South Farallon Islands Nonnative Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, 20706-20707 [2011-8813]
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20706
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2011 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–R–2011–N041; 1261–0000–80230–
W5]
South Farallon Islands Nonnative
Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge, California;
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
public comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), advise the
public that we intend to gather
information necessary to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA, for a proposed
project to eradicate nonnative mice from
the South Farallon Islands, part of the
Farallon National Wildlife Refuge off
the coast of California. We encourage
the public and other agencies to
participate in the planning process by
sending written comments on
management actions that we should
consider.
SUMMARY:
To ensure that we have adequate
time to evaluate and incorporate
suggestions and other input, we must
receive your comments on or before
May 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or
requests to be added to our project
mailing list to: Gerry McChesney,
Refuge Manager, Farallon National
Wildlife Refuge, 9500 Thornton Avenue,
Newark, CA 94560. Alternatively, you
may send written comments or requests
by fax to (510) 745–9285 or by e-mail to
sfbaynwrc@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager,
(510) 792–0222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Background
In 2009, the Service completed a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(CCP) and Environmental Assessment/
Finding of No Significant Impact to
guide the management of Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge over a 15-year
period (75 FR 5102 February 1, 2010).
The wildlife management goal of the
selected management alternative in the
CCP is to protect, inventory, monitor,
and restore to historic levels breeding
populations of 12 seabird species, 5
marine mammal species, and other
native wildlife. One of the strategies
identified to meet this goal is the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:37 Apr 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
eradication of the house mouse and the
prevention of future human
introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate
nonnative house mice (Mus musculus)
from the South Farallon Islands. The
purpose of this project is to protect and
restore the ecosystem of the South
Farallon Islands, particularly for
seabirds and other native biological
resources. The South Farallon Islands
have sustained ecological damage over
many years from the presence of
introduced mice.
In 1909, President Theodore
Roosevelt established the Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), as a
preserve and breeding ground for
marine birds under Executive Order
1043. The Refuge originally
encompassed only the North and
Middle Farallon Islands and Noonday
Rock. In 1969 the Refuge was expanded
to include the South Farallon Islands
and is still managed with the same basic
purpose today. The isolated nature,
varied and extensive habitats, and
adjacent productive marine
environment make the South Farallon
Islands an ideal breeding and resting
location for wildlife, especially seabirds
and marine mammals. The Refuge
comprises the largest continental U.S.
seabird breeding colony south of Alaska,
and supports the world’s largest
breeding colonies of ashy storm-petrel
(Oceanodroma homochroa), Brandt’s
cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
and western gull (Larus occidentalis).
Prior to the introduction of non-native
mammals, the South Farallon Islands
were nearly devoid of land-based
predatory threats. Introduced European
rabbits and cats, which were later
removed, and mice, which remain on
the South Farallon Islands today, have
had noticeable negative impacts on
native species.
Introduced nonnative mice directly
and indirectly cause negative impacts to
the populations of small burrow- and
crevice-nesting seabirds on the South
Farallones, particularly storm-petrels. In
order to reduce this impact, the Service
has identified mouse eradication as a
critical step in fulfilling its main
purpose to protect and restore the native
ecosystems of the South Farallon
Islands. Eradicating mice would
increase the survivorship, and would
likely increase the local population
sizes, of at least two seabird species, the
ashy storm-petrel and Leach’s stormpetrel. The eradication project may also
benefit other seabirds, as well as native
amphibians, insects, invertebrates, and
plants, including the endemic Farallon
arboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
farallonensis) and Farallon camel
cricket (Farallonophilus cavernicolus).
The Service has initially identified
three possible alternatives:
(1) No Action, which would allow
mice to remain on the South Farallon
Islands, maintaining the status quo.
(2) Mouse eradication, with an aerial
broadcast of granular pellets with the
rodenticide brodifacoum as the primary
technique, with the entire island group
treated simultaneously.
(3) Mouse eradication, with an aerial
broadcast of granular bait pellets with
the rodenticide brodifacoum as the
primary technique, conducted in
phases, in which different islands of the
group would be treated from days to
weeks apart.
The Service is currently determining
what measures could be included to
minimize adverse effects to nontarget
species, while ensuring that every
mouse has access to the bait during the
eradication window.
Public Comment
We are furnishing this notice in
accordance with section 1501.7 of the
NEPA implementing regulations, to
obtain suggestions and information from
other agencies and the public on the
scope of issues to be addressed in the
EIS. We invite written comments from
interested parties to ensure
identification of the full range of
alternatives, issues and concerns.
Information gathered through this
scoping process will assist us in
developing a range of alternatives. A
detailed description of the proposed
action and alternatives will be included
in the EIS. The EIS will also address the
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
of the alternatives on environmental
resources and identify appropriate
mitigation measures for adverse
environmental effects.
Written comments we receive become
part of the public record associated with
this action. 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.
