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Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Anacapa Island Restoration Plan Channel Islands National Park, Ventura County, California; Notice of Availability

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: July 14, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 43782]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jy00-92]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Anacapa Island
Restoration Plan Channel Islands National Park, Ventura County,
California; Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 81-190 as amended), the National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft environmental
impact statement (DEIS) assessing the potential impacts of eradicating
the Black rat on Anacapa Island. This DEIS identifies and analyzes the
effects of a proposed action and five alternatives for accomplishing
the following objectives: (1) Eradication of the introduced Black rat
on Anacapa Island; (2) emergency response for accidental introductions
of rodents on Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Prince, and Sutil Islands; and
(3) prevention strategies to reduce the potential for rodents to be
accidentally introduced to Park islands. The proposed action was
developed in concert with the Island Conservation and Ecology Group and
is based on other successful island rat eradication efforts worldwide.
Actions to manage existing and potential Black rat infestations is
necessary because of the ecological impacts that it is having on
Anacapa Island, and the potential negative impact they would have if
introduced to other Park islands.
    Proposal: The actions proposed for eradicating rats on Anacapa
Island-identified in the DEIS as Alternative Two-are modeled after
other island rate eradication projects that have successfully been
completed worldwide. Due to the steep cliffs of the island, an aerial
broadcast is necessary to deliver rodenticide to every rat's territory,
a condition that has to be met to accomplish eradication. This
broadcast effort would use a rodent bait containing brodifacoum. The
proposed target date is the late fall period; which is the optimum
period to apply the bait for three reasons: (1) the Endangered brown
pelicans are not breeding on the island; (2) rats are in decline due to
lack of available food sources, which would cause them to eat the bait
more readily; and (3) onset of the rainy season would expedite the
degradation of any residual bait not consumed by the target species.
East islet would be treated in November/December of Year 1, and Middle
islet would be treated in November/December in Year 2. Approximately
20ha of Middle Island would be treated in Year 1 and may be treated
intermittently throughout Year 2 to prevent rats from re-invading East
Island from Middle Island. The population size of the rats on Anacapa
fluctuates between about 750-2000 total, depending on local conditions.
    Alternatives: After identifying the significant environmental
issues associated with the proposed action, the Park began developing
alternatives to the proposed action. Modifying the eradication
strategies to address the environmental issue concerns was the basis
the Park used to develop five alternatives, as follows: Alternative One
(no-action) would maintain existing management. Alternative Three would
utilize bait stations for the top of islands and aerial broadcast the
cliffsides and use the rodent bait containing brodifacoum. Alternative
Four would use an aerial broadcast of a rodent bait containing
bromadiolone. Alternative Five would use bait stations for the top of
islands and aerial broadcast the cliffsides with the rodent bait
bromadiolone. Alternative Six would aerial broadcast a rodent bait
containing diphacinone followed by a rodent bait containing
brodifacoum. Mitigation measures for implementing each alternative are
identified, and elements common to all action alternatives include: (1)
Implementation of a Non-native Rodent Introduction Prevention Plan; (2)
Protection of Native Anacapa Deer Mouse Population; and (3)
Implementation of the Rate Detection Response Plan.
    Comments and Supplementary Information: The DEIS is now available
for public review. Interested persons and organizations wishing to
express any concerns or provide relevant information are encouraged to
contact the Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901
Spinnaker Dr. Ventura, California, 93001, or via telephone at (805)
658-5700. The document may be obtained from the park, and is also
available at the Ventura local library and on the Park's website
(http:www.nps.gov/chis/naturalresources/AIRP.html).
    All written comments must be postmarked not later than 60 days from
the date of the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of DEIS filing
in the Federal Register (anticipated to be approximately September 12,
2000). If individuals submitting comments request that their name or/
and address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to
the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently
in the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances
wherein the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by
law. As always: NPS will make available to public inspection all
submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.
    Decision: After the formal DEIS review period has concluded, all
comments and suggestions received will be considered in preparing a
final EIS. Currently the final EIS is anticipated to be completed
during fall, 2000; its availability will be similarly announced in the
Federal Register. Subsequently a Record of Decision would be executed
no sooner than 30 (thirty) days after release of the final EIS. The
official responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director,
Pacific West Region; the official responsible for implementation is the
Superintendent; Channel Islands National Park.

    Dated: June 29, 2000.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 00-17429 Filed 7-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M

 
 

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