South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California; Environmental Impact Statement, 50082-50083 [2013-19939]
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50082
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2013 / Notices
[FR Doc. C1–2013–19416 Filed 8–15–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1501–05–C
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036;
FXRS12610800000–134–FF08RSFC00]
South Farallon Islands Invasive House
Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge, California;
Environmental Impact Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for public comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft environmental
impact statement (EIS) for a proposed
project to eradicate non-native, invasive
house mice from the South Farallon
Islands, part of the Farallon National
Wildlife Refuge off the coast of
California. The draft EIS, which we
prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), describes the alternatives
identified to address the problem of
invasive house mice on the South
Farallon Islands.
DATES: We will accept comments
received or postmarked on or before
September 30, 2013. Comments
submitted electronically using the
Federal eRulemaking Portal (see
ADDRESSES section, below) must be
received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
the closing date.
ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You
may obtain copies of the documents in
the following places:
• Internet: https://www.regulations.gov
(Docket Number FWS–R8–NWRS–
2013–0036)
• In-Person:
Æ San Francisco Bay National
Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters,
1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555.
Æ The following library:
D San Francisco Public Library, 100
Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Submitting Comments: You may
submit written comments by one of the
following methods:
• Electronically: Go to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. In the Search box,
enter FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036,
which is the docket number for this
notice. Then, on the left side of the
screen, under the Document Type
heading, click on the Notices link to
locate this document and submit a
comment.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:34 Aug 15, 2013
Jkt 229001
• By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail
or hand-delivery to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS–R8–NWRS–
2013–0036; Division of Policy and
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
We request that you send comments
only by the methods described above.
We will post all information received on
https://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us
(see the Public Comments section below
for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager,
510–792–0222, ext. 222 (phone).
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 the Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge (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, and
monitor, as well as to 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 non-native,
invasive house mouse (Mus musculus)
from the South Farallon Islands, and the
prevention of future human
introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate invasive
house mice from the South Farallon
Islands. The purpose of this project is to
benefit native seabirds, amphibians,
invertebrates, and plants, as well as to
enhance ecosystem processes on the
islands. The South Farallon Islands
have sustained ecological damage over
many decades from the presence of
invasive mice. Eradicating house mice
would eliminate the last remaining
invasive vertebrate species on the
Refuge, thereby enhancing the recovery
of sensitive seabird populations on the
islands.
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. Several areas are
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
designated wilderness as regulated by
the Wilderness Act of 1964 (PL 88–577).
Wilderness areas include all islands and
islets in the Refuge except for Southeast
Farallon Island. The isolated nature,
varied and extensive habitats, and
adjacent productive marine
environment make the 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 wildlife of the Farallon
Islands were nearly devoid of landbased 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.
Invasive house mice directly and
indirectly cause negative impacts to the
populations of small, 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
ecosystem of the South Farallon Islands.
Eradicating mice would increase the
survivorship and local population sizes
of at least two seabird species, the ashy
storm-petrel and Leach’s storm-petrel
(Oceanodroma leucorhoa). The
eradication project would also benefit
native amphibians, invertebrates, and
plants, including the endemic Farallon
arboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris
farallonensis) and endemic Farallon
camel cricket (Farallonophilus
cavernicolus).
Alternatives
In 2011, we published a notice of
intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS (76 FR
20706, April 13, 2011). We then
developed a range of alternatives to
focus on the primary issues identified
by resource specialists within the
Service, national and international
experts in island rodent eradication,
public comments received after the NOI
to prepare the EIS was released, and
government regulatory agencies that
have a stake in the decision-making
process. To decide which action
alternatives to fully analyze in the Draft
EIS, we used a structured decisionmaking approach, by which we assessed
and compared a total of 49 potential
mouse-removal methods. The
E:\FR\FM\16AUN1.SGM
16AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2013 / Notices
development of alternatives was also
informed by Service policies regarding
the use of pesticides and the minimum
requirements analysis process under the
Wilderness Act. Three alternatives are
analyzed in the draft EIS:
Alternative 1: No-Action Alternative
Under this alternative, we would not
take any action to eradicate mice from
the South Farallon Islands, maintaining
the status quo. Native species would
continue to be impacted by invasive
mice. However, other ongoing invasive
species management programs on the
South Farallones would continue based
on previous agency decisions. Lowintensity mouse control, primarily snaptrapping, currently occurs within and
around the residences and other
buildings on Southeast Farallon Island.
