Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Management Plan and Associated Environmental Document

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Management Plan and

Associated Environmental Document

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a

comprehensive management plan (CMP) and an environmental document

(environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) for the

proposed Alameda National Wildlife Refuge, Alameda County, California.

The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the Service

CMP policy and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its

implementing regulations:

(1) To advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and

(2) To obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to

include in the environmental document.

DATES: Written comments should be received by September 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to:

Charles J. Houghten, Chief, Planning Branch, ARW/RE, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181.

See the Supplementary Information Section for the electronic access

and filing address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

The Service is beginning the planning/compliance process for the

proposed Alameda National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This process includes

preparation of an environmental document to establish an approved

refuge boundary and to evaluate management alternatives and preparation

of a comprehensive

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management plan. An open house will be held in Alameda on August 12,

1997. Issues and concerns expressed by the public at this meeting will

be considered in the development of the CMP and NEPA documentation. The

Service will inform interested parties of the open house through a

``Planning Update,'' news release, and legal notice.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy is to have all lands within

the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with an

approved CMP. The CMP guides management decisions and identifies refuge

goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving refuge

purposes. Public input into this planning process is encouraged. The

CMP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear

understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuge and how the

Service will implement management strategies.

The 2,796-acre Naval Air Station Alameda was closed on April 25,

1997. The Service has requested 900 acres (525 acres of land and 375

acres of open water) for use as a wildlife refuge.

A CMP is needed because no formal, long-term management direction

exists for managing the proposed Alameda NWR. Until the CMP is

completed, Refuge management will be guided by official Refuge

purposes; Executive Order 8104; Federal legislation regarding

management of national wildlife refuges; and other legal, regulatory,

and policy guidance.

Upon implementation, the CMP would apply only to Federal lands

within the proposed boundaries of the Alameda NWR. Issues to be

addressed in the plan include habitat management, public use, nuisance

species management, and secondary uses, such as a limited-use airport.

The plan will include the following topics:

(a) Population monitoring of the California least terns an

endangered species;

(b) Wildlife habitat management including control of exotic

vegetation; maintenance, habitat enhancement, and expansion of the

existing California Least tern breeding site; installation of

additional electric fence around tern nesting sites; and construction

and maintenance of a chain-link perimeter fence to protect terns from

terrestrial predators, human trespass, and other disturbance;

(c) Nuisance species management including the reduction of predator

habitat and raptor perches immediately adjacent to the tern nesting

site; trapping and removal of nonnative target animals;

(d) Public use including environmental education, docent-led tours,

perimeter trail, interpretive signs and panels, viewing platform;

(e) Non-recreational uses, such as a limited-use private airport;

(f) Road access to pedestrians and bicycles;

(g) Law enforcement;

(h) Facilities management including existing bunkers and small

supply buildings.

Alternatives that address the issues and management strategies

associated with these topics will be included in the environmental

document.

With the publication of this notice, the public is encouraged to

send written comments on these and other issues, courses of action that

the Service should consider, and potential impacts that could result

from CMP implementation on the proposed Alameda NWR. Comments already

received are on record and need not be resubmitted.

The environmental review of this project will be conducted in

accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA regulations (40

CFR 1500-1509), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations,

Executive Order 12996, and Service policies and procedures for

compliance with those regulations.

We estimate that the draft environmental document will be available

in November 1997.

Electronic Access and Filing Address

You may submit comments by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to

[email protected] (with ``Alameda NWR'' typed in the subject

line). Submit comments as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special

characters and any form of encryption.

Dated: July 28, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97-20436 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]

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