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Conservation
Action Alert!!
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| Comments
Needed to USFWS for the Proposed "El Toro National Wildlife
Refuge" |
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| Background: |
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| Recently, the US
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued an update on the status
of the proposed El Toro National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on 890
acres at the northeast end of the former El Toro Marine Corps
Base. This property was a very important component to the development
of the Central/Coastal - Natural Communities Conservation Plan
(NCCP) and has been languishing for more than a decade while
federal resource agencies have dealt with a near moratorium
on dedicating new National Wildlife Refuges. |
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| We are pleased to
hear that the status of this critical property, which includes
prime coastal sage scrub, grassland, and vernal pool habitats,
is finally getting renewed attention; however we are very concerned
that there are issues pending that could severely hamper the
ability of the USFWS to manage the property appropriately as
a refuge, and we need your comments. |
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| When the Marines
abandoned the base, the FAA, who retained aviation communication
facilities on the site, took control of the 890 acre reserve.
The FAA subsequently subleased the property to the FBI, for
use as a training center and weapons firing facility. This was
done without any input from the public or other entities that
manage and care about the NCCP properties, such as the Nature
Reserve of Orange County (NROC), Endangered Habitats League
(EHL), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), or Audubon.
It was also done without any regard for promises made by the
USFWS to manage the site as a critical wildlife reserve. |
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| Unfortunately, the
FBI is planning on expanding an existing small arms firing range,
and installing several long range, high usage, rifle ranges,
as well as expanding a new tactical event training center, with
lots of vehicle traffic and activity. This a woefully inappropriate
use of NCCP properties that were meant to protect sensitive
species, such as CA Gnatcatchers, provide important corridors
for wildlife movement, and provide opportunities for habitat
restoration. |
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| While many wildlife
refuges are overlays on military bases and enjoy shared uses
of the reserves, the El Toro Refuge’s primary function
must be wildlife protection because it was allocated as a key
feature of the Central/Coastal NCCP to mitigