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(SC)

Contact: Brad Bortner - Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR -
503/231-6164

Jane Hendron, or Carol Gorbics - Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad,
CA - 760/431-9440

Kate Faulkner - National Park Service, Ventura, CA - 805/658-5709

June 28, 2002

**[DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PHASE TWO OF]{.underline}**

**[ANACAPA ISLAND RESTORATION PROJECT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT]{.underline}**

**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 Island 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 National Park Service's 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 Anacapa's 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 Island 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 Island 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 Island will
provide long-term conservation benefits to migratory birds that rely on
the Island for nesting.

The draft environmental assessment offers three alternatives for the
Fish and Wildlife Service to consider in response to the National Park
Service's 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; 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. 11^th^
Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97232.

A copy of the draft environmental assessment can be downloaded from the
Fish and Wildlife Service's website at
**[http://migratorybirds.pacific.fws.gov](http://migratorybirds.pacific.fws.gov./)/what's_new.htm**

For more information about the Anacapa Island Restoration Project, visit
the Channel Islands National Park's website at
[**www.nps.gov/chis/naturalresources/airp.html**](../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 America's
385 National Parks and other special places so that everyone today and
in the future can experience America's history and beauty.

*For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Park Service,visit our home pages at
[http://fws.gov](http://fws.gov/) and
[http://www.nps.gov](http://www.nps.gov/)*