[Federal Register: August 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 43718-43720]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au09-94]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-R-2009-N0106; 70133-1265-0000-S3]
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, AK
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the revised comprehensive
conservation plan and final environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS),
announce that the revised comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge is available for public review and comment. The CCP/EIS
was prepared pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act) as amended by
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge
Improvement Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA). It describes five alternatives for managing the Kenai Refuge
for the next 15 years, including continuing current management.
DATES: We will accept comments on the CCP/EIS until September 28, 2009.
ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to request a paper copy or a
compact disk of the CCP/EIS, contact Peter Wikoff, Planning Team
Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, 1011 East Tudor
Rd., MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3357; fax: (907)
786-3965; e-mail: fw7_kenai_planning@fws.gov. You may also view or
download a copy of the CCP/EIS at: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/
kenpol.htm. Copies of the CCP/EIS may be viewed at the Kenai Refuge
Office in Soldotna, AK, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional
Office in Anchorage, AK (address above).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Wikoff at the address or phone
number provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska National Interests Land
Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43 U.S.C. 1602 et
seq.) requires development of comprehensive conservation plans for all
national wildlife refuges in Alaska. The CCP/EIS for the Kenai Refuge
was developed consistent with Section 304(g) of ANILCA and the Refuge
Administration Act as amended by the Refuge Improvement Act (16 U.S.C.
668dd et seq.). The purpose of developing a comprehensive conservation
plan is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year management strategy
for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles
of fish, wildlife, and habitat management and conservation; legal
mandates; and Service policies. Comprehensive conservation plans define
long-term goals and objectives toward which refuge management
activities are directed. Comprehensive conservation plans are reviewed
and updated every 15 years in accordance with direction in Section
304(g) of ANILCA, the Refuge Improvement Act, and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.).
Background
In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order
8979 creating the 1,730,000-acre Kenai National Moose Range. In 1980,
ANILCA changed the name of the Range to the Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge and substantially increased the size of the Refuge. Kenai Refuge
encompasses approximately 1,988,000 acres. Section 303(4)(B) of ANILCA
states that the purposes for which Kenai Refuge was established include
(i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their
natural diversity; (ii) to fulfill international treaty obligations of
the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;
(iii) to ensure water quality and necessary water quantity within the
refuge; (iv) to provide opportunities for scientific research,
interpretation, environmental education, and land management training;
and (v) to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-oriented
recreation. A CCP/EIS was completed for the Kenai Refuge in 1985 (50 FR
31777, Aug. 6, 1985) following direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA.
The ANILCA requires the Service to designate areas according to
their respective resources and values and to specify programs and uses
within the areas designated. To meet these requirements, the Alaska
Region established management categories. A management category is a
set of refuge management directions applied to an area to accomplish
refuge purposes and goals. Appropriate public uses, commercial uses,
facilities, and human activities are identified for each management
category. Five management categories currently apply to the Kenai
Refuge, including (1) Intensive, (2) Moderate, (3) Traditional, (4)
Minimal, and (5) Wilderness.
The 1997 Refuge Improvement Act includes additional direction for
conservation planning throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System.
This direction has been incorporated into national planning policy for
the National Wildlife Refuge System, including refuges in Alaska. The
CCP/EIS for the Kenai Refuge meets the requirements of both ANILCA and
the Refuge Administration Act as amended by the Refuge Improvement Act.
An Overview of Management Alternatives
The CCP/EIS describes and evaluates five alternatives (A-E) for
managing the Kenai Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternatives A through
E are each consistent with the purposes of the Kenai Refuge as mandated
by ANILCA.
Alternative A (the No-Action Alternative) is required under NEPA
and describes continuation of current management. Alternative A serves
as a baseline against which to compare the other four alternatives,
including Alternative E--the Service's Preferred Alternative. Under
Alternative A, management of the Kenai Refuge would continue to follow
direction described in the 1985 CCP/EIS and record of decision and
subsequent step-down management plans. Under Alternative
[[Page 43719]]
A, the Kenai Refuge would continue to be managed under five management
categories.
Alternatives B through E would generally continue to follow
management direction as described in the 1985 CCP/EIS and record of
decision and subsequent step-down management plans. However, some
specific direction occurring under current management (Alternative A)
would be altered or no longer pursued under Alternatives B through E.
