Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions, 51945-51947 [2011-21274]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51945-51947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21274]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ21


Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the ``Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Hawaiian monk seal Recovery 
Actions.'' Publication of this notice begins the official public 
comment period for the Draft PEIS. The purpose of the Draft PEIS is to 
evaluate, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of 
implementing the alternative approaches for funding, undertaking, and 
permitting the management, research and enhancement activities on 
Hawaiian monk seals, as well as other components of the marine 
ecosystem and human environment.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft PEIS must be postmarked by 
October 17, 2011. Comments on the Draft PEIS for this action may be 
submitted by:
     E-mail: monkseal@noaa.gov.
     Mail: 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 
96814.
     Public Hearings: Oral and written comments will be 
accepted during the upcoming public hearings. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION, PUBLIC HEARINGS (below) for dates and locations of public 
hearings for this issue.
    The draft PEIS is available on the following Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/hawaiianmonkseal.htm. To be included 
on a mailing list and receive newsletters and copies of the Draft and 
Final PEIS, please e-mail monkseal@noaa.gov or send your mailing or 
email address to

[[Page 51946]]

the Marine Mammal Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, NOAA NMFS 
Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Walters (phone: 808-944-2200); or 
via the following email address: monkseal@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is the Federal agency responsible for 
management and recovery of Hawaiian monk seals under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). In 1976, NMFS listed 
Hawaiian monk seals as ``endangered'' under the ESA and ``depleted'' 
under the MMPA. As required under section 4 of the ESA, NMFS published 
a Recovery Plan for the species in 1983, which was revised in 2007.
    NMFS administers funds that have been appropriated by Congress and 
allocated within NMFS' annual budget for the purpose of carrying out 
recovery actions for Hawaiian monk seals. This PEIS would satisfy the 
NEPA compliance requirements for funding and undertaking recovery 
actions for Hawaiian monk seals, including the requirements for 
obtaining MMPA and ESA permits.

Background

    The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is a critically 
endangered species found only in the U.S., within the Hawaiian 
Archipelago and at Johnston Atoll. The population is estimated to have 
1,125 individuals remaining and is declining by roughly 4.5% each year.
    Since the 1980's, NMFS has conducted research to understand, and 
enhancement activities to mitigate, threats to the survival of monk 
seals. Most of this work has been in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
(NWHI) where the majority of seals live and breed. More recently, a 
natural increase in the number of seals in the Main Hawaiian Islands 
(MHI) has prompted researchers and managers to begin studying and 
aiding seals in the MHI.
    Despite measures taken to save the monk seal, the species is not 
showing signs of recovery. In the NWHI, young seals are continuing to 
starve to death, nursing and newly weaned pups are being killed by 
sharks, seals are getting entangled in marine debris, and sea level 
rise threatens terrestrial habitats. Low juvenile survival over the 
past two decades is the primary cause of the population's decline. 
There is insufficient recruitment into the breeding population, and the 
population decline will likely continue without intervention.
    On October 1, 2010, NMFS provided public notice (75 FR 60721) that 
it would prepare a PEIS to assess the impacts of implementing specific 
management actions and administering a research and enhancement program 
to improve survival of Hawaiian monk seals. The 45 day public scoping 
period was extended 15 days (75 FR 69398), and the comment period ended 
November 30, 2010.
    Scoping was the first step in this NEPA process (as required under 
40 CFR 1501.7). Scoping provided an opportunity for the public and 
agencies to express their views and identify issues to be addressed in 
the Draft PEIS regarding activities that may be performed on Hawaiian 
monk seals in an effort to recover the species.
    As part of scoping, NMFS hosted public meetings to introduce the 
project proposal, describe the PEIS process, and solicit input on the 
issues and alternatives to be evaluated. Public scoping meetings were 
held in October 2010 on the islands of O`ahu, Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, 
and Kaua`i. During the scoping comment period, 139 public comments were 
received. A report summarizing these comments is available on the 
project Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/hawaiianmonkseal.htm.
    Issues identified by the public during the scoping process include, 
but are not limited to, concerns regarding bringing young seals to the 
MHI and returning them to the NWHI, Native Hawaiian beliefs and 
culture, fisheries interactions, and human-seal encounters. Substantive 
comments received during the scoping period have been addressed in the 
Draft PEIS.

