[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18775-18777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7962]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2009-N265; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Monument
Management Plan, Comprehensive Conservation Plans, and Environmental
Assessment
AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), intend to prepare the
monument management plan (MMP) for the Pacific Remote Islands Marine
National Monument (Monument), established by Presidential Proclamation
8336. Additionally, the FWS also intends to prepare new or revised
comprehensive conservation plans (CCPs) for the following national
wildlife refuges (Refuges) contained therein: Baker Island, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and
Wake Atoll. When the draft MMP is complete, we will advertise its
availability and again seek public comment. We furnish this notice to
advise the public and other Federal agencies of our intentions, and to
obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider
during the planning process.
An environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential effects
of various management alternatives will also be prepared. The EA will
provide resource managers with the information needed to determine if
the potential effects may be significant and warrant preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or if the potential impacts lead
to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your comments by May 5,
2011.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about the Monument and its seven
Refuge units is available at http://www.fws.gov/pacificremoteislandsmarinemonument/ and http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/MNM/mnm_index.html. Please send your written comments or requests for more
information by any of the following methods:
E-mail: Pacific_Reefs@fws.gov.
Fax: (808) 792-9586.
U.S. Mail: Susan White, Project Leader, Pacific Reefs National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Room 5-231, Honolulu, HI
96850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan White, Project Leader, (808)
792-9550.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Monument Establishment and Management Responsibilities
On January 6, 2009, President George W. Bush issued Proclamation
No. 8336 (Proclamation), establishing the Monument under the authority
of the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Monument incorporates approximately
86,888 square miles within its boundaries, which extend 50 nautical
miles (nmi) from the mean low water lines of Baker, Howland, and Jarvis
Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and Wake Atolls; and Kingman Reef. The
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of
Commerce, has responsibility for management of the Monument, including
out to 12 nmi from the mean low water lines of Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and Wake Atolls; and Kingman Reef,
pursuant to applicable legal authorities. The Secretary of Commerce,
through NOAA, and in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior,
has primary responsibility for management of the Monument seaward from
12 to 50 nmi with respect to fishery-related activities regulated
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Proclamation,
and other applicable legal authorities.
The Proclamation requires the Secretaries of the Interior and
Commerce to prepare management plans within their respective
authorities for the Monument, and promulgate implementing regulations
that address specific actions necessary for the proper care and
management of the Monument. With this notice, the Department of the
Interior and Department of Commerce (Departments) are commencing
development of the MMP. The Departments will work cooperatively under
the Fish and Wildlife Service's lead in this process. The Commerce
Department, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, is
working with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council pursuant to
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and
Proclamation to develop a fisheries ecosystem plan amendment and
related regulations. To the extent they relate to waters within the
Monument, the plan amendment and implementing regulations will be one
component of the MMP. The Departments intend to cooperate and
coordinate in the development and timing of these planning and
management processes.
To carry out his responsibilities from the President under the
Proclamation, on January 16, 2009, the Secretary of the Interior
delegated his authority for Monument management to the FWS Director,
and extended the boundaries of the Baker Island, Howland Island, and
Jarvis Island Refuges from 3 nmi to 12 nmi from the mean low water
lines of the emergent land. The Secretary also extended the Johnston
Atoll Refuge boundary to 12 nmi from the mean low water line of the
emergent land, and added the emergent and submerged lands and waters of
Wake Island out to 12 nmi as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System (NWRS). In accordance with the Proclamation, the Director will
not commence management of emergent lands at Wake Island unless and
until a use agreement between the Secretary of the Air Force and the
Secretary of the Interior is terminated. The Secretary of Defense also
continues to manage those portions of the emergent lands of Johnston
Atoll under the administrative jurisdiction of the Defense Department
until such administrative jurisdiction is terminated, at which time
those emergent lands shall be administered as part of the Johnston
Atoll Refuge.
Within the boundaries of the Monument, the FWS also continues to
administer pre-existing refuges at Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands;
Johnston and Palmyra Atolls; and Kingman Reef, in accordance with the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration
[[Page 18776]]
Act of 1966 (Refuge System Administration Act) (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee),
as amended.
