South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, California; Final Environmental Impact Statement, 9548-9549 [2019-04905]
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9548
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2019 / Notices
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Application .......................................................................................................
Fulfillment Report .............................................................................................
6
33
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39
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control number.
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Dated: March 12, 2019.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–04828 Filed 3–14–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036;
FXRS12610800000–190–FF08RSFC00]
South Farallon Islands Invasive House
Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon
Islands National Wildlife Refuge,
California; Final Environmental Impact
Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final
environmental impact statement.
D San Francisco Bay National Wildlife
Refuge Complex Headquarters, 1
Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555.
D San Francisco Public Library, 100
Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, by
phone at 510–792–0222, ext. 222; via
email at gerry_mcchesney@fws.gov; or
via the Federal Relay Service at 800–
877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
announce the availability of a final
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for a proposed project to eradicate
invasive, introduced house mice (Mus
musculus) on the South Farallon Islands
of the Farallon Islands National Wildlife
Refuge in California. This notice advises
the public that the final EIS is now
available to the public. The final EIS
describes the alternatives identified to
eradicate house mice from the South
Farallon Islands and eliminate their
negative impacts to the ecosystem of
these islands.
AGENCY:
National Environmental Policy Act
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a final environmental
impact statement (EIS) for a proposed
project to eradicate invasive, introduced
house mice on the South Farallon
Islands of the Farallon Islands National
Wildlife Refuge in California. The final
EIS describes the alternatives identified
to eradicate house mice from the South
Farallon Islands and eliminate their
negative impacts to the ecosystem on
these islands.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of
the final EIS in the following places:
• Internet: https://www.regulations.gov
(Docket No. FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–
0036).
• In-Person:
We are conducting environmental
review for the proposed South Farallon
Islands Invasive House Mouse
Eradication Project in accordance with
the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act as amended
(NEPA; 43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its
implementing regulations in 40 CFR
1500–1508, other applicable regulations,
and our procedures for compliance with
those regulations. On April 13, 2011, we
published in the Federal Register a
notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the proposed project (76 FR 20706).
We announced the availability of the
draft EIS for public comment on August
16, 2013 (78 FR 50082). On October 25,
2013, we issued a revised draft EIS to
clarify language on the population
status of the ashy storm-petrel
(Oceanodroma homochroa) and revise
SUMMARY:
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
every 9 days per respondent for
fulfillment reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the assessment of impacts to the ashy
storm-petrel under the no action
alternative (78 FR 64002). In accordance
with 40 CFR 1506.6, we now announce
the availability of the final EIS.
In addition to our publication of this
notice, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a
notice announcing the final EIS, as
required under section 309 of the Clean
Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The
publication date of EPA’s notice of
availability in the Federal Register is
the start of the 30-day wait period
required for the final EIS. (See EPA’s
Role in the EIS Process, below, for
further information.)
We will make a decision on the
alternatives presented in the EIS no
sooner than 30 days after the
publication of the final EIS. We
anticipate issuing a Record of Decision
(ROD) in June 2019.
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
Islands National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge) over a 15-year period. The
wildlife management goal 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 from the South
Farallon Islands, and the prevention of
future introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate invasive
house mice from the South Farallon
Islands. We expect that eradicating
invasive mice will benefit native
seabirds, amphibians, terrestrial
invertebrates, plants, and wilderness
quality, and will help restore natural
ecosystem processes on the islands. The
South Farallon Islands have sustained
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2019 / Notices
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 this unique
and sensitive ecosystem.
Alternatives
We analyzed three alternatives in this
final EIS:
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
Alternative A: 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 and
wilderness would continue to be
impacted by invasive mice. However,
other ongoing invasive species
management programs on the South
Farallon Islands 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 Farallon Islands
would not be subject to control efforts.
Under this alternative, we would also
continue management activities focused
on conserving storm-petrels, native
plants, and their habitat on the islands,
including invasive plant control and
storm-petrel nesting habitat
management. The current biosecurity
measures would continue under this
alternative, but these measures still
could leave the Farallones at risk of
additional invasions by non-native
animal species.
Alternative B: Aerial Broadcast of
Brodifacoum-25D Conservation
(Preferred Alternative)
Under this alternative, the project area
would be treated with the rodent bait
Brodifacoum-25D Conservation. This
bait is a cereal grain-based pellet (about
1 gram each) containing the rodenticide
brodifacoum (25 ppm, or 0.0025
percent). Brodifacoum is typically
effective after just one feeding by a
mouse. The primary delivery of the bait
would be through two aerial
applications, with hand baiting and bait
stations as a likely secondary means of
bait delivery in selected areas. Bait
applications would be separated by 10
to 21 days. The applications would take
place between the months of October
and December, with a most likely
application period of November–
December. The overall operational
period is expected to be about six weeks
long. Mitigation measures in this
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
alternative consist of avoidance and
minimization actions to limit adverse
impacts to natural and cultural
resources. For example, project timing is
scheduled to occur outside seabird and
marine mammal breeding seasons and
when most wildlife populations are near
annual minimums. We would
implement a comprehensive gull hazing
program in order to minimize the
exposure of gulls to rodent bait. We
would also capture and hold or
translocate raptors present on the
islands just prior to and during bait
application. For precaution, a sample of
Farallon arboreal salamanders (Aneides
lugubris farallonensis) would be
captured and held, then released back
into the wild following bait degradation.
