[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 19809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10531]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Resources Management
Plan to Improve Water Quality and Conserve Rare Species and Their
Habitats on Santa Rosa Island; Channel Islands National Park, Santa
Barbara County, California; 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 Final Environmental Impact
Statement assessing the potential impacts of alternatives identified in
a Resources Management Plan proposed for improving water quality and
conserving rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island in
California. Once approved, the plan will guide resources management on
Santa Rosa Island for the next 15 years.
Background
The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Resources Management
Plan (FEIS/RMP) presents and analyzes a proposal and four alternatives
for improving water quality and riparian areas and promoting
conservation of rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island.
``Rare species'' includes: species which have been listed or proposed
for listing as threatened or endangered in accordance with the
Endangered Species Act; those species which are candidates for such
listing; and those which were formerly candidates.
Alternatives
The Draft EIS/RMP (Draft) was made available for public review and
comment on May 6, 1996, and had identified Alternative C, Targeted
Management Action, as a preferred alternative. In response to public
comment on the Draft, the National Park Service has identified a
different alternative as the proposed action in the FEIS/RMP. The new
proposed action, Alternative D, Revised Conservation Strategy, would
improve water quality, protect riparian habitat areas, and conserve
rare species and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island, in part by
requiring changes in the Vail & Vickers cattle grazing-commercial
hunting operation over the next 14 years. Additional actions proposed
include: the immediate closure of two pastures to cattle and horses,
and reduction in the number of cattle grazing in other pastures with
resources at risk; removing deer from the island within three (3) years
and phased removal of elk over a fourteen (14) year period. The Park
would also implement road management actions to reduce impacts to
island streams from existing practices; develop a comprehensive weed
management plan to address problems resulting from invasion of alien
plant species; and develop monitoring programs for rare species, water
quality and riparian areas.
The following alternatives to the proposal are also evaluated in
the FEIS/RMP:
Alternative A, No Action, would continue the existing cattle
ranching and commercial hunt operation, with no changes.
Alternative B, Minimal Action, includes exclusion of cattle from
one pasture, removal of deer from the island, and construction of small
riparian exclosures in several drainages.
Alternative C, Targeted Action, includes removal of cattle and
horses from one pasture, implementation of a seasonal grazing rotation
in another pasture, construction of small riparian exclosures, and
removal of deer and reduction of elk.
Alternative E, Immediate Removal of Ungulates, includes removal of
all cattle, horses, elk and deer from the island within three years.
Decision Process
A ``no action'' period on the part of the National Park Service
will end 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of
receipt of this FEIS/RMP is filed in the Federal Register.
Subsequently, notice of a Record of Decision (ROD) will be published,
prior to any implementation of elements of the proposed action.
Anticipated elements include the following: after the ROD has been duly
noticed, the National Park Service will revise terms of an existing
Special Use Permit issued to Vail & Vickers, so as to make their
forthcoming operations consistent with the alternative selected and
identified in the ROD. Accordingly, at that time the existing Special
Use Permit would be revoked and replaced with a new permit
incorporating pertinent management practices prescribed in the selected
FEIS/RMP alternative.
Information
Inquiries about the FEIS/RMP or requests for copies should be
directed to Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive,
Ventura, CA 93001, or by telephone at (805) 658-5776.
Dated: April 11, 1997.
Stanley T. Albright,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 97-10531 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