These localized control efforts would
continue under the no-action
alternative, but the mouse population
on the rest of the South Farallones
would not be subject to control efforts.
Under this alternative, we would also
continue management activities focused
on protecting storm-petrels and their
habitat on the islands, including
invasive plant control and nest habitat
construction. The current biosecurity
measures would likely continue under
this alternative, which could leave the
Farallones at risk of additional
invasions by non-native animal species.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Alternative 2: Eradicate invasive house
mice from the South Farallon Islands by
aerial broadcast of Brodifacoum 25DConservation as the primary method of
bait delivery
Under this alternative, the project area
would be treated with the rodenticide
Brodifacoum 25D Conservation. The
primary delivery of the bait would be
through two aerial applications, with
hand baiting and bait stations as a
secondary means of bait delivery in
selected areas. Bait applications would
be separated by 10 to 21 days. The
applications would take place between
October and December. A
comprehensive gull hazing program
would be implemented as part of the
action to minimize the exposure of gulls
to bait. Mitigation measures in this
alternative include minimizing
activities in wilderness areas, protecting
cultural resources, minimizing wildlife
disturbances, minimizing bait drift into
the marine environment, raptor capture
and hold/relocation, use of bait stations
in certain areas with high numbers of
roosting gulls, and the removal of
carcasses of mice and non-target
species, and covering the water
catchment pad.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:34 Aug 15, 2013
Jkt 229001
Monitoring of operational, mitigation,
and ecosystem restoration objectives
would be conducted before, during, and
after the proposed mouse eradication. In
addition, in order to mitigate the risk of
future rodent reinvasion, a biosecurity
plan would be implemented prior to the
proposed eradication to prevent and
detect future rodent incursions.
Alternative 3: Eradicate invasive house
mice from the South Farallon Islands by
aerial broadcast of Diphacinone D50Conservation as the primary method of
bait delivery
Under this alternative, the project area
would be treated with the rodenticide
Diphacinone D50-Conservation.
Alternative 3 differs from Alternative 2
in the type of rodenticide used for the
proposed eradication and the number of
applications that may be necessary. A
comprehensive gull hazing program
would be implemented to minimize the
exposure of gulls to bait. Alternative 3
would include the same mitigation
measures described under Alternative 2,
as well as the monitoring program and
the biosecurity plan. Under Alternative
3, Diphacinone D50-Conservation
would be broadcast primarily by
helicopter, with some hand baiting and
bait stations used in selected areas.
However, under Alternative 3 we would
need to broadcast a portion of the total
amount of bait required during up to
three or four applications, each
separated by approximately 7 days. The
number of applications will be
determined partly by mouse uptake of
bait and degradation of bait by rainfall.
The bait application would take place
between October and December.
NEPA Compliance
We are conducting 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. The draft EIS discusses the
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
of the alternatives on biological
resources, cultural resources,
wilderness, water quality, and other
environmental resources. Measures to
minimize adverse environmental effects
are identified and discussed in the draft
EIS.
Public Comments
We request that you send comments
only by one of the methods described in
ADDRESSES. If you submit a comment via
https://www.regulations.gov, your entire
comment—including any personal
identifying information—will be posted
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50083
on the Web site. We will post all
hardcopy comments on https://
www.regulations.gov as well. If you
submit a hardcopy comment that
includes personal identifying
information, you may request at the top
of your document that we withhold this
information from public review.
However, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. Comments and
materials we receive, as well as
documents associated with the notice,
will be available for public inspection
on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket
No. FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036.
