[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24047-24048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10135]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2011-N060; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Pacific Island
Territory; Nonnative Rat Eradication Project, Final Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge)
nonnative rat eradication project final environmental impact statement
(FEIS). In the FEIS we describe a range of alternatives for eliminating
nonnative rats from Palmyra Atoll (Atoll). We are publishing this
notice to inform the public of the proposed action and to announce the
availability of the FEIS.
DATES: A Record of Decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after
the publication of the Environmental Protection Agency notice
announcing the same FEIS.
ADDRESSES: The FEIS is available on our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/palmyraatoll/rainforestrestoration.html. A limited number of CD-ROM and
printed copies are also available. You may request a copy by any of the
following methods.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Palmyra rat project'' in
the subject line.
Fax: Attn: Susan White, 808-792-9586.
U.S. Mail: Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 300 Ala
Moana Blvd., Room 5-231, Honolulu, HI 96850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan White, (808) 792-9553.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice we continue the public involvement process in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), as amended, and implementing regulations. We prepared
the FEIS in accordance with NEPA and the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge
Administration Act); and Service regulations and policies. The Refuge
Administration Act requires each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System to be managed to achieve its establishing purposes.
The Atoll is located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway
between Hawai`i and American Samoa. It consists of a circular string of
50 islets nestled among several lagoons and encircled by 15,000 acres
of shallow reefs and submerged reefs. Nonnative invasive rats are
damaging the Atoll's environment. Through our FEIS we are proposing to
restore and protect native species and habitats by eradicating rats. In
the FEIS we recommend applying a lethal dose of rodenticide to every
rat on the Atoll, in a manner that minimizes harm to the ecosystem and
upholds a high probability of success.
Public Involvement
We conducted public scoping for the draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) from January 14 to March 1, 2010. During that time we
requested public comments through the Federal Register (75 FR 2158;
January 14, 2010) and on our Web site (see ADDRESSES). The comments we
received covered topics such as threats to nontarget species, our
proposed selection of the rodenticide brodifacoum over diphacinone, and
effects to other Refuge operations. We considered and evaluated these
comments, and incorporated them into the various alternatives
identified in the DEIS.
We distributed copies of the DEIS, posted it on our Web site (see
ADDRESSES), and held a public comment period from February 25 to April
11, 2011 (76 FR 10621; February 25, 2011). During the public comment
period, we received comments regarding strong support for and strong
opposition to rat eradication, threats to nontarget species, our
proposed selection of the rodenticide brodifacoum over diphacinone,
effects to other Refuge operations, and implementation strategies. The
comments we received and our responses are presented in the FEIS.
FEIS Alternatives
We present four alternatives in the FEIS. Alternative A is our no
action alternative, and Alternatives B, C, and D, are our action
alternatives. In all of the action alternatives, we propose using
rodenticide bait pellets containing the anticoagulant brodifacoum
(0.0025 percent active ingredient) to eradicate rats from the Atoll. In
Alternative B, we propose broadcasting brodifacoum aerially; in
Alternative C, our preferred alternative, we propose broadcasting
brodifacoum aerially and mitigating risks to vulnerable shorebirds; and
in Alternative D, we propose using brodifacoum bait stations and canopy
baiting. In order to be retained for consideration, our action
alternatives had to: (1) Have a high likelihood of success; (2) have an
acceptably low probability for adverse effects on populations of
nontarget species and the environment; and (3) be allowed under
regulations governing the Refuge. The potential impacts of each
alternative were assessed, and, where appropriate, mitigation measures
were applied to avoid impacts or reduce their magnitude and intensity.
Under Alternative A, no new actions to eradicate rats would be
implemented and they would continue to harm the Atoll's environment.
Under Alternatives B and C we would use a helicopter with a
specialized bucket to broadcast brodifacoum bait pellets aerially. The
bucket would deliver the bait at the appropriate rate and in a
directional manner to all potential rat territories within a short
operational period. Special measures to prevent the bait from entering
the water would include hand broadcasting on narrow strands of land and
tiny islands, and installing bait packets in canopy trees overhanging
the water. In addition, under Alternative C, we would manage
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shorebirds proactively to minimize their exposure to the rodenticide.
Under Alternative D, we would place bait stations containing
brodifacoum bait pellets throughout the entire Atoll and maintain them
until all rats are removed (or 2 years). Bait stations are box shaped
enclosures with small entryways designed to attract rodents but be
difficult for other species such as birds and land crabs to navigate.
Bait stations reduce the amount of bait that is introduced to the
ecosystem and the risk of exposing nontarget species to rodenticide.
Bait stations designed for the Atoll would exclude shorebirds and land
crabs, and allow easy access for rats.
The FEIS is intended to accomplish the following: (1) Inform the
public of the proposed action and alternatives; (2) Address public
comments received during the public comment periods; (3) Disclose the
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed
action and each of the alternatives; and (4) Indicate any irreversible
commitment of resources that would result from project implementation.
A Record of Decision stating which alternative the Service has selected
for implementation will not be issued earlier than 30 days after the
Environmental Protection Agency notice.
Dated: April 8, 2011.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-10135 Filed 4-28-11; 8:45 am]
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