[Federal Register: May 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 90)]
[Notices]
[Page 26140-26142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my08-117]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-R-2008-N0070; 70133-1265-0000-S3]
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, AK
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announce
that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Draft Plan) and
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge is available for public comment. The Draft Plan/EIS was prepared
pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980
(ANILCA), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (Refuge Administration Act) as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act), and the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It describes five
alternatives for managing the Kenai Refuge for the next 15 years,
including continuing current management. We will use special mailings
to inform the public of opportunities to provide input on the Draft
Plan/EIS and will hold public meetings in Anchorage and various
communities on the Kenai Peninsula to obtain public comments.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Plan/EIS must be received on or before
September 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to request a paper copy or a
compact disk of the Draft Plan/EIS, contact Rob Campellone, Planning
Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-
231, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3982; fax: (907)
786-3965; e-mail: fw7_kenai_planning@fws.gov. You may also view or
download a copy of the Draft Plan/EIS at the following Web site: http:/
/alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/kenpol.htm.
Copies of the Draft Plan/EIS may be viewed at the Kenai Refuge
Office in Soldotna, Alaska, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office in Anchorage, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Campellone at the address or phone
number provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ANILCA (16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43
U.S.C. 1602 et seq.) requires development of a Comprehensive
Conservation Plan for all national wildlife refuges in Alaska. The
Draft Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge was developed consistent with
Section 304(g) of ANILCA and the Refuge Administration Act as amended
by the Refuge Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). The purpose of
developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year management strategy for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish, wildlife, and
habitat management and conservation; legal mandates; and Service
policies. Comprehensive Conservation Plans define long-term goals and
objectives toward which refuge management activities are directed, and
identify which uses may be compatible with the purposes of a refuge.
Comprehensive Conservation Plans are reviewed and updated every 15
years in accordance with direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA, the
Refuge Improvement Act, and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Background: In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 8979 creating the 1,730,000-acre Kenai National Moose
Range. In 1980, ANILCA changed the name of the Range to the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge and substantially increased the size of the
Refuge. As of 2007, the Kenai Refuge encompasses approximately
1,988,000 acres. Section 303(4)(B) of ANILCA states that the purposes
for which Kenai Refuge was established include: (i) To conserve fish
and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity; (ii)
to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; (iii) to ensure water
quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge; (iv) to provide
opportunities for scientific research, interpretation, environmental
education, and land management training; and (v) to provide
opportunities for fish and wildlife-oriented recreation. A
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and EIS were completed for the Kenai
Refuge in 1985 following direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA.
The ANILCA requires the Service to designate areas according to
their respective resources and values and to specify programs and uses
within the areas designated. To meet these requirements, the Alaska
Region established management categories. A management category is a
set of refuge management directions applied to an area to accomplish
refuge purposes and goals. Appropriate public uses, commercial uses,
facilities, and human activities are identified for each management
category. Five management categories currently apply to the Kenai
Refuge including (1) Intensive, (2) Moderate, (3) Traditional, (4)
Minimal, and (5) Wilderness.
The 1997 Refuge Improvement Act includes additional direction for
conservation planning throughout the
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National Wildlife Refuge System. This direction has been incorporated
into national planning policy for the National Wildlife Refuge System,
including refuges in Alaska. The Draft Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge
meets the requirements of both ANILCA and the Refuge Administration Act
as amended by the Refuge Improvement Act.
An Overview of Management Alternatives: The Draft Plan/EIS
describes and evaluates five alternatives (A-E) for managing the Kenai
Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternatives are different sets of
objectives and strategies for achieving refuge purposes and goals.
Alternatives A through E are each consistent with the purposes of the
Kenai Refuge as mandated by ANILCA.
Alternative A (the No-Action Alternative) is required under NEPA
and describes continuation of current management activities.
Alternative A serves as a baseline against which to compare the other
four alternatives, including Alternative E--the Service's Preferred
Alternative. Under Alternative A, management of the Kenai Refuge would
continue to follow direction described in the 1985 Comprehensive
Conservation Plan/EIS and Record of Decision and subsequent step-down
management plans. Under Alternative A, the Kenai Refuge would continue
to be managed under five management categories.
Alternatives B through E would generally continue to follow
management direction as described in the 1985 Comprehensive
Conservation Plan/EIS and Record of Decision and subsequent step-down
management plans, however some specific direction occurring under
current management (Alternative A) would be altered or no longer
pursued under Alternatives B through E. For example, under Alternatives
B through E, four management categories, not five, would be applied to
the Kenai Refuge, eliminating the Traditional management category.