We will hold one public meeting to
solicit comments on the draft EIS. We
will mail a separate announcement to
the public with the exact date, time, and
location of the public meeting. We will
also post the time, date, and location of
the public meeting on our refuge Web
site at: www.fws.gov/refuge/farallon. We
will accept both oral and written
comments at the public meeting.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
Region.
[FR Doc. 2013–19939 Filed 8–15–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–IA–2013–N185;
FXIA16710900000P5–123–FF09A30000]
Endangered Species; Marine
Mammals; Receipt of Applications for
Permit
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications
for permit.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, invite the public to
comment on the following applications
to conduct certain activities with
endangered species, marine mammals,
or both. With some exceptions, the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
[Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) prohibit activities with listed
species unless Federal authorization is
acquired that allows such activities.
DATES: We must receive comments or
requests for documents on or before
September 16, 2013. We must receive
requests for marine mammal permit
public hearings, in writing, at the
address shown in the ADDRESSES section
by September 16, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Brenda Tapia, Division of
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16AUN1.SGM
16AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50082-50083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19939]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-NWRS-2013-0036; FXRS12610800000-134-FF08RSFC00]
South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project;
Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California; Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for a
proposed project to eradicate non-native, invasive house mice from the
South Farallon Islands, part of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge
off the coast of California. The draft EIS, which we prepared in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA),
describes the alternatives identified to address the problem of
invasive house mice on the South Farallon Islands.
DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before
September 30, 2013. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below) must be received by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You may obtain copies of the
documents in the following places:
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov (Docket Number FWS-
R8-NWRS-2013-0036)
In-Person:
[cir] San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Headquarters, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555.
[cir] The following library:
[ssquf] San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San
Francisco, CA 94102.
Submitting Comments: You may submit written comments by one of the
following methods:
Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R8-NWRS-2013-
0036, which is the docket number for this notice. Then, on the left
side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the
Notices link to locate this document and submit a comment.
By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R8-NWRS-2013-0036; Division of
Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401
N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
We request that you send comments only by the methods described
above. We will post all information received on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section
below for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, 510-
792-0222, ext. 222 (phone).
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 the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (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, and monitor, as well as to 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 non-native, invasive house
mouse (Mus musculus) from the South Farallon Islands, and the
prevention of future human introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate invasive house mice from the South
Farallon Islands. The purpose of this project is to benefit native
seabirds, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants, as well as to enhance
ecosystem processes on the islands. The South Farallon Islands have
sustained ecological damage over many decades from the presence of
invasive mice. Eradicating house mice would eliminate the last
remaining invasive vertebrate species on the Refuge, thereby enhancing
the recovery of sensitive seabird populations on the islands.
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.
Several areas are designated wilderness as regulated by the Wilderness
Act of 1964 (PL 88-577). Wilderness areas include all islands and
islets in the Refuge except for Southeast Farallon Island. The isolated
nature, varied and extensive habitats, and adjacent productive marine
environment make the 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 wildlife of the
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.
Invasive house mice directly and indirectly cause negative impacts
to the populations of small, 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 ecosystem
of the South Farallon Islands. Eradicating mice would increase the
survivorship and local population sizes of at least two seabird
species, the ashy storm-petrel and Leach's storm-petrel (Oceanodroma
leucorhoa). The eradication project would also benefit native
amphibians, invertebrates, and plants, including the endemic Farallon
arboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris farallonensis) and endemic
Farallon camel cricket (Farallonophilus cavernicolus).
Alternatives
In 2011, we published a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS
(76 FR 20706, April 13, 2011). We then developed a range of
alternatives to focus on the primary issues identified by resource
specialists within the Service, national and international experts in
island rodent eradication, public comments received after the NOI to
prepare the EIS was released, and government regulatory agencies that
have a stake in the decision-making process. To decide which action
alternatives to fully analyze in the Draft EIS, we used a structured
decision-making approach, by which we assessed and compared a total of
49 potential mouse-removal methods. The
[[Page 50083]]
development of alternatives was also informed by Service policies
regarding the use of pesticides and the minimum requirements analysis
process under the Wilderness Act. Three alternatives are analyzed in
the draft EIS:
Alternative 1: No-Action Alternative
Under this alternative, we would not take any action to eradicate
mice from the South Farallon Islands, maintaining the status quo.
