[Federal Register: February 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 36)]
[Notices]
[Page 8564-8565]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe09-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2009-N00006; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawai'i, HI
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; announcement of public open house
meetings; and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we) intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the Hakalau Forest
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), including the Hakalau Forest and the
Kona Forest Units. We will also prepare an environmental assessment
(EA) to evaluate the effects of various CCP alternatives. This notice
also announces public open house meetings; see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for the details. We furnish this notice in compliance with
our CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain comments and information on the scope of
issues to be considered in the planning process.
DATES: Please provide written comments by March 27, 2009. We will hold
public open house meetings on March 3 and 4, 2009, to begin the CCP
planning process; see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and
locations.
ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for further
information to Jim Kraus, Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest National
Wildlife Refuge, 60 Nowelo Street, Suite 100; Hilo, HI 96720. Comments
may be faxed to the Refuge at (808) 443-2304, or e-mailed to
FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Hakalau Forest Refuge CCP'' in
the subject line of the message. Additional information concerning the
Refuge is available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/
hakalauforest/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Kraus, Refuge Manager, (808) 443-
2300.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we initiate the CCP
process for the Hakalau Forest Refuge.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
(Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of
developing a CCP is to provide a refuge manager a 15-year strategy for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining management
direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities, including opportunities
for wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental
education and interpretation.
The Service will prepare an EA to evaluate the environmental
effects of CCP alternatives, in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate
Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and procedures for
compliance with those laws and regulations.
Each unit of the NWRS is established for specific purposes. We use
these purposes to develop and prioritize management goals and
objectives within the NWRS mission, and to guide refuge public uses.
The planning process provides opportunities for the public to
participate in evaluating our management goals and objectives for
conserving important wildlife and its habitat, while providing
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with a
refuge's establishing purpose(s) and the mission of the NWRS.
Public Involvement
We will conduct a planning process that will provide opportunities
for the public; State and local governments; agencies; Native Hawaiian
organizations; and other interest groups to participate. We request
input for issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future
management of the Refuge. We will also give the public an opportunity
to provide input at open houses to scope issues and concerns. All
information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public meetings
becomes part of our official public record. We will handle requests for
comments received in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act,
NEPA,
[[Page 8565]]
and Service and Departmental policies and procedures.
Refuge Overview
Both the Hakalau Forest and Kona Forest Units are part of the
Hakalau Forest Refuge. The Hakalau Forest Unit was established in 1985
to protect and manage endangered forest birds and their rain forest
habitat. Located on the west slope of Mauna Kea Mountain on Island of
Hawai'i, the 32,733-acre refuge unit supports a diversity of native
birds and plants. The Kona Forest Unit was established in 1997 to
protect native forest birds and the endangered Hawaiian crow (alala).
Located on the west slope of Mauna Loa, the 5,300-acre refuge unit
supports diverse native bird and plant species as well as the rare
habitats found in lava tubes and lava tube skylights.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. During public scoping, we may identify
additional issues. During the CCP planning process the Service will
analyze methods for protecting refuge resources in the long term, while
providing opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation.
The Service will specifically evaluate the Refuge's forest
restoration program, which encompasses volunteer efforts, control of
avian diseases and invasive species (both plant and animal), endangered
plant propagation, and outplanting. We will also consider possible
improvements to our public use programs and an evaluation of its
impacts to wildlife, and opportunities for native gathering rights.
Public Open House Meetings
We will host two public open house meetings to provide information
on the CCP and receive public comments. The first meeting will be held
March 3, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Hakalau Forest
Refuge Office at 60 Nowelo Street, Room M02, Hilo, HI 96720. The second
meeting will be held March 4, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at
Yano Hall at 82-6156 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, HI 96745.
Opportunities for additional public input will be announced throughout
the planning process.
Public Availability of Comments
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. We will make all comments part of the official public
record. We will handle requests for such comments in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Departmental
policies and procedures.
Dated: February 20, 2009.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E9-4093 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P