Alternatives

    NMFS has evaluated a preferred alternative and three other 
alternatives in the Draft PEIS. These are summarized as follows:
    Alternative 1: Status Quo Alternative: Under the Status Quo 
Alternative, research and enhancement activities would be carried out 
as currently permitted under the MMPA and ESA. New permits could be 
issued in the future to maintain the current levels of research and 
enhancement activities. Some elements of this alternative include:
     Population assessment (e.g., counting, marking for 
identification);
     Health and disease studies (e.g., tissue sampling, taking 
measurements);
     Foraging studies (e.g., telemetry, scat collection);
     De-worming research (e.g., fecal samples, testing anti-
parasite treatments);
     Translocation of weaned pups within the NWHI to improve 
juvenile survival;
     Mitigation of fishery interactions (e.g., disentanglement, 
removal of hooks); and
     Mitigation of adult male aggression (e.g., removal of 
aggressive males).
    Alternative 2: No Action: Under this alternative, the above-
mentioned permitted research and enhancement activities on Hawaiian 
monk seals would stop in 2014 when the current MMPA-ESA permit expires. 
No new permits would be issued.
    Alternative 3: Limited Translocation: Alternative 3 would include 
all currently permitted activities and further address the 
recommendations of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan by including 
new research and enhancement activities. New activities would include, 
but would not be limited to:
     Expanding the scope and number of seal translocations, 
including (1) moving seals with unmanageable human interactions from 
the MHI to NWHI, (2) taking seals age three years and older from the 
MHI to NWHI to examine their subsequent survival, and (3) using a two-
stage translocation program whereby weaned pups are taken from areas of 
lower survival to areas of higher survival. This would include the 
option of returning the seals to their birth island or nearby site at 
age three years and older, but would exclude moving seals from the NWHI 
to the MHI.
     Research and development of tools for modifying 
undesirable seal behavior related to interactions with humans and 
fishing gear in the MHI.
     Potential implementation of de-worming as a tool to 
improve juvenile survival.
     Supplementing monk seal diet using feeding stations in 
NWHI locations where seals are released after being cared for in 
captivity.
     Vaccination studies and potential use of vaccines to 
mitigate infectious diseases (West Nile Virus and Morbilliviruses).
     Chemical alteration of aggressive male monk seal behavior 
using a testosterone suppressant.
     Expanded surveys and use of new tools (such as remote 
cameras and unmanned remotely operated aircraft).
    A distinctive feature of Alternative 3 is that translocations of 
young animals from the NWHI to the MHI would not be permitted.

[[Page 51947]]

    Alternative 4: Enhanced Implementation (Preferred Alternative): 
Alternative 4, the enhanced implementation alternative, is the 
Preferred Alternative. This alternative would encompass all the 
activities under Alternative 3, with the additional option to 
temporarily translocate weaned pups from the NWHI to the MHI to improve 
survival. At age three years, surviving translocated seals would be 
returned to the NWHI.
    Alternative 4 encompasses the range of actions considered most 
promising to prevent the extinction of the species. Before any 
translocation between the NWHI and MHI would be attempted, extensive 
outreach and engagement with local stakeholders would be conducted, and 
programs to reduce seal-human interactions, including interactions 
between seals and fishing gear, would be developed and implemented.

Public Involvement

    Comments will be accepted at public hearings (see below) and during 
the public comment period, and must be submitted to NMFS by October 17, 
2011 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). We request that you include 
in your comments: (1) Your name, address, and affiliation (if any); and 
(2) background documents to support your comments as appropriate.
    Public hearings will take place on the following dates, times, and 
locations:
    1. Monday, September 12, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Central Union 
Church, 1660 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, O`ahu.
    2. Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Hale Mahaolu Home 
Pumehana, 290 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai, Moloka'i.
    3. Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Mokup[amacr]papa 
Discovery Center, 308 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 109, Hilo, Hawai'i.
    4. Thursday, September 15, 2011, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., K[imacr]hei 
Community Center, 303 East Lipoa Street, K[imacr]hei, Maui.
    5. Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m., 
Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy Street, L[imacr]hu`e, Kaua`i.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Rachel Sprague, (808) 944-2200 (phone) or (808) 973-2941 
(fax), at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: August 11, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21274 Filed 8-18-11; 8:45 am]
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