[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37143-37145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15819]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N200; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Buck Island, Green Cay, and Sandy Point National Wildlife
Refuges, U.S. Virgin Islands; 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental
assessment for Buck Island, Green Cay, and Sandy Point National
Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). In the final CCP, we describe how we will
manage these three refuges for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Mike
Evans, Refuge Manager, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, 3013
Estate Golden Rock, Suite 137, Christiansted, VI 00820-4355. The CCP
may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/ under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Evans; telephone: 340/773-
4554; e-mail: Michael_Evans@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Buck Island,
Green Cay, and Sandy Point NWRs. We started this process through a
notice in the Federal Register on March 12, 2007 (72 FR 11046).
All three refuges are located in the United States Virgin Islands.
Sandy Point NWR is situated on the southwestern tip of the island of
St. Croix. Green Cay NWR is a small island located several hundred
yards north of St. Croix, east of the city of Christiansted. Buck
Island NWR is situated several miles south of the island of St. Thomas
and the city of Charlotte Amalie. These three refuges are part of the
Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Sandy Point NWR provides critical nesting habitat for the federally
endangered leatherback sea turtle. Its sandy beaches are also used for
nesting by the federally endangered hawksbill sea turtle and the
federally threatened green sea turtle. These same sea turtle species
are also protected under Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands
regulations.
Green Cay NWR was established in 1977 to protect the federally
endangered St. Croix ground lizard. This island refuge provides
critical habitat for the largest remaining natural population of this
species. Its extirpation from the main island of St. Croix, just
several hundred yards away, is generally attributed to the modification
and loss of shoreline habitat resulting from human activities and the
introduction of predators, such as rats, cats, and dogs. The
introduction of the exotic Indian mongoose likely completed the
elimination of the species from St. Croix proper. As a result, this
species is one of the rarest reptiles in the world and is unique to St.
Croix island ecosystems. As part of a cooperative effort with the
National Park Service, in May 2008, 57 individual St. Croix ground
lizards were translocated to Buck Island Reef National Monument,
several miles
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away, in order to establish a fourth population of this highly
endangered lizard and thus help secure its survival.
Buck Island NWR was established in 1969. The off-shore islands
around St. Thomas support a number of critical seabird and migratory
bird roosting, breeding, and nesting sites. Some of these off-shore
islands have been impacted by varying degrees of development and
habitat alteration, making remaining islands even more critical for use
by migratory birds. Although Buck Island NWR's natural plant and
wildlife communities have been severely impacted by human activity, the
island has major potential for habitat restoration, enhancement and
support of migratory bird populations, and maintenance of existing
wildlife populations, both endemic and migratory. The refuge is home to
two rare reptiles endemic to the ``Puerto Rican bank,'' the geological
area containing Puerto Rico, Culebra, St. Thomas, and the British
Virgin Islands--the Antillean skink and Puerto Rican racer. The island
also provides nesting or roosting habitat for the magnificent
frigatebird, the red-billed tropicbird, and laughing gulls.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop
a CCP for each national wildlife 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. In
addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife
and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Comments
We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public
review period as announced in the Federal Register on September 17,
2009 (74 FR 47815). Two public meetings were held to receive comments
on the Draft CCP/EA--one in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and one in
Fredericksted, St. Croix. We received 10 written comments on the Draft
CCP/EA.
Selected Alternatives
Sandy Point NWR
We developed four alternatives for managing Sandy Point NWR. After
considering the comments we received and based on the professional
judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative D for
implementation. While each of the alternatives provided in varying
degrees for wildlife, habitat, and public use, Alternative D was more
ambitious than Alternative A, while supporting more wildlife and
habitat management than Alternative B and more public use than
Alternative C.
The overriding concern reflected in the CCP is that wildlife
conservation, especially management and protection of endangered sea
turtles, assumes first priority in refuge management. Wildlife-
dependent recreation uses (e.g., fishing, wildlife observation,
wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation)
will be emphasized and encouraged.
Existing recovery efforts for the endangered leatherback sea turtle
will continue. We will pursue hawksbill and green sea turtle recovery
by implementing saturation tagging and nest management. We will
continue to protect pelican roosting sites and manage least tern
nesting sites, aiming to increase the number of nesting least terns.
Landbirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds will benefit as well.
We will begin to conduct status surveys for invertebrates and
reptile and amphibian species of special concern. The presence or
absence of bats will also be surveyed, and we will enhance habitat and
install artificial nest structures for bats. Refuge-wide control of
non-native flora and fauna to protect indigenous flora and fauna will
be carried out as needed.
