[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51945-51947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21274]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XZ21
Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the ``Draft Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Hawaiian monk seal Recovery
Actions.'' Publication of this notice begins the official public
comment period for the Draft PEIS. The purpose of the Draft PEIS is to
evaluate, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of
implementing the alternative approaches for funding, undertaking, and
permitting the management, research and enhancement activities on
Hawaiian monk seals, as well as other components of the marine
ecosystem and human environment.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft PEIS must be postmarked by
October 17, 2011. Comments on the Draft PEIS for this action may be
submitted by:
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail: 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI
96814.
Public Hearings: Oral and written comments will be
accepted during the upcoming public hearings. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION, PUBLIC HEARINGS (below) for dates and locations of public
hearings for this issue.
The draft PEIS is available on the following Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/hawaiianmonkseal.htm. To be included
on a mailing list and receive newsletters and copies of the Draft and
Final PEIS, please e-mail [email protected] or send your mailing or
email address to
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the Marine Mammal Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, NOAA NMFS
Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Walters (phone: 808-944-2200); or
via the following email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is the Federal agency responsible for
management and recovery of Hawaiian monk seals under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). In 1976, NMFS listed
Hawaiian monk seals as ``endangered'' under the ESA and ``depleted''
under the MMPA. As required under section 4 of the ESA, NMFS published
a Recovery Plan for the species in 1983, which was revised in 2007.
NMFS administers funds that have been appropriated by Congress and
allocated within NMFS' annual budget for the purpose of carrying out
recovery actions for Hawaiian monk seals. This PEIS would satisfy the
NEPA compliance requirements for funding and undertaking recovery
actions for Hawaiian monk seals, including the requirements for
obtaining MMPA and ESA permits.
Background
The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is a critically
endangered species found only in the U.S., within the Hawaiian
Archipelago and at Johnston Atoll. The population is estimated to have
1,125 individuals remaining and is declining by roughly 4.5% each year.
Since the 1980's, NMFS has conducted research to understand, and
enhancement activities to mitigate, threats to the survival of monk
seals. Most of this work has been in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
(NWHI) where the majority of seals live and breed. More recently, a
natural increase in the number of seals in the Main Hawaiian Islands
(MHI) has prompted researchers and managers to begin studying and
aiding seals in the MHI.
Despite measures taken to save the monk seal, the species is not
showing signs of recovery. In the NWHI, young seals are continuing to
starve to death, nursing and newly weaned pups are being killed by
sharks, seals are getting entangled in marine debris, and sea level
rise threatens terrestrial habitats. Low juvenile survival over the
past two decades is the primary cause of the population's decline.
There is insufficient recruitment into the breeding population, and the
population decline will likely continue without intervention.
On October 1, 2010, NMFS provided public notice (75 FR 60721) that
it would prepare a PEIS to assess the impacts of implementing specific
management actions and administering a research and enhancement program
to improve survival of Hawaiian monk seals. The 45 day public scoping
period was extended 15 days (75 FR 69398), and the comment period ended
November 30, 2010.
Scoping was the first step in this NEPA process (as required under
40 CFR 1501.7). Scoping provided an opportunity for the public and
agencies to express their views and identify issues to be addressed in
the Draft PEIS regarding activities that may be performed on Hawaiian
monk seals in an effort to recover the species.
As part of scoping, NMFS hosted public meetings to introduce the
project proposal, describe the PEIS process, and solicit input on the
issues and alternatives to be evaluated. Public scoping meetings were
held in October 2010 on the islands of O`ahu, Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i,
and Kaua`i. During the scoping comment period, 139 public comments were
received. A report summarizing these comments is available on the
project Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/hawaiianmonkseal.htm.
Issues identified by the public during the scoping process include,
but are not limited to, concerns regarding bringing young seals to the
MHI and returning them to the NWHI, Native Hawaiian beliefs and
culture, fisheries interactions, and human-seal encounters. Substantive
comments received during the scoping period have been addressed in the
Draft PEIS.