For example, under Alternatives B through E, four management
categories, not five, would be applied to the Kenai Refuge, eliminating
the Traditional management category. Alternative B would convert Kenai
Refuge lands that are currently managed as Traditional to the Moderate
or the Minimal management categories, and Alternatives C through E
would convert Refuge lands that are currently managed as Traditional to
the Minimal management category.
The Alternatives by Specific Issues
Five planning issues were raised during scoping. The CCP/EIS for
Kenai Refuge describes and evaluates specific management actions under
Alternatives A through E and how each alternative addresses the
planning issues. In this notice, we highlight key changes in management
of the Kenai Refuge proposed under Alternatives A through E for each
planning issue:
Issue 1: Large-Scale Habitat Change and the Use of Fire
Under Alternatives A through C, prescribed fire use would be
allowed on 31 percent of the Refuge, though such use would be limited
under Alternative A on approximately 10 percent of the Refuge
identified as Minimal management. Alternatives D and E (Alternative E
is the Preferred Alternative) would allow prescribed fire use on 97.5
percent of the Refuge.
Under Alternative A, use of wildland fire would be allowed on 95
percent of the Refuge, and Alternative B would allow such use on 84.5
percent of the Refuge. This is the technique of managing naturally
ignited wildland fires to accomplish resource management objectives for
specific areas. Alternatives C through E (the Preferred Alternative)
would allow use of wildland fire on 97.5 percent of the Refuge--with
use of wildland fire only being the default management action in
designated Wilderness (66.4 percent of the Refuge) under Alternative C.
Under Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative), use of wildland
fire would be the default management action in Minimal and designated
Wilderness management categories (95 percent of the Refuge).
Issue 2: Manage Existing Facilities for Public Use While Ensuring
Resource Protection
Presently, there are three active oil and gas leases (13,252 acres)
on the Kenai Refuge that were granted under the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920. These leases are not anticipated to end during the life of this
plan (15 years) but could in the foreseeable future. For two of the
leases, the Swanson River and Beaver Creek Oil and Gas units, some of
the existing industrial roads and operating facilities would be
retained (in the event that operations cease) for public use (except
bicycle use) under Alternative A, though none would be retained under
Alternative B. Most industrial roads would be retained and converted to
trails for pedestrian and horse use only under Alternative C; and
Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative) would retain and
maintain most roads for public use, including bicycle use. No existing
facilities would be retained for public use under Alternatives C
through E (the Preferred Alternative) in these oil and gas units. In
the Swanson River Oil and Gas Unit, up to five primitive camping areas
would be provided for walk-in use only under Alternative C, and two
developed campgrounds would be constructed under Alternatives D and E
(the Preferred Alternative). In the Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Unit, up
to two primitive camping areas would be provided for walk-in use only
under Alternative C, one developed campground would be constructed
under Alternative D, and no camping facilities would be provided under
Alternative E (the Preferred Alternative).
Public vehicle use on the unimproved Mystery Creek Access Road and
pipeline corridor north to Chickaloon Bay would be allowed from the
start of moose hunting season (approximately August 9) until snow cover
under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the access road would be
improved and public vehicle use would be allowed July 1 to November 30
throughout the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the
Moose River. Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
improve the access road to ensure public safety and environmental
protection while providing for a primitive backcountry experience, and
public vehicle use would be allowed August 9 to November 30 throughout
the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the Moose
River. Under Alternative D, public vehicle use on the access road and
pipeline corridor would not be allowed. Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be allowed under all the alternatives. Bicycle
use would be allowed from August 9 until snow cover under Alternatives
A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative), and May 1 to November 30 under
Alternative B. Alternative D would not allow bicycle use. Public use
registration would not be required under Alternatives A or D, but it
would be required under Alternatives B, C, and E (the Preferred
Alternative).
Issue 3: Enhance Wildlife-Dependent Recreation Opportunities
Under Alternative A, personal collection of berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants, and/or the collection of shed antlers would not be
allowed. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred Alternative),
personal collection and use of unlimited quantities of berries,
mushrooms, and other edible plants, and up to eight naturally shed
moose or caribou antlers per person per year, would be allowed.
Issue 4: Manage Increasing Public Use To Ensure Resource and Visitor-
Experience Protection
For the Upper Kenai River (Russian River to Skilak Lake), non-
guided public use would be allowed without restriction under
Alternative A. Alternative B would modify existing management
agreements and/or plans cooperatively with stakeholders to address non-
guided public use; and Alternatives C through E (the Preferred
Alternative) would implement a limited permit program after a public
rulemaking process is conducted.