We will accelerate efforts to restore the structure, function, and
diversity of dry forest habitat. We will begin to actively monitor
status and trends on the West End Salt Pond (Salt Pond) as they affect
mangroves, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. We will not only protect
existing stands and specimens of Vahl's boxwood, but will also conduct
recovery activities. Furthermore, we will investigate the potential for
establishing a Catesbaea melanocarpa population on the refuge. We will
actively cooperate with the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies
to develop and implement protocols for monitoring sea level rise and
its impacts on habitats.
We will continue to manage and protect cultural resources,
particularly the Aklis archaeological site. In addition, we will
develop and begin to implement a Cultural Resources Management Plan.
Public use and visitor services will expand somewhat. We will
develop an accessible trail and observation deck with expansive views
of the Salt Pond. We will aim to develop environmental education and
interpretive opportunities around the new refuge headquarters and
visitor center to be constructed in the vicinity. We will also allow
access to the beach from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, outside of the
seasonal closure for leatherback turtle nesting. If staffing permits,
we will also provide pedestrian access to the beach during the entire
week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., outside of the seasonal closure for turtle
nesting.
We will continue the existing education and outreach program, such
as the turtle watch program, Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program,
periodic news releases, news media interviews, Web site content, school
visits, informal contact with refuge visitors, and continuing
development of the visitor contact station. Education and outreach
efforts will increase. The YCC program will be maintained and expanded
in size for two months during the summer. There will be more emphasis
on developing partnerships and volunteers.
Green Cay NWR
We developed two alternatives for managing Green Cay NWR. After
considering the comments we received and based on the professional
judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative B for
implementation. While both alternatives provide for wildlife and
habitat, Alternative B will yield greater wildlife and habitat benefits
overall than Alternative A, particularly for the St. Croix ground
lizard, on whose behalf the refuge was originally established.
Alternative B will also offer greater opportunities for the public,
even while maintaining the general refuge closure.
We will maintain or expand upon all existing programs. To promote
recovery of the endangered St. Croix ground lizard, we will continue
existing programs of reforestation, rat and invasive plant control, and
population monitoring. We will also maintain closure of the island to
public access, to avoid accidental direct mortality and habitat
degradation. In addition, we will develop a habitat restoration plan
within 3 years, with the aim of
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improving habitat quality for the ground lizard.
We will also continue management efforts on behalf of nesting and
roosting brown pelicans and white-crowned pigeons. We will continue our
habitat recovery (reforestation) efforts so as to complete 100 percent
of the area intended for reforestation by the end of the 15-year
planning period. An important part of accelerating habitat recovery
will be to increase the control of invasive plants and invasive
animals.
We will continue to protect and manage Green Cay NWR's cultural
resources. Also, we will develop and begin to implement a Cultural
Resources Management Plan. To conduct outreach and education, we will
continue to maintain the refuge Web site, distribute information,
maintain signage on the island identifying it as a national wildlife
refuge closed to the public, and conduct periodic presentations off-
refuge. These efforts will be augmented by installing larger signs that
can be seen and read from a greater distance, expanding outreach
efforts to nearby hotels, and considering alternatives to visitation
within the refuge itself, such as offering or promoting boat and kayak
tours around the island.
Buck Island NWR
We developed two alternatives for managing Buck Island NWR. After
considering the comments we received and based on the professional
judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative B for
implementation. While both alternatives will result in benefits to some
extent for wildlife, habitat, and public use, Alternative B is more
ambitious than Alternative A, and thus will yield greater benefits for
both wildlife and the public. In general, Alternative B maintains and
expands upon all programs of Alternative A.
We will strive to provide more active management of the island's
indigenous wildlife, particularly species of concern. We will draft and
begin implementing an inventorying and monitoring plan for the
slipperyback skink, Puerto Rican racer, magnificent frigatebird, and
red-billed tropicbird.
We will continue to monitor for rat reinvasions. To pursue and
promote habitat recovery on Buck Island NWR, we will develop and begin
to implement a Habitat Restoration Plan. We will increase control of
invasive plants and animals using appropriate means, and will evaluate
the effectiveness of different methods of control.
We will continue to manage cultural resources, particularly the
historic lighthouse. However, we will also evaluate the condition and
safety of the lighthouse and decide on the feasibility of preservation
or restoration. In addition, we will develop and begin to implement a
Cultural Resources Management Plan.
With regard to conducting outreach and education, we will continue
to maintain the refuge Web site, distribute information, maintain
limited signage on the island, and make periodic presentations off-
refuge. We will continue to cooperate with the Virgin Islands
Department of Planning and Natural Resources on joint wildlife and
habitat management efforts for Buck Island and adjacent Capella Island.
Also, we will expand cooperative education and interpretive efforts
with the city of Charlotte Amalie and ecotourism companies which bring
visitors to offshore waters to explore coral reefs. We will also
explore the development of a friends group, to provide a more active
management presence on the island.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Pub. L.
105-57.
Dated: October 1, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on June 21, 2011.
[FR Doc. 2011-15819 Filed 6-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P