Alternative B would convert Kenai Refuge lands that are currently
managed as Traditional to the Moderate or the Minimal management
categories, and Alternatives C through E would convert Refuge lands
that are currently managed as Traditional to the Minimal management
category.
The Alternatives by Specific Issues: Five central planning issues
were raised during scoping and public involvement. The Draft Plan/EIS
for the Kenai Refuge describes and evaluates, in detail, specific
management actions under Alternatives A through E and how each
alternative addresses the five central planning issues. In this notice,
we highlight key changes in management of the Kenai Refuge under
Alternatives A through E for each planning issue:
Issue 1: Large-Scale Habitat Change and the Use of Fire
Under Alternatives A through C, prescribed fire use would be
allowed on 31 percent of the Refuge, though such use would be limited
under Alternative A on approximately 10 percent of the Refuge
identified as Minimal Management. Alternatives D and E (Alternative E
is the Preferred Alternative) would allow prescribed fire use on 97.5
percent of the Refuge.
Under Alternative A, wildland fire use would be allowed on 95
percent of the Refuge, and Alternative B would allow such use on 84.5
percent of the Refuge. Wildland fire use is the management of naturally
ignited wildland fire to accomplish resource management objectives for
specific areas. Alternatives C through E (the Preferred Alternative)
would allow wildland fire use on 97.5 percent of the Refuge--with
wildland fire use only being the default management action in
designated Wilderness (66.4 percent of the Refuge) under Alternative C.
Under Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative), wildland fire
use would be the default management action in Minimal and designated
Wilderness management categories (95 percent of the Refuge).
Issue 2: Manage Existing Facilities for Public Use While Ensuring
Resource Protection
Presently, there are three active oil and gas leases (13,252 acres)
on the Kenai Refuge that were granted under the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920. These leases are not anticipated to end during the life of this
plan (15 years) but could in the foreseeable future. For two of the
leases, the Swanson River and Beaver Creek Oil and Gas units, some of
the existing industrial roads and operating facilities would be
retained (in the event that operations cease) for public use (except
bicycle use) under Alternative A, though none would be retained under
Alternative B. Most industrial roads would be retained and converted to
trails for pedestrian and horse use only under Alternative C; and
Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative) would retain and
maintain most roads for public use, including bicycle use. No existing
facilities would be retained for public use under Alternatives C
through E (the Preferred Alternative) in these oil and gas units. In
the Swanson River Oil and Gas Unit, up to five primitive camping areas
would be provided for walk-in use only under Alternative C, and two
developed campgrounds would be constructed under Alternatives D and E
(the Preferred Alternative). In the Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Unit, up
to two primitive camping areas would be provided for walk-in use only
under Alternative C, one developed campground would be constructed
under Alternative D, and no camping facilities would be provided under
Alternative E (the Preferred Alternative).
Public vehicle use on the unimproved Mystery Creek Access Road and
pipeline corridor north to Chickaloon Bay would be allowed from the
start of moose hunting season (approximately August 9) until snow cover
under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the access road would be
improved; and public vehicle use would be allowed July 1 to November 30
throughout the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the
Moose River. Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
improve the access road to ensure public safety and environmental
protection while providing for a primitive backcountry experience; and
public vehicle use would be allowed August 9 to November 30 throughout
the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the Moose
River. Under Alternative D, public vehicle use on the access road and
pipeline corridor would not be allowed. Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be allowed under all the alternatives. Bicycle
use would be allowed from August 9 until snow cover under Alternatives
A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative), and May 1 to November 30 under
Alternative B. Alternative D would not allow bicycle use. Public use
registration would not be required under Alternatives A or D, but it
would be required under Alternatives B, C, and E (the Preferred
Alternative).
Issue 3: Enhance Wildlife-Dependent Recreation Opportunities
Under Alternative A, personal collection of berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants, and/or the collection of shed antlers would not be
allowed. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred Alternative),
personal collection and use of unlimited quantities of berries,
mushrooms, and other edible plants; and up to eight naturally shed
moose or caribou antlers per person per year would be allowed.
Issue 4: Manage Increasing Public Use To Ensure Resource and Visitor-
Experience Protection
For the Upper Kenai River (Russian River to Skilak Lake), non-
guided public use would be allowed without
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restriction under Alternative A. Alternative B would modify existing
management agreements and/or plans cooperatively with stakeholders to
address non-guided public use; and Alternatives C through E (the
Preferred Alternative) would implement a limited permit program.