Under all of the Alternatives, sportfishing guides would be
required to have special use permits. Permits would be limited to 20
under Alternatives A and B, reduced to 18 under C and E (the Preferred
Alternative), and reduced to 15 under Alternative D. Permits would be
reduced through attrition and issued competitively. Each permit would
allow 10 starts per week with no more than 4 starts per day--except
under Alternative B, which would require additional restrictions on the
timing and starts of boats beyond such levels.
State-licensed sportfishing guides not having Refuge special use
permits may be issued Incidental Use Permits (IUPs) under all the
alternatives except Alternative D, which would eliminate the IUP
Program. Alternatives A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
issue up to three IUPs per year subject to quotas and blackout dates,
and Alternative B would limit the number of IUPs to one per year.
[[Page 43720]]
Dispersed camping would be allowed (except within one-quarter mile
of the Sterling Highway) under all of the alternatives, but would be
limited to 14 days in any 30-day period under Alternative A; limited to
24 hours within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river under
Alternative B; not allowed within 100 yards of the river under
Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative); limited to 48 hours
within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river and within 1
mile of the Kenai River/Skilak Lake inlet/outlet under Alternative D.
For the Middle Kenai River (Skilak Lake downstream to the Refuge
boundary), non-guided public use would be allowed without restriction
under Alternatives A and B. Such use would be allowed without
restriction under Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative)
until a Limits-of-Acceptable Change planning process is completed with
stakeholders; and Alternative D would implement a limited permit
program after a public rulemaking process is conducted.
Sportfishing guides would be required to have special use permits
under all of the alternatives, though such permits would be issued
without limit under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the need to
implement a permitting process would be evaluated after the conclusion
of the ongoing Kenai River-wide guide process. Under Alternatives C and
E (the Preferred Alternative), permits would be limited to the number
of existing permittees, and existing permittees would be
``grandfathered'' in after a public rulemaking process is conducted;
under Alternative D, permits would be limited to 20 through a
competitive selection process, and management of the timing and starts
of boats would be initiated.
Issue 5: Balance Motorized Access With Resource and Visitor-Experience
Protection
Under all the alternatives, airplane access would not be allowed
May 1 to September 30 on any lake where nesting trumpeter swans and/or
their broods are present, except on two lakes in designated
Wilderness--where the closure would be May 1 to September 10 under
Alternatives A through C and E (the Preferred Alternative)--and five
lakes in designated Wilderness plus one lake outside of designated
Wilderness under Alternative D. Airplane access would be allowed on 46
lakes in designated Wilderness under Alternatives A and E (the
Preferred Alternative); 45 lakes under Alternative B; 50 lakes under
Alternative C; and 59 lakes under Alternative D.
Under all the alternatives, floatplane access to Chickaloon Flats
would be allowed on 6.5 miles of the Chickaloon River. Under
Alternative A, wheeled airplane access would be allowed year-round
within designated areas of the Chickaloon Flats area, including three
upland landing zones, a designated beach zone, and the unmaintained Big
Indian Creek airstrip. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred
Alternative), wheeled airplane access would be allowed on 21 square
miles of unvegetated portions of the Chickaloon Flats area. Access
would also be allowed on the unmaintained Big Indian Creek airstrip
under Alternatives B and E (the Preferred Alternative). Under
Alternatives C and D, access would be allowed on the Big Indian Creek
airstrip, which would be maintained by the Service; and under
Alternative D, an additional 6.8 square miles of unvegetated portions
of the Chickaloon Flats would be accessible September 1 to December 15
(or to coincide with future waterfowl hunting seasons).
Under Alternatives A through C and E (the Preferred Alternative),
snowmachines would be allowed in designated areas December 1 to April
30 when the refuge manager determines there is adequate snow cover.
Under Alternative C, certain zones within designated areas may be
opened earlier (than December 1) or later (than April 30) depending on
local snow conditions.
Under Alternative D, the December 1 to April 30 time restriction
would be eliminated, and certain zones within designated areas may be
opened depending on local snow conditions. Under Alternatives B through
E (the Preferred Alternative), research studies would be conducted with
stakeholders to evaluate the effects of snowmachine use on Refuge
resources and visitor experiences, and the results of those studies
would be used to support future management decisions.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your name, 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. We will make all comments from individual persons part
of the official public record. We will handle requests for such
comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and
Departmental policies and procedures.
Dated: August 21, 2009.
Gary Edwards,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage,
Alaska.
[FR Doc. E9-20664 Filed 8-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P