Refuges Overview and Previous Planning Efforts
Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island are unique places
for climate change research and other research conducted at the
equator. These areas have deep-water corals, coral reefs, corals in
near-pristine condition, and predator-dominated marine ecosystems with
a biomass of top predators that exceeds the Great Barrier Reef's. At
the conclusion of a 3-year planning process, CCPs were completed for
the Baker Island, Howland Island, and Jarvis Island Refuges on
September 24, 2008 (73 FR 76678; December 17, 2008). For the current
MMP/CCP planning process, we will focus on appropriate conservation and
management regimes for the three Refuges, based on their inclusion in
the Monument and their expanded boundaries. The existing CCPs for the
three Refuges will be revised as needed.
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll have relatively undisturbed coral
reefs, with the highest levels of coral diversity in the central
Pacific Ocean. Kingman Reef has the greatest known fish biomass and
proportion of apex predators of any coral reef ecosystem that has been
scientifically studied in the world. We received public comments
regarding management of the Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll Refuges
during our CCP public scoping period held in June 2007. We will review
those comments again as part of the current MMP/CCP planning and public
involvement process.
Johnston Atoll's coral reefs help connect the Hawaiian archipelago
reef communities to others in the Pacific. They are the originating
source for much of the larvae for the Hawaiian Islands' corals,
invertebrates, and other reef fauna. The Atoll's reefs have the deepest
reef-building corals on record. Wake Atoll encompasses possibly the
oldest living coral atoll in the world, and has healthy and abundant
coral and fish populations. No previous CCP planning occurred for the
Johnston Atoll and Wake Atoll Refuges.
The MMP and CCP Planning Process
The MMP's format will include elements similar to a NWRS CCP, and
the planning process will be conducted in a manner similar to the CCP
planning and public involvement process for those elements. The Refuge
System Administration Act requires that a CCP be developed for each
national wildlife refuge or planning unit. The purpose for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year direction for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
NWRS, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management,
conservation, legal mandates, and applicable policies. In addition to
outlining broad management direction for conserving wildlife and
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 MMP and CCPs at least
every 15 years consistent with the Refuge System Administration Act.
Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use
a refuge's purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing
the management goals and objectives for each refuge within the mission
of the NWRS, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The
CCP planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate
management goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible
approach to wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing
recreational opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's
establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
We will conduct environmental reviews of various alternatives and
develop an EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other Federal laws and regulations; and
applicable policies and procedures for compliance with those laws and
regulations.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, as lead agency for NEPA purposes,
will also designate and involve as a cooperating agency the Department
of Commerce, through NOAA, in accordance with NEPA and Executive Order
13352 of August 26, 2004, titled Facilitation of Cooperative
Conservation.
Public Involvement
The FWS and NOAA will conduct the planning process in a manner that
will provide participation opportunities for the public, Federal
agencies, and other interested parties. At this time, we encourage
input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the
future management of the Monument and the Refuges. Opportunities for
additional public input will be announced throughout the planning
process. We may hold public meetings to help share information and
obtain comments.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified the following preliminary issues, concerns, and
opportunities that we may address in the MMP/CCPs. We may identify
additional issues during public scoping.
Climate change impacts and adaptation.
Marine debris impacts and removal.
Invasive species prevention and control.
Other potential threats to the ecosystem (e.g., trespass;
illegal fishing; and shipwrecks, groundings, and spills).
Emergency response to natural and manmade disasters and
natural resources damage assessments.
Operational capabilities for effective ecosystem
monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement.
Habitat conservation and restoration.
Biological and abiotic inventory and monitoring.
Protected resources and their habitats, including coral
reefs, marine clams, apex predators, marine mammals, sea turtles,
seabirds, and fishes.
Historic and cultural resources, including maritime
heritage.
Public education and outreach.
International programs and collaboration.
Scientific exploration and research opportunities.
Past and current use of military sites.
Methods for protecting the physical, biological, and
cultural resources for the long term, while providing high-quality
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities.
Marine and terrestrial wildlife and habitat management.
Visitor services management.
Facilities maintenance.
Develop an appropriate permitting regime for activities in
the Monument, where necessary.
Determine if bioprospecting is appropriate and compatible.
Next Steps
The FWS and NOAA will be considering your comments during the
development of the Draft MMP/CCPs/EA.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal
[[Page 18777]]
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
Margo Schultz-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7962 Filed 4-4-11; 8:45 am]
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