[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16375]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement/
Resources Management Plan for Improvement of Water Quality and 
Conservation of Rare Species and Their Habitats on Santa Rosa Island, 
Channel Islands National Park; Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared an abbreviated Final 
Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Resources 
Management Plan for improving water quality and conserving rare species 
and their habitats on Santa Rosa Island. Upon completion of the current 
conservation planning and impact analysis process, a new Record of 
Decision will be prepared which will supersede the previous decision 
concerning this stewardship initiative.

BACKGROUND: In August, 1995, the National Park Service (NPS) began 
developing a resources management plan for Santa Rosa Island to address 
impacts from ongoing commercial ranching and hunting on water quality, 
riparian values, and rare plant species and their habitats. In May, 
1996 the NPS completed and distributed a draft environmental impact 
statement (Draft) for this plan; during a 125-day public review period, 
the NPS received over 240 comments. The Draft was subsequently revised, 
and a final environmental impact statement (Final) for the resources 
management plan was released in April, 1997. In a Record of Decision 
signed June 9, 1997, the NPS indicated the intent to implement the 
Proposed Action, Alternative D, Revised Conservation Strategy. 
Subsequently negotiations for revising the alternative ensued among 
Vail & Vickers, the National Park and Conservation Foundation, and the 
NPS. As a result, a draft supplement to the Final was prepared which 
identified a new alternative, Alternative F, Negotiated Settlement. 
Members of the public and interested agencies and organizations were 
afforded an opportunity to comment during a 60-day public review period 
from February 17 to April 17, 1998. Although many elements of the 
negotiated Alternative F were similar to the previously selected 
Alternative D, there were some differences.
    New Proposed Action: Under Alternative F, Negotiated Settlement, 
water quality and riparian values would be improved and rare plants and 
their habitats would be conserved by rapid removal of cattle and phased 
removal of deer and elk. With the exception of 12 head in Lobo Pasture, 
all cattle would be removed by the end of 1998. Deer and elk would be 
removed by the end of 2011, although they could be removed earlier if 
necessary to achieve recovery goals for selected listed species and 
their habitats. After an initial reduction in deer and elk, an adaptive 
management program for deer and elk would be implemented. Under 
adaptive management, deer and elk would be managed at levels allowing 
rare species and their habitats to recover. Provided recovery goals 
were met, Vail & Vickers would be permitted to conduct commercial deer 
and elk hunting activities. After the adaptive management period, deer 
and elk populations could be eliminated during a final phaseout period. 
If for some reason an acceptable adaptive management program cannot be 
developed, deer and elk populations will be reduced at a pre-determined 
rate. Also, the NPS would implement road management actions to reduce 
impacts to island streams, and would develop a comprehensive alien 
plant management plan to address problems caused by alien species. The 
NPS would develop monitoring programs for rare species, water quality, 
and riparian recovery. Visitor access to Santa Rosa Island would be 
increased beyond current levels.
    Other Alternatives: Other alternatives subject to the supplemental 
conservation planning and impact analysis process were the same as 
identified and described in the Final. In addition to the above, these 
include: Alternative A, No Action; Alternative B, Minimal Action; 
Alternative C, Targeted Management Action; and Alternative E, Immediate 
Removal of Ungulates.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final supplement contains responses to 
seven (7) respondents to the draft supplement (eight comments were 
received). It also contains changes and clarifications which are minor 
and few in number; information and analysis otherwise remains 
essentially unchanged. As an abbreviated document, it must be combined 
with the draft supplement and original Draft and Final EIS to comprise 
a complete record. The no-action period for the final supplement will 
extend for 30-days from EPA's notice of the filing of the document in 
the Federal Register. Requests for information or copies of the 
document should be directed to the Superintendent, Channel Islands 
National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001, or by telephone 
at (805) 658-5776. Copies will also be available at area libraries.

    Dated: May 21, 1998.
Martha K. Leicester,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 98-16375 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P