Alternatives
NMFS has evaluated a preferred alternative and three other
alternatives in the Draft PEIS. These are summarized as follows:
Alternative 1: Status Quo Alternative: Under the Status Quo
Alternative, research and enhancement activities would be carried out
as currently permitted under the MMPA and ESA. New permits could be
issued in the future to maintain the current levels of research and
enhancement activities. Some elements of this alternative include:
Population assessment (e.g., counting, marking for
identification);
Health and disease studies (e.g., tissue sampling, taking
measurements);
Foraging studies (e.g., telemetry, scat collection);
De-worming research (e.g., fecal samples, testing anti-
parasite treatments);
Translocation of weaned pups within the NWHI to improve
juvenile survival;
Mitigation of fishery interactions (e.g., disentanglement,
removal of hooks); and
Mitigation of adult male aggression (e.g., removal of
aggressive males).
Alternative 2: No Action: Under this alternative, the above-
mentioned permitted research and enhancement activities on Hawaiian
monk seals would stop in 2014 when the current MMPA-ESA permit expires.
No new permits would be issued.
Alternative 3: Limited Translocation: Alternative 3 would include
all currently permitted activities and further address the
recommendations of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan by including
new research and enhancement activities. New activities would include,
but would not be limited to:
Expanding the scope and number of seal translocations,
including (1) moving seals with unmanageable human interactions from
the MHI to NWHI, (2) taking seals age three years and older from the
MHI to NWHI to examine their subsequent survival, and (3) using a two-
stage translocation program whereby weaned pups are taken from areas of
lower survival to areas of higher survival. This would include the
option of returning the seals to their birth island or nearby site at
age three years and older, but would exclude moving seals from the NWHI
to the MHI.
Research and development of tools for modifying
undesirable seal behavior related to interactions with humans and
fishing gear in the MHI.
Potential implementation of de-worming as a tool to
improve juvenile survival.
Supplementing monk seal diet using feeding stations in
NWHI locations where seals are released after being cared for in
captivity.
Vaccination studies and potential use of vaccines to
mitigate infectious diseases (West Nile Virus and Morbilliviruses).
Chemical alteration of aggressive male monk seal behavior
using a testosterone suppressant.
Expanded surveys and use of new tools (such as remote
cameras and unmanned remotely operated aircraft).
A distinctive feature of Alternative 3 is that translocations of
young animals from the NWHI to the MHI would not be permitted.
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Alternative 4: Enhanced Implementation (Preferred Alternative):
Alternative 4, the enhanced implementation alternative, is the
Preferred Alternative. This alternative would encompass all the
activities under Alternative 3, with the additional option to
temporarily translocate weaned pups from the NWHI to the MHI to improve
survival. At age three years, surviving translocated seals would be
returned to the NWHI.
Alternative 4 encompasses the range of actions considered most
promising to prevent the extinction of the species. Before any
translocation between the NWHI and MHI would be attempted, extensive
outreach and engagement with local stakeholders would be conducted, and
programs to reduce seal-human interactions, including interactions
between seals and fishing gear, would be developed and implemented.
Public Involvement
Comments will be accepted at public hearings (see below) and during
the public comment period, and must be submitted to NMFS by October 17,
2011 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). We request that you include
in your comments: (1) Your name, address, and affiliation (if any); and
(2) background documents to support your comments as appropriate.
Public hearings will take place on the following dates, times, and
locations:
1. Monday, September 12, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Central Union
Church, 1660 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, O`ahu.
2. Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Hale Mahaolu Home
Pumehana, 290 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai, Moloka'i.
3. Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Mokup[amacr]papa
Discovery Center, 308 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 109, Hilo, Hawai'i.
4. Thursday, September 15, 2011, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., K[imacr]hei
Community Center, 303 East Lipoa Street, K[imacr]hei, Maui.
5. Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m.,
Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy Street, L[imacr]hu`e, Kaua`i.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be
directed to Rachel Sprague, (808) 944-2200 (phone) or (808) 973-2941
(fax), at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: August 11, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21274 Filed 8-18-11; 8:45 am]
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