[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38414-38415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16466]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2011-N068; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Honolulu County, HI;
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for the James Campbell National
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/
EA describes our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15
years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
August 1, 2011.
ADDRESSES: The Draft CCP/EA is available on our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/jamescampbell/. A limited number of printed and CD-ROM
copies of the Draft CCP/EA are available by request. You may request a
copy of the Draft CCP/EA or submit comments on it by any of the
following methods.
E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``James Campbell
Refuge CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: David Ellis, Project Leader, (808) 637-3578.
U.S. Mail: David Ellis, Project Leader, O`ahu National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Room 2C, Hale`iwa, HI 96712.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ellis, Project Leader, (808)
637-6330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The CCP Process
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 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 and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
Public Outreach
We started the CCP planning process by publishing a Notice of
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on December 1, 2008 (74 FR 8564),
announcing our intention to complete a CCP/EA for the James Campbell
and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges (the Pearl Harbor National
Wildlife Refuge CCP was completed in fall 2010). Simultaneously, we
released Planning Update 1. We invited the public to two open house
meetings and requested public comments in the NOI and Planning Update
1. We held the open house meetings in Pearl City, Hawai`i, on December
9, 2008; and in Kahuku, Hawai`i on January 8, 2009. In Planning Update
2, distributed in June 2009, we provided a summary of the comments we
received and described Refuge resources. Planning Update 3, distributed
in August 2010, provided a preview of the management goals as well as a
summary of each management alternative designed to accomplish these
goals. All of the public comments we
[[Page 38415]]
have received to date were considered during development of the Draft
CCP/EA.
Draft CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
Alternative A, No Action
Under Alternative A, we would continue current management. This
includes focusing threatened and endangered species management on
protection and successful nesting, in support of the statewide effort
to implement the Hawaiian Waterbird Recovery Plan. Public use programs
would remain virtually unchanged. Units would remain closed to general
public entry except for seasonal docent-guided tours and Special Use
Permits issued on a case-by-case basis for environmental education,
research, and other compatible uses. Newly acquired expansion lands
would receive custodial oversight only, no habitat restoration would
occur, and no additional visitor services would be provided. Both
current commercial aquaculture leases would remain in effect until 2023
at which time, by prior agreement, they would expire.
Alternative B, Partial Restoration and Management of Refuge Expansion
Lands
Current habitat management programs would continue. On newly
acquired Refuge lands, only the highest priority wetlands and coastal
dunes would be restored and fenced to exclude large predators. Within
five years of acquiring new Refuge lands, a Visitor Services Plan (VSP)
would be developed to identify, evaluate, and carefully select the
types of wildlife-oriented activities we would provide the public, and
the sites and locations for infrastructure needed to fully support
safe, meaningful, and high-quality programs for the public.
Infrastructure needs identified by the VSP would include safe roads,
parking areas, trails, and an overlook. We would also identify and
develop any new special regulations in the VSP, which may be needed to
protect sensitive wildlife resources, the fragile coastline, and the
visiting public. During the interim five-year period until the VSP is
prepared, the current public use program would continue under
Alternative B, with slight increases in opportunities for wildlife
observation and photography. The Refuge would participate and partner
with other agencies and the community of Kahuku, to develop, evaluate,
and implement projects to mitigate flood damage to the local area, if
practical and feasible. Both current commercial aquaculture leases will
remain in effect until 2023, at which time, by prior agreement, they
will expire.
Alternative C, Full Restoration and Management of Refuge Expansion
Lands
In addition to management actions identified in Alternative B, all
wetlands, coastal dunes/strand, and scrub/shrub habitats would be
restored and managed. Trial use of predator-proof fencing would be
initiated on selected dune or wetland sites, to protect seabirds or
waterbirds. Abandoned aquaculture facilities would be cleaned up, and
the habitat would be restored to natural conditions or other approved
uses.
Public Availability of Documents
We encourage you to stay involved in the CCP planning process by
reviewing and commenting on the proposals we have developed in the
Draft CCP/EA. Copies of the Draft CCP/EA are available by request from
David Ellis, Project Leader, O`ahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Room 2C, Hale`iwa, HI 96712. The Draft CCP/
EA will also be available for viewing and downloading on the Internet
at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the Final CCP and decision document.
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.
Dated: April 21, 2011.
Chris McKay,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-16466 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
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