Native species would continue to be impacted by invasive mice. However,
other ongoing invasive species management programs on the South
Farallones would continue based on previous agency decisions. Low-
intensity mouse control, primarily snap-trapping, currently occurs
within and around the residences and other buildings on Southeast
Farallon Island. These localized control efforts would continue under
the no-action alternative, but the mouse population on the rest of the
South Farallones would not be subject to control efforts.
Under this alternative, we would also continue management
activities focused on protecting storm-petrels and their habitat on the
islands, including invasive plant control and nest habitat
construction. The current biosecurity measures would likely continue
under this alternative, which could leave the Farallones at risk of
additional invasions by non-native animal species.
Alternative 2: Eradicate invasive house mice from the South Farallon
Islands by aerial broadcast of Brodifacoum 25D-Conservation as the
primary method of bait delivery
Under this alternative, the project area would be treated with the
rodenticide Brodifacoum 25D Conservation. The primary delivery of the
bait would be through two aerial applications, with hand baiting and
bait stations as a secondary means of bait delivery in selected areas.
Bait applications would be separated by 10 to 21 days. The applications
would take place between October and December. A comprehensive gull
hazing program would be implemented as part of the action to minimize
the exposure of gulls to bait. Mitigation measures in this alternative
include minimizing activities in wilderness areas, protecting cultural
resources, minimizing wildlife disturbances, minimizing bait drift into
the marine environment, raptor capture and hold/relocation, use of bait
stations in certain areas with high numbers of roosting gulls, and the
removal of carcasses of mice and non-target species, and covering the
water catchment pad.
Monitoring of operational, mitigation, and ecosystem restoration
objectives would be conducted before, during, and after the proposed
mouse eradication. In addition, in order to mitigate the risk of future
rodent reinvasion, a biosecurity plan would be implemented prior to the
proposed eradication to prevent and detect future rodent incursions.
Alternative 3: Eradicate invasive house mice from the South Farallon
Islands by aerial broadcast of Diphacinone D50-Conservation as the
primary method of bait delivery
Under this alternative, the project area would be treated with the
rodenticide Diphacinone D50-Conservation. Alternative 3 differs from
Alternative 2 in the type of rodenticide used for the proposed
eradication and the number of applications that may be necessary. A
comprehensive gull hazing program would be implemented to minimize the
exposure of gulls to bait. Alternative 3 would include the same
mitigation measures described under Alternative 2, as well as the
monitoring program and the biosecurity plan. Under Alternative 3,
Diphacinone D50-Conservation would be broadcast primarily by
helicopter, with some hand baiting and bait stations used in selected
areas. However, under Alternative 3 we would need to broadcast a
portion of the total amount of bait required during up to three or four
applications, each separated by approximately 7 days. The number of
applications will be determined partly by mouse uptake of bait and
degradation of bait by rainfall. The bait application would take place
between October and December.
NEPA Compliance
We are conducting 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.
The draft EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of
the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources,
wilderness, water quality, and other environmental resources. Measures
to minimize adverse environmental effects are identified and discussed
in the draft EIS.
Public Comments
We request that you send comments only by one of the methods
described in ADDRESSES. If you submit a comment via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment--including any personal
identifying information--will be posted on the Web site. We will post
all hardcopy comments on https://www.regulations.gov as well. If you
submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying
information, you may request at the top of your document that we
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we
receive, as well as documents associated with the notice, will be
available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket
No. FWS-R8-NWRS-2013-0036.
We will hold one public meeting to solicit comments on the draft
EIS. We will mail a separate announcement to the public with the exact
date, time, and location of the public meeting. We will also post the
time, date, and location of the public meeting on our refuge Web site
at: www.fws.gov/refuge/farallon. We will accept both oral and written
comments at the public meeting.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-19939 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
