Draft 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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Draft 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

Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park

Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a Draft 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 supercede 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, in order to address

impacts from ongoing commercial ranching and hunt operations on water

quality, riparian values, and rare plant species and their habitats

(``rare'' species includes those formally listed as threatened or

endangered per the Endangered Species Act and those identified by NPS

as species of concern). In May, 1996 the NPS completed and distributed

for public review a draft environmental impact statement for this

resources management plan (DEIS/RMP). During a 125-day public review

period, the NPS received over 240 comments. The DEIS/RMP was

subsequently revised to address all substantive comments, and a Final

EIS/RMP (FEIS/RMP) was released in April, 1997. In a Record of Decision

(ROD) signed June 9, 1997, the NPS stated that it would implement

actions identified in the FEIS/RMP as the Proposed Action, Alternative

D, Revised Conservation Strategy.

This Draft Supplement to the FEIS/RMP introduces a new alternative

now being evaluated by the NPS for guiding future stewardship

activities on Santa Rosa Island. This new alternative, Alternative F,

Negotiated Settlement, is briefly described below and results from

recent negotiations among Vail & Vickers, the National Parks and

Conservation Association, and the NPS. These negotiations were convened

to resolve two lawsuits which were filed against the NPS during the

previous conservation planning and impact analysis process.

Although many elements of the negotiated Alternative F are similar

to the previously selected Alternative D, there are some differences.

This new alternative specifies actions to: (1) improve water quality in

surface streams and protect riparian habitat areas, and (2) promote

conservation and recovery of rare species of plants and animals, as

well as habitats upon which they depend. The NPS encourages public

review of Alternative F, and desires comment on any of the

alternatives. Accordingly, NPS is distributing this Draft Supplement

for consideration by all interested public agencies, organizations and

groups, businesses, and individuals for a 60-day public comment period.

After assessing all comments which may be received, the NPS will

prepare and distribute a Final Supplement to the FEIS/RMP and

subsequently prepare a new ROD.

New Proposed Action

Under Alternative F, Negotiated Settlement (the new proposed

action), 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 from Santa Rosa Island. With the

exception of 12 head in Lobo Pasture, all cattle would be removed from

the island 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

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management, deer and elk would be managed at levels allowing rare

species and their habitats to recover. Provided recovery goals are met,

Vail & Vickers would be permitted to conduct commercial hunting of deer

and elk. After the adaptive management period, deer and elk populations

would 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. As under

Alternative D, 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 current conservation planning and

impact analysis process are the same as identified and described in the

FEIS/RMP. 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.

Comments

Written comments on the Draft Supplement must be postmarked not

later than 60-days after the Environmental Protection Agency's

announcement in the Federal Register regarding the filing of this

document. Comments, inquiries, and requests for copies 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: February 3, 1998.

John J. Reynolds,

Regional Director, Pacific West.

[FR Doc. 98-3800 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-P