Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Environmental Consequences
5.7.1 Alternative A – No Action
5.7.1.1 Effects to Land Use
Wildlife and Habitat Management
Under Alternative A, all existing uses and activities on the Refuge would continue. These uses and
activities, all of which would continue to be oriented towards wildlife conservation and habitat
management, are consistent and compatible with the surrounding mix of land uses on the NWSSB
and the adjacent City of Seal Beach as shown in Figure 4-18. Thus, no adverse effects to land use
from the wildlife and habitat management associated with Alternative A are anticipated.
Public Use
Proposed public use opportunities at the Refuge, including public tours and bird watching
opportunities, would be implemented in compliance with NWSSB’s public access policies;
therefore, no adverse effect to the uses on the NWS or the surrounding area would result from the
continuation of this public use program.
5.7.1.2 Effects Related to Public Safety
Wildlife and Habitat Management
Management of the California least tern nesting population on NASA Island has historically
included the use of volunteers to monitor and haze potential avian predators, such as crows and
ravens, from the nesting site. The monitoring site for this activity is located in proximity to an
existing small arms range located in the southeast corner of the intersection of Bolsa Avenue and
Case Road. Having volunteers present in this area when the range is active or “hot,” represents a
potentially significant hazard to volunteers and Refuge staff. To avoid any significant safety
issues, standard operating procedures have been developed between the Refuge and the Navy that
requires coordination between Eyes on the Colony volunteers and the operators at the shooting
range. Volunteers must be outside the area of potential effect of the shooting ranges at all times
when the red flags are up signifying that the range is “hot.”
To avoid the potential for impacts to Refuge personnel and volunteers implementing other wildlife
and habitat management activities in the vicinity of the small arms range, advanced coordination
with NWSSB is required.
Because of the military activities that have occurred on the lands within the Refuge in the past,
Refuge staff coordinates with NWSSB prior to any significant ground disturbance in areas with
the potential to support unexploded ordinance or other discarded munitions.
Pest Management
The PUP review process is employed to ensure that all chemical pesticides approved for use on the
Refuge have been reviewed for their potential impacts not only to the environment, but also to
Refuge staff and visitors. Refuge staff and other agencies permitted to apply pesticides on the
Refuge are required to comply with use and application instructions on the pesticide labels, which
include specifications for personal protective equipment, user safety, storage and disposal, mixing,
application, and where necessary appropriate signage to keep the public out of recently sprayed
areas. Adherence to these specifications would minimize the potential for public safety impacts
related to the use of pesticides on the Refuge.
Public Use
To ensure public safety, visitors are escorted onto the Refuge by Refuge staff and volunteers.
Pedestrian access is supervised at all times and is restricted to the existing pedestrian pathway
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 5-73