to address all substantive comments, and a Final
EIS/RMP (FEIS/RMP) was released in April, 1997. In a Record of Decision
(ROD) signed June 9, 1997, the NPS stated that it would implement
actions identified in the FEIS/RMP as the Proposed Action, Alternative
D, Revised Conservation Strategy.
This Draft Supplement to the FEIS/RMP introduces a new alternative
now being evaluated by the NPS for guiding future stewardship
activities on Santa Rosa Island. This new alternative, Alternative F,
Negotiated Settlement, is briefly described below and results from
recent negotiations among Vail & Vickers, the National Parks and
Conservation Association, and the NPS. These negotiations were convened
to resolve two lawsuits which were filed against the NPS during the
previous conservation planning and impact analysis process.
Although many elements of the negotiated Alternative F are similar
to the previously selected Alternative D, there are some differences.
This new alternative specifies actions to: (1) improve water quality in
surface streams and protect riparian habitat areas, and (2) promote
conservation and recovery of rare species of plants and animals, as
well as habitats upon which they depend. The NPS encourages public
review of Alternative F, and desires comment on any of the
alternatives. Accordingly, NPS is distributing this Draft Supplement
for consideration by all interested public agencies, organizations and
groups, businesses, and individuals for a 60-day public comment period.
After assessing all comments which may be received, the NPS will
prepare and distribute a Final Supplement to the FEIS/RMP and
subsequently prepare a new ROD.
New Proposed Action
Under Alternative F, Negotiated Settlement (the new proposed
action), water quality and riparian values would be improved and rare
plants and their habitats would be conserved by rapid removal of cattle
and phased removal of deer and elk from Santa Rosa Island. With the
exception of 12 head in Lobo Pasture, all cattle would be removed from
the island by the end of 1998. Deer and elk would be removed by the end
of 2011, although they could be removed earlier if necessary to achieve
recovery goals for selected listed species and their habitats. After an
initial reduction in deer and elk, an adaptive management program for
deer and elk would be implemented. Under adaptive
[[Page 7827]]
management, deer and elk would be managed at levels allowing rare
species and their habitats to recover. Provided recovery goals are met,
Vail & Vickers would be permitted to conduct commercial hunting of deer
and elk. After the adaptive management period, deer and elk populations
would be eliminated during a final phaseout period. If for some reason
an acceptable adaptive management program cannot be developed, deer and
elk populations will be reduced at a pre-determined rate. As under
Alternative D, the NPS would implement road management actions to
reduce impacts to island streams, and would develop a comprehensive
alien plant management plan to address problems caused by alien
species. The NPS would develop monitoring programs for rare species,
water quality, and riparian recovery. Visitor access to Santa Rosa
Island would be increased beyond current levels.
Other Alternatives
Other alternatives subject to the current conservation planning and
impact analysis process are the same as identified and described in the
FEIS/RMP. In addition to the above, these include: Alternative A, No
Action; Alternative B, Minimal Action; Alternative C, Targeted
Management Action; and Alternative E, Immediate Removal of Ungulates.
Comments
Written comments on the Draft Supplement must be postmarked not
later than 60-days after the Environmental Protection Agency's
announcement in the Federal Register regarding the filing of this
document. Comments, inquiries, and requests for copies should be
directed to the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901
Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001, or by telephone at (805) 658-5776.
Copies will also be available at area libraries.
Dated: February 3, 1998.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 98-3800 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
