Environmental Assessment Use of Row Crop Farming and Genetically
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Environmental Assessment Use of Row Crop Farming and Genetically-modified, Glyphosate-tolerant Corn and Soybeans on National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts Lead Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region January 2011 United States Department of the Interior FTSH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Bishop Hcnry Whipple Federal Building I Fedcral Drive Fort Snelling, MN 55lll-4056 IN REPLY REFERTO: NV/RS/CP Januarv 10. 201 I Dear Reviewer: We are pleased to provide you with this Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluating the use of farming as a habitat management tool and the use of genetically-modified, glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans on lands within the National V/ildlife Refuge System in the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Midwest Region currently manages 54 national wildlife refuges and 12 wetland management districts in eight states: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and IVisconsin. Of the 1.2 million acres included in these refuges and districts, 20,000 acres, or 1.6 percent, are planted in row crops. The Midwest Region has been steadily reducing its use of farming as a management tool, and all four of the alternatives considered in the EA call for continued reduction of farming. The EA is available online at: http://www.fws.eov/midwest/plannins/FarmineNEPA Please call Jane Hodgins in the Division of Conservation Planning at 612-713-5395 if you would like a paper copy. (TTY 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)) Written comments are welcome during the 30-day comment period that ends on February 8, 2011. Address e-mail to [email protected], and please include the words "Farming EA" in the subject line. Please address comments sent through U.S. Mail to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Conservation Planning Attention: Farming EA Comment BHW Federal Building, Room 530 1 Federal Drive Ft. Snelling, MN 55111 It's important to all of us at the Fish and Wildlife Service that you have an opportunity to be involved in planning for the National V/ildlife Refuge System. Thank you for taking the time to review and comment on this document. Sincerely, fìfìù, ß,'*rn Mike Brown Refuge Manager, Cypress Creek NWR Environmental Assessment for the Use of Row Crop Farming and Genetically-modified, Gly- phosate-tolerant Corn and Soybeans on National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts in the Midwest Region Abstract: The Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses row crop farming on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System to achieve a variety of management objectives. This environmental assessment evaluates the effects of the use of genetically-modified, glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans and the use of farming as a man- agement tool for multiple objectives on National Wildlife Refuge System lands and three other alter- natives: farming for habitat restoration purposes only using genetically-modified, glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans, farming for multiple objectives without allowing the use of genetically-modified, glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans, and limiting farming to only special circumstances on Refuge System lands without allowing the use of geneti- cally-modified, glyphosate-tolerant corn and soy- beans. The evaluation is based on the issues and concerns identified during the planning process. The purpose of the proposed action is to administer a farming program that contributes to achieving the establishing purposes for National Wildlife Refuge System lands or the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Responsible Agency and Official: Tom Melius, Regional Director U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Bishop Henry Whipple Building 1 Federal Drive Fort Snelling, MN 55111 Contacts for additional information about this project: Mike Brown U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service NWRS Bishop Henry Whipple Building 1 Federal Drive Ft. Snelling, MN 55111 Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service i U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Midwest Region Environmental Assessment Use of Row Crop Farming and Genetically-modified, Glyphosate-tolerant Corn and Soybeans on National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts in the Midwest Region Chapter 1: Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................1 1.1. Purpose ...............................................................................................................................................................1 1.2. Need for Action ...................................................................................................................................................1 1.3. Decision Framework ............................................................................................................................................1 1.4. Background ..........................................................................................................................................................1 1.4.1. Habitat Restoration ..................................................................................................................................3 1.4.2. Habitat Management ..............................................................................................................................3 1.4.3. Supplemental Food for Wildlife ..............................................................................................................3 1.4.4. Attracting Wildlife for Viewing and Photography ....................................................................................3 1.5. Authority, Legal Compliance, and Compatibility ................................................................................................3 1.6. Coordination with Other Regions and Agencies .................................................................................................4 1.7. Public Outreach ...................................................................................................................................................4 1.7.1. Wildlife Issues ..........................................................................................................................................4 1.7.2. Habitat Issues ...........................................................................................................................................4 1.7.3. Socioeconomic Issues ..............................................................................................................................4 1.8. Issues Beyond the Scope of This EA ...................................................................................................................5 Chapter 2: Description of the Alternatives ................................................................................................................6 2.1. Formulation of Alternatives ................................................................................................................................6 2.2. Alternatives Considered but Not Developed ......................................................................................................6 2.2.1. No Farming ...............................................................................................................................................6 2.2.2. Unmanaged Succession ...........................................................................................................................6 2.3. Elements Common to All Alternatives ................................................................................................................7 2.3.1. Issues Receiving Extensive Analysis During Comprehensive Assessments by the U.S. Department of Agriculture .......................................................................................................7 2.3.2. Adherence to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as Amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ................................7 2.3.3. Adherence to FWS Appropriate Use and Compatibility Policies .............................................................8 2.3.4. Agricultural Lands Will Decrease on Refuge System Lands ....................................................................8 2.3.5. Procedures and Limits on Herbicide Use ..................................................................................................8 2.3.6. Integrated Pest Management ...................................................................................................................9 2.3.7. Adherence to Midwest Region Refuge System Farming Policy ...............................................................9 Environmental Assessment / National Wildlife Refuge System, Midwest Region iii 2.3.8. Crab Orchard NWR Farming Program .......................................................................................................9 2.4. Alternatives Considered ......................................................................................................................................9 2.4.1. Alternative A: Continue Farming for Multiple Objectives, GMGT Corn and Soybeans Allowed (No Action) (Preferred Alternative) ..............................................9 2.4.2. Alternative B: Farming for Habitat Restoration Objectives Only, GMGT Corn and Soybeans Allowed ....................................................................................................10