To prevent bait drift into the marine
environment, precision GPS techniques
and a precision bait bucket will be
utilized to keep bait application above
the high tide line. Other mitigation
measures include the possibility of
using bait stations and hand broadcast
of bait in certain high-risk areas,
removing carcasses that may have been
exposed to rodenticide, retrieving or
crushing remaining rodent bait after it is
no longer needed, minimizing wildlife
disturbance during bait application,
minimizing impacts to wilderness by
using the minimum tools necessary for
eradication, and protecting cultural
resources during bait application.
Monitoring of operational, mitigation,
and ecosystem restoration objectives
would be conducted before, during, and
after the proposed mouse eradication. In
addition, in order to minimize the risk
of future rodent invasions, a biosecurity
plan would be implemented prior to
and in conjunction with the proposed
eradication to prevent, detect and
rapidly respond to potential future
rodent incursions.
Alternative C: Aerial Broadcast of
Diphacinone-50 Conservation
Under this alternative, the project area
would be treated with the rodent bait
Diphacinone-50 Conservation. This bait
is a cereal grain-based pellet (about 1–
2 grams each) containing the
rodenticide diphacinone (50 ppm, or
0.0050 percent). Alternative C differs
from Alternative B mainly in the type of
rodenticide used for the proposed
eradication, the number of applications
that may be necessary, and the expected
overall length of the operational period.
To be effective, diphacinone requires
multiple feedings by a mouse over
several days. Under Alternative C,
Diphacinone-50 Conservation would be
broadcast primarily by helicopter, likely
with some hand baiting and bait stations
used in selected areas. The bait
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9549
application would take place between
the months of October and December,
with most likely application in the
November–December period. However,
under Alternative C, we would need to
broadcast a portion of the total amount
of bait required during three
applications, each separated by
approximately 7 days. The overall
operational period is expected to be
about 16 weeks long. Alternative C
would include the same mitigation
measures described under Alternative B,
as well as the monitoring program and
the biosecurity plan.
EPA’s Role in the EIS Process
The EPA is charged, under section
309 of the Clean Air Act, to review all
Federal agencies’ EISs and to comment
on the adequacy and the acceptability of
the environmental impacts of proposed
actions in the EISs.
EPA also serves as the repository for
EISs prepared by Federal agencies and
provides notice of their availability in
the Federal Register. The
Environmental Impact Statement
Database provides information about
EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as
well as EPA’s comments concerning the
EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which
publishes a notice of availability on
Fridays in the Federal Register.
The notice of availability is the start
of the 30-day ‘‘wait period’’ for final
EISs, during which agencies are
generally required to wait 30 days
before making a decision on a proposed
action. For more information, see
https://www.epa.gov/nepa. You may
search for EPA comments on EISs, along
with EISs themselves, at https://cdxno
dengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/
action/eis/search.
Paul Souza,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2019–04905 Filed 3–14–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–ES–2018–N154; MO# 300030113;
OMB Control Number 1018–0165]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Implementing Regulations
for Petitions
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9548-9549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04905]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-NWRS-2013-0036; FXRS12610800000-190-FF08RSFC00]
South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project;
Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, California; Final
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for a
proposed project to eradicate invasive, introduced house mice on the
South Farallon Islands of the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
in California. The final EIS describes the alternatives identified to
eradicate house mice from the South Farallon Islands and eliminate
their negative impacts to the ecosystem on these islands.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the final EIS in the following
places:
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-R8-
NWRS-2013-0036).
In-Person:
[ssquf] San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Headquarters, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555.
[ssquf] San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San
Francisco, CA 94102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, by
phone at 510-792-0222, ext. 222; via email at gerry_mcchesney@fws.gov;
or via the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), announce the availability of a final environmental impact
statement (EIS) for a proposed project to eradicate invasive,
introduced house mice (Mus musculus) on the South Farallon Islands of
the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge in California. This
notice advises the public that the final EIS is now available to the
public. The final EIS describes the alternatives identified to
eradicate house mice from the South Farallon Islands and eliminate
their negative impacts to the ecosystem of these islands.
National Environmental Policy Act
We are conducting environmental review for the proposed South
Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project in accordance
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act as
amended (NEPA; 43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations in
40 CFR 1500-1508, other applicable regulations, and our procedures for
compliance with those regulations. On April 13, 2011, we published in
the Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the proposed project (76 FR 20706). We
announced the availability of the draft EIS for public comment on
August 16, 2013 (78 FR 50082). On October 25, 2013, we issued a revised
draft EIS to clarify language on the population status of the ashy
storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) and revise the assessment of
impacts to the ashy storm-petrel under the no action alternative (78 FR
64002). In accordance with 40 CFR 1506.6, we now announce the
availability of the final EIS.
