National Park Service Requests Special Purpose Permit Under Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the release of a draft environmental assessment to evaluate a National Park Service request for a special purpose permit, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to implement the second phase of the Anacapa Restoration Project.
The Park Service is seeking renewal of the special purpose permit, which was issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2001, for the initial phase of the project. The special purpose permit would allow for take of migratory birds in conjunction with the Park Services efforts to remove non-native black rats from the each of the three islets - East, Middle, and West - that comprise Anacapa Island.
The action, part of ongoing efforts to aid migratory sea birds affected by the American Trader oil spill in 1990, is being taken to improve the overall nesting success of birds on Anacapa Island.
In December 2001, the first phase of the seabird restoration project involved the removal of non-native black rats from Anacapas East islet. The proposed renewal of the special purpose permit by the Fish and Wildlife Service will enable the National Park Service to eradicate black rats from the remainder of Anacapa Island; specifically, the Middle and West islets.
Anacapa Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, is one of five islands that comprise Channel Islands National Park. These islands, including Anacapa, provide important habitat for a variety of species, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Numerous species of migratory birds nest on Anacapa including the Xantus murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus), and ashy storm petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa), both of which have been identified by the Fish and Wildlife Service as Birds of Management Concern because of their declining population numbers.
Non-native black rats were introduced to Anacapa in the early part of the twentieth century. The rats prey on nesting birds, and their eggs and young. Surveys conducted on East islet after phase one of the restoration project indicate that rats have been successfully eradicated from the area. Removal of the rats from all of Anacapa provide long-term conservation benefits to migratory birds that rely on the for nesting.
The draft environmental assessment offers three alternatives for the Fish and Wildlife Service to consider in response to the National Park Services request for a special purpose permit: 1) a no action alternative whereby the Fish and Wildlife Service would not renew the permit; 2) the renewal of the permit as previously issued in 2001 - the proposed alternative; or 3) renewal of the permit by the Fish and Wildlife Service with additional conditions.
Comments on the draft environmental assessment will be accepted until July 28, 2002. Written comments and information on the draft assessment should be sent to Brad Bortner, Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97232.
A copy of the draft environmental assessment can be downloaded from the Fish and Wildlife Services website at http://migratorybirds.pacific.fws.gov/whats_new.htm
For more information about the Anacapa Restoration Project, visit the Channel Islands National Parks website at www.nps.gov/chis/naturalresources/airp.html
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. The National Park Service is composed of more than 20,000 rangers, biologists, historians, geologists and other professionals who care for Americas 385 National Parks and other special places so that everyone today and in the future can experience Americas history and beauty.
For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, visit our homes pages at http://www.fws.gov and at http://www.nps.gov
###
