[Federal Register: August 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 52546-52547]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au10-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2010-N157; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawai`i County, HI;
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 Hakalau Forest 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 us your written comments by
September 15, 2010.
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.
Alternatively, you may fax comments to the refuge at (808) 443-2304, or
e-mail them 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/. You may request the CCP/EA for review by
any of the above contact methods, or you may view or download it at
http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Kraus, Refuge Manager, (808) 443-
2300.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Hakalau
Forest National Wildlife Refuge. We began this process by publishing a
notice of intent in the
[[Page 52547]]
Federal Register on February 25, 2009 (74 FR 8564).
The Hakalau Forest Refuge is located on the Island of Hawai'i. It
encompasses two refuge 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 eastern or
windward slope of Mauna Kea, which supports a diversity of native birds
and plants. The refuge's Kona Forest Unit was established in 1997, on
the southwestern or leeward slope of Mauna Loa, to protect native
forest birds and the `alala, an 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.
Background
The CCP Process
The CCP/EA was prepared under the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended (Refuge
Administration Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA). The Refuge Administration Act requires
us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers 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 conservation, management, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCPs at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge
Administration Act.
Public Outreach
We began the public scoping phase of the CCP planning process by
publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register on February 25,
2009 (74 FR 8564), announcing our intention to complete a CCP/EA for
the refuge, inviting the public to two open house meetings, and
requesting public comments. Simultaneously, we distributed Planning
Update 1 to our mailing list announcing the beginning of the CCP
planning process, requesting comments on refuge management issues, and
inviting the public to attend two open house meetings. The meetings
were held March 3 and 4, 2009, in Hilo, HI, and Captain Cook, HI,
respectively.
In October 2009 we distributed Planning Update 2. In Planning
Update 2 we provided a summary of the comments we received and draft
vision statements. The public comments we received throughout the
planning process were considered during development of the Draft CCP/
EA.
Draft Alternatives We Are Considering
We drafted three alternatives for managing the refuge. All of the
alternatives will include actions to control invasive species, develop
or improve partnerships, continue coordination with Hawai'i's
Department of Forestry and Wildlife, develop volunteer opportunities,
and construct a fence around the Kona Forest Unit. Brief descriptions
of the alternatives follow.
Alternative A
Alternative A is the no-action alternative. We would continue
existing refuge management activities under Alternative A, including
fencing projects currently under way at the Kona Forest Unit. Staff
would conduct limited additional restoration of various koa forest
habitats. Volunteer opportunities to assist refuge staff with planting
native plants would continue. Refuge staff would provide limited
outreach regarding management activities.
Alternative B
Alternative B is the preferred alternative. We would increase
reforestation, restoration, and ungulate removal efforts under
Alternative B. Additional areas in both units would be protected
through fencing and ungulate removal. 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. 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 removal and
maintenance. Additional grassland areas would be maintained for
foraging and nesting n[emacr]n[emacr]. 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.
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
Jim Kraus or via the internet (see ADDRESSES).
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the final CCP.
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: August 10, 2010.
Theresa E. Rabot,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2010-21289 Filed 8-25-10; 8:45 am]
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