Under all of the Alternatives, sportfishing guides would be
required to have special use permits. Permits would be limited to 20
under Alternatives A and B, reduced to 18 under C and E (the Preferred
Alternative), and reduced to 15 under Alternative D. Permits would be
reduced through attrition and issued competitively. Each permit would
allow 10 starts per week with no more than 4 starts per day--except
under Alternative B, which would require additional restrictions on the
timing and starts of boats beyond such levels.
State-licensed sportfishing guides not having Refuge special use
permits may be issued Incidental Use Permits (IUPs) under all the
alternatives except Alternative D, which would eliminate the IUP
Program. Alternatives A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
issue up to three IUPs per year subject to quotas and blackout dates;
and Alternative B would limit the number of IUPs to one per year.
Dispersed camping would be allowed (except within one-quarter mile
of the Sterling Highway) under all of the alternatives but would be
limited to 14 days in any 30-day period under Alternative A; limited to
24 hours within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river under
Alternative B; not allowed within 100 yards of the river under
Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative); limited to 48 hours
within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river and within one
mile of the Kenai River/Skilak Lake inlet/outlet under Alternative D.
For the Middle Kenai River (Skilak Lake downstream to the Refuge
boundary), non-guided public use would be allowed without restriction
under Alternatives A and B. Such use would be allowed without
restriction under Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative)
until a Limits-of-Acceptable Change planning process is completed with
stakeholders; and Alternative D would implement a limited permit
program after a public rulemaking process is conducted.
Sportfishing guides would be required to have special use permits
under all of the alternatives, though such permits would be issued
without limit under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the need to
implement a permitting process would be evaluated after the conclusion
of the ongoing Kenai River-wide guide process. Under Alternatives C and
E (the Preferred Alternative), permits would be limited to the number
of existing permittees, and existing permittees would be
``grandfathered''; under Alternative D, permits would be limited to 20
through a competitive selection process, and management of the timing
and starts of boats would be initiated.
Issue 5: Balance Motorized Access With Resource and Visitor-Experience
Protection
Under all the alternatives, airplane access would not be allowed
May 1 to September 30 on any lake where nesting trumpeter swans and/or
their broods are present except on two lakes in designated Wilderness--
where the closure would be May 1 to September 10 under Alternatives A
through C and E (the Preferred Alternative)--and five lakes in
designated Wilderness plus one lake outside of designated Wilderness
under Alternative D. Airplane access would be allowed on 46 lakes in
designated Wilderness under Alternative A and E (the Preferred
Alternative); 45 lakes under Alternative B; 50 lakes under Alternative
C; and 59 lakes under Alternative D.
Under all the alternatives, floatplane access to Chickaloon Flats
would be allowed on 6.5 miles of the Chickaloon River. Under
Alternative A, wheeled airplane access would be allowed year-round
within designated areas of the Chickaloon Flats area including three
upland landing zones, a designated beach zone, and the unmaintained Big
Indian Creek airstrip. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred
Alternative), wheeled airplane access would be allowed on 21 square
miles of unvegetated portions of the Chickaloon Flats area. Access
would also be allowed on the unmaintained Big Indian Creek airstrip
under Alternatives B and E (the Preferred Alternative). Under
Alternatives C and D, access would be allowed on the Big Indian Creek
airstrip, which would be maintained by the Service; and under
Alternative D, an additional 6.8 square miles of unvegetated portions
of the Chickaloon Flats would be accessible September 1 to December 15
(or to coincide with future waterfowl hunting seasons).
Under Alternatives A through C and E (the Preferred Alternative),
snowmachines would be allowed in designated areas December 1 to April
30 when the refuge manager determines there is adequate snow cover.
Under Alternative C, certain zones within designated areas may be
opened earlier (than December 1) or later (than April 30) depending on
local snow conditions.
Under Alternative D, the December 1 to April 30 time restriction
would be eliminated, and certain zones within designated areas may be
opened depending on local snow conditions. Under Alternatives B through
E (the Preferred Alternative), research studies would be conducted with
stakeholders to evaluate the effects of snowmachine use on Refuge
resources and visitor experiences, and the results of those studies
would be used to support future management decisions.
Public Availability of Comments: Before including your name,
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will make all
comments from individual persons part of the official public record. We
will handle requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom
of Information Act, NEPA, and Departmental policies and procedures.
Dated: May 2, 2008.
Gary Edwards,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage,
Alaska.
[FR Doc. E8-10236 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P