In addition to providing written
comments, the public is encouraged to
attend a public scoping meeting to
provide us with suggestions and
information on the scope of issues and
alternatives to consider when drafting
E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM
13APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2011 / Notices
the EIS. A public scoping meeting will
be held in San Francisco, California, in
the spring of 2011. We will mail a
separate announcement to the public
with the exact date, time, and location
of the public scoping meeting. We will
accept both oral and written comments
at the scoping meeting.
NEPA Compliance
We will conduct environmental
review in accordance with the
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
other applicable regulations, and our
procedures for compliance with those
regulations. We anticipate that a draft
EIS will be available for public review
in the fall of 2011.
Dated: April 7, 2011.
Alexandra Pitts,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–8813 Filed 4–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[INT–FES 11–02]
Cle Elum Dam Fish Passage Facilities
and Fish Reintroduction Project;
Kittitas County, WA
Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) for the Cle Elum Dam Fish
Passage Facilities and Fish
Reintroduction Project.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) is notifying the public
that it has prepared an FEIS on the
proposed Cle Elum Dam Fish Passage
Facilities and Fish Reintroduction
Project. The Washington State
Department of Ecology is a joint lead
with Reclamation in the preparation of
the FEIS, in coordination with the
Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife and the Yakama Nation. The
Bonneville Power Administration has
assumed the role of a cooperating
agency. The FEIS will also be used to
comply with requirements of the
Washington State Environmental Policy
Act.
Reclamation published a Draft EIS in
the Federal Register on February 3,
2010 (75 FR 562622) with a public
comment period ending on March 22,
2010. Revisions were made in the FEIS
to incorporate responses to comments.
The FEIS also identifies Alternative 3,
Right Bank Juvenile Passage with Right
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:37 Apr 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
Bank Adult Passage without Barrier
Dam as the preferred alternative.
DATES: Reclamation will not make a
decision on the proposed action until at
least 30 days after filing of the FEIS with
the Environmental Protection Agency.
After the 30-day waiting period,
Reclamation will complete a Record of
Decision. The Record of Decision will
identify the selected action for
implementation and will discuss factors
and rationale used in making the
decision.
Bureau of Reclamation,
Columbia-Cascades Area Office,
attention: Candace McKinley,
Environmental Program Manager, 1917
Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington
98901.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Candace McKinley, Environmental
Program Manager, Telephone (509) 575–
5848, ext. 276, fax: (509) 454–5650. The
FEIS and other information on this
project can be found at https://
www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ucao_misc/
fishpassage/. To receive a hard copy or
compact disc of the FEIS refer to the
above contact.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, Reclamation is
evaluating the construction of
downstream juvenile fish passage and
upstream adult fish passage alternatives
at the dam for the Cle Elum Dam Fish
Passage Facilities Project. Cle Elum Dam
did not include fish passage facilities
when constructed in 1933;
consequently, fish passage to upstream
habitat for fish species was blocked.
As part of the effort to restore fish
above Cle Elum Dam, the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife, in
collaboration with the Yakama Nation,
is evaluating the implementation of a
project to reintroduce fish populations
above the dam. The reintroduction plan
would involve the transportation and
release of adults for natural spawning
and potentially hatchery
supplementation techniques to restore
fish above the dam.
Early in 2001, Yakima River basin
interest groups urged Reclamation to
incorporate fish passage facilities as part
of the reconstruction of Keechelus Dam
under the Safety of Dams program.
Reclamation determined that fish
passage facilities could not be added
under existing Safety of Dams authority.
However, in the January 2002 Record of
Decision for Keechelus Dam
Modification EIS, Reclamation
committed to seek funding under
existing authorities to conduct a
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20707
feasibility study for providing fish
passage at all Yakima Project storage
dams. Additionally, Reclamation agreed
to mitigation agreement terms and
Hydraulic Project Approval conditions
with Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife to investigate fish passage
feasibility. In 2003, Reclamation
prevailed in a suit filed by the Yakama
Nation concerning the NEPA and
Endangered Species Act compliance for
the Keechelus Safety of Dams project.
The Yakama Nation then appealed that
decision to the 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals. In 2006, Reclamation and the
Yakama Nation entered into a
settlement agreement to resolve
litigation in which the parties agreed to
collaborate to prepare technical plans
and a planning report for fish passage at
Cle Elum and Bumping Lake Dams. This
FEIS is part of the agreed-upon planning
process for Cle Elum Dam only. An EIS
for Bumping Lake fish passage will be
prepared separately at a future time.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, address,
phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in any
correspondence, you should be aware
that your entire correspondence—
including your personal identifying
information—may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask
us in your correspondence to withhold
your personal identifying information
from public view, we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to do so.
Dated: January 5, 2011.
Karl E. Wirkus,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–8862 Filed 4–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
Notice of Possible Shutdown of
Investigative Activities
U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. International Trade
Commission has determined to shut
down its investigative activities in the
event of the absence of an
appropriation.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James R. Holbein, Secretary to the
Commission, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
205–2000. General information
E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM
13APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20706-20707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8813]
[[Page 20706]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2011-N041; 1261-0000-80230-W5]
South Farallon Islands Nonnative Mouse Eradication Project;
Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California; Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for public comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the
public that we intend to gather information necessary to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, for a proposed project to eradicate
nonnative mice from the South Farallon Islands, part of the Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of California. We encourage the
public and other agencies to participate in the planning process by
sending written comments on management actions that we should consider.
DATES: To ensure that we have adequate time to evaluate and incorporate
suggestions and other input, we must receive your comments on or before
May 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or requests to be added to our project
mailing list to: Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, Farallon National
Wildlife Refuge, 9500 Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560. Alternatively,
you may send written comments or requests by fax to (510) 745-9285 or
by e-mail to sfbaynwrc@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, (510)
792-0222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 2009, the Service completed a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(CCP) and Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact to
guide the management of Farallon National Wildlife Refuge over a 15-
year period (75 FR 5102 February 1, 2010). The wildlife management goal
of the selected management alternative in the CCP is to protect,
inventory, monitor, and restore to historic levels breeding populations
of 12 seabird species, 5 marine mammal species, and other native
wildlife. One of the strategies identified to meet this goal is the
eradication of the house mouse and the prevention of future human
introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate nonnative house mice (Mus musculus)
from the South Farallon Islands. The purpose of this project is to
protect and restore the ecosystem of the South Farallon Islands,
particularly for seabirds and other native biological resources. The
South Farallon Islands have sustained ecological damage over many years
from the presence of introduced mice.
In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), as a preserve and breeding ground
for marine birds under Executive Order 1043. The Refuge originally
encompassed only the North and Middle Farallon Islands and Noonday
Rock. In 1969 the Refuge was expanded to include the South Farallon
Islands and is still managed with the same basic purpose today. The
isolated nature, varied and extensive habitats, and adjacent productive
marine environment make the South Farallon Islands an ideal breeding
and resting location for wildlife, especially seabirds and marine
mammals. The Refuge comprises the largest continental U.S. seabird
breeding colony south of Alaska, and supports the world's largest
breeding colonies of ashy storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa),
Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) and western gull (Larus
occidentalis). Prior to the introduction of non-native mammals, the
South Farallon Islands were nearly devoid of land-based predatory
threats. Introduced European rabbits and cats, which were later
removed, and mice, which remain on the South Farallon Islands today,
have had noticeable negative impacts on native species.
Introduced nonnative mice directly and indirectly cause negative
impacts to the populations of small burrow- and crevice-nesting
seabirds on the South Farallones, particularly storm-petrels. In order
to reduce this impact, the Service has identified mouse eradication as
a critical step in fulfilling its main purpose to protect and restore
the native ecosystems of the South Farallon Islands. Eradicating mice
would increase the survivorship, and would likely increase the local
population sizes, of at least two seabird species, the ashy storm-
petrel and Leach's storm-petrel. The eradication project may also
benefit other seabirds, as well as native amphibians, insects,
invertebrates, and plants, including the endemic Farallon arboreal
salamander (Aneides lugubris farallonensis) and Farallon camel cricket
(Farallonophilus cavernicolus).
The Service has initially identified three possible alternatives:
(1) No Action, which would allow mice to remain on the South
Farallon Islands, maintaining the status quo.
(2) Mouse eradication, with an aerial broadcast of granular pellets
with the rodenticide brodifacoum as the primary technique, with the
entire island group treated simultaneously.
(3) Mouse eradication, with an aerial broadcast of granular bait
pellets with the rodenticide brodifacoum as the primary technique,
conducted in phases, in which different islands of the group would be
treated from days to weeks apart.
The Service is currently determining what measures could be
included to minimize adverse effects to nontarget species, while
ensuring that every mouse has access to the bait during the eradication
window.
Public Comment
We are furnishing this notice in accordance with section 1501.7 of
the NEPA implementing regulations, to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues
to be addressed in the EIS. We invite written comments from interested
parties to ensure identification of the full range of alternatives,
issues and concerns. Information gathered through this scoping process
will assist us in developing a range of alternatives. A detailed
description of the proposed action and alternatives will be included in
the EIS. The EIS will also address the direct, indirect, and cumulative
impacts of the alternatives on environmental resources and identify
appropriate mitigation measures for adverse environmental effects.
Written comments we receive become part of the public record
associated with this action. 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.
In addition to providing written comments, the public is encouraged
to attend a public scoping meeting to provide us with suggestions and
information on the scope of issues and alternatives to consider when
drafting
[[Page 20707]]
the EIS. A public scoping meeting will be held in San Francisco,
California, in the spring of 2011. We will mail a separate announcement
to the public with the exact date, time, and location of the public
scoping meeting. We will accept both oral and written comments at the
scoping meeting.
NEPA Compliance
We will conduct environmental review in accordance with the
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable
regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations.
We anticipate that a draft EIS will be available for public review in
the fall of 2011.
Dated: April 7, 2011.
Alexandra Pitts,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-8813 Filed 4-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