In addition to our publication of this notice, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a notice announcing
the final EIS, as required under section 309 of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The publication date of EPA's notice of
availability in the Federal Register is the start of the 30-day wait
period required for the final EIS. (See EPA's Role in the EIS Process,
below, for further information.)
We will make a decision on the alternatives presented in the EIS no
sooner than 30 days after the publication of the final EIS. We
anticipate issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) in June 2019.
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 Islands National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge) over a 15-year period. The wildlife management goal 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 from the South Farallon Islands, and the
prevention of future introduction of mice.
We now propose to eradicate invasive house mice from the South
Farallon Islands. We expect that eradicating invasive mice will benefit
native seabirds, amphibians, terrestrial invertebrates, plants, and
wilderness quality, and will help restore natural ecosystem processes
on the islands. The South Farallon Islands have sustained
[[Page 9549]]
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
this unique and sensitive ecosystem.
Alternatives
We analyzed three alternatives in this final EIS:
Alternative A: 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 and wilderness would continue to be impacted by invasive
mice. However, other ongoing invasive species management programs on
the South Farallon Islands 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 Farallon Islands would not be subject to control
efforts.
Under this alternative, we would also continue management
activities focused on conserving storm-petrels, native plants, and
their habitat on the islands, including invasive plant control and
storm-petrel nesting habitat management. The current biosecurity
measures would continue under this alternative, but these measures
still could leave the Farallones at risk of additional invasions by
non-native animal species.
Alternative B: Aerial Broadcast of Brodifacoum-25D Conservation
(Preferred Alternative)
Under this alternative, the project area would be treated with the
rodent bait Brodifacoum-25D Conservation. This bait is a cereal grain-
based pellet (about 1 gram each) containing the rodenticide brodifacoum
(25 ppm, or 0.0025 percent). Brodifacoum is typically effective after
just one feeding by a mouse. The primary delivery of the bait would be
through two aerial applications, with hand baiting and bait stations as
a likely secondary means of bait delivery in selected areas. Bait
applications would be separated by 10 to 21 days. The applications
would take place between the months of October and December, with a
most likely application period of November-December. The overall
operational period is expected to be about six weeks long. Mitigation
measures in this alternative consist of avoidance and minimization
actions to limit adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources. For
example, project timing is scheduled to occur outside seabird and
marine mammal breeding seasons and when most wildlife populations are
near annual minimums. We would implement a comprehensive gull hazing
program in order to minimize the exposure of gulls to rodent bait. We
would also capture and hold or translocate raptors present on the
islands just prior to and during bait application. For precaution, a
sample of Farallon arboreal salamanders (Aneides lugubris
farallonensis) would be captured and held, then released back into the
wild following bait degradation. To prevent bait drift into the marine
environment, precision GPS techniques and a precision bait bucket will
be utilized to keep bait application above the high tide line. Other
mitigation measures include the possibility of using bait stations and
hand broadcast of bait in certain high-risk areas, removing carcasses
that may have been exposed to rodenticide, retrieving or crushing
remaining rodent bait after it is no longer needed, minimizing wildlife
disturbance during bait application, minimizing impacts to wilderness
by using the minimum tools necessary for eradication, and protecting
cultural resources during bait application. Monitoring of operational,
mitigation, and ecosystem restoration objectives would be conducted
before, during, and after the proposed mouse eradication. In addition,
in order to minimize the risk of future rodent invasions, a biosecurity
plan would be implemented prior to and in conjunction with the proposed
eradication to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to potential future
rodent incursions.
Alternative C: Aerial Broadcast of Diphacinone-50 Conservation
Under this alternative, the project area would be treated with the
rodent bait Diphacinone-50 Conservation. This bait is a cereal grain-
based pellet (about 1-2 grams each) containing the rodenticide
diphacinone (50 ppm, or 0.0050 percent). Alternative C differs from
Alternative B mainly in the type of rodenticide used for the proposed
eradication, the number of applications that may be necessary, and the
expected overall length of the operational period. To be effective,
diphacinone requires multiple feedings by a mouse over several days.
Under Alternative C, Diphacinone-50 Conservation would be broadcast
primarily by helicopter, likely with some hand baiting and bait
stations used in selected areas. The bait application would take place
between the months of October and December, with most likely
application in the November-December period. However, under Alternative
C, we would need to broadcast a portion of the total amount of bait
required during three applications, each separated by approximately 7
days. The overall operational period is expected to be about 16 weeks
long. Alternative C would include the same mitigation measures
described under Alternative B, as well as the monitoring program and
the biosecurity plan.
EPA's Role in the EIS Process
The EPA is charged, under section 309 of the Clean Air Act, to
review all Federal agencies' EISs and to comment on the adequacy and
the acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in
the EISs.
EPA also serves as the repository for EISs prepared by Federal
agencies and provides notice of their availability in the Federal
Register. The Environmental Impact Statement Database provides
information about EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's
comments concerning the EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which
publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register.
The notice of availability is the start of the 30-day ``wait
period'' for final EISs, during which agencies are generally required
to wait 30 days before making a decision on a proposed action. For more
information, see https://www.epa.gov/nepa. You may search for EPA
comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search.
Paul Souza,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-04905 Filed 3-14-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
