[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29782-29783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12564]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2010-N273; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawai`i County, HI;
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of our final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge). In this final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge
for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web site: Download the CCP/FONSI at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Hakalau Forest
National Wildlife Refuge Final CCP'' in the subject line of the
message.
Mail: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 60 Nowelo Street,
Suite 100, Hilo, HI 96720.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife
Refuge, 60 Nowelo Street, Suite 100, Hilo, HI 96720.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Kraus, Refuge Manager, (808) 443-
2300.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Hakalau
Forest National Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a
notice of intent in the Federal Register (74 FR 8564; February 25,
2009). We released the draft CCP/EA to the public, announcing and
requesting comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register
(75 FR 52546; August 26, 2010).
The Refuge is located on the Island of Hawai`i. It encompasses two
units: the Hakalau Forest Unit and the Kona Forest Unit. The Hakalau
Forest Unit was established in 1985 to protect endangered forest birds
and their rainforest habitat. The Hakalau Forest Unit encompasses
32,733 acres of land, located on the windward (eastern) slope of Mauna
Kea, which supports a diversity of native birds and plants. The Kona
Forest Unit, at 5,300 acres, was established in 1997 on the leeward
(southwestern) slope of Mauna Loa to protect native forest birds and
the `alal[amacr], the endangered Hawaiian crow. The Kona Forest Unit
supports diverse native bird and plant species, as well as rare
habitats found in lava tubes and lava tube skylights.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
final CCP for Hakalau Refuge in accordance with National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed a
thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we
included in the draft CCP/EA.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the Refuge for
the next 15 years. Alternative B, as we described in the final CCP, is
the foundation for the CCP.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to
develop a CCP for each refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife
management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative
During our CCP planning process we identified several issues. To
address the issues, we developed and evaluated the following
alternatives in our draft CCP/EA.
Alternative A (No Action)
Under Alternative A, we would continue existing Refuge management
activities, including fencing projects currently under way at the Kona
Forest Unit. Staff would conduct limited additional restoration of
various koa forest habitats and predator control. Volunteer
opportunities to assist Refuge staff with planting native plants would
continue, along with public pig hunting. Refuge staff would provide
limited outreach regarding management activities.
[[Page 29783]]
Alternative B (Preferred Alternative)
Under Alternative B, we would increase reforestation, restoration,
and threat (e.g., predators, nonnative species, etc.) removal efforts.
Additional areas in both units would be protected through fencing and
increased management. Refuge staff, with the assistance of volunteers,
would increase efforts to restore understory species in reforested
areas. Staff would provide additional opportunities for outreach and
environmental education and interpretation, while closing public
hunting. We would work with partners and neighboring landowners to
explore habitat protection and restoration opportunities, including the
potential for Refuge boundary expansion. Opportunities for additional
land acquisition would focus on protection of forest birds and their
habitats in response to climate change concerns.
Alternative C
Under Alternative C, we would focus on maintaining existing koa
forest and allowing natural regeneration of the understory on the Kona
Forest Unit. We would place less emphasis on ungulate and predator
removal. Additional grassland areas would be maintained for
n[emacr]n[emacr] foraging. We would open additional areas of the
Hakalau Forest Unit to the public. Fewer volunteer opportunities would
be provided. As in Alternative B, we would explore habitat protection
opportunities through acquisition.
Comments
We solicited comments on the draft CCP/EA from August 26, 2010, to
September 15, 2010. We received 19 comments via letters, e-mails, or at
the public open house on the draft CCP/EA, all of which were thoroughly
evaluated. To address public comments, minor changes and clarifications
were made to the final CCP where appropriate.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative B for implementation. Alternative B was the most supported
alternative identified by the comments received. By implementing
Alternative B, we will increase habitat supporting threatened and
endangered species including the `alal[amacr],
`akiap[omacr]l[amacr]`au, Clermontia lindseyana, Cyanea stictophylla,
and others. Major management actions will center on habitat protection
through fencing, restoration and reforestation via an enhanced
outplanting program, and threat mitigation by removal of predators,
ungulates, and invasive weed species. Through partnering, opportunities
for additional land acquisitions will focus on protection of forest
birds and their habitats in response to concerns regarding climate
change. Prioritizing data collection and research supporting adaptive
management will occur. Additional outreach and environmental education
opportunities will increase along with public use through a new
interpretive trail and expanded volunteer program.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/hakalauforest/.
During regular library hours at:
[cir] Hawai`i State Library (478 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI
96813)
[cir] Hilo Public Library (300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720)
[cir] Kailua-Kona Public Library (75-138 Hual[amacr]lai Road,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740)
[cir] National Conservation Training Center Library (698
Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443)
Dated: May 17, 2011.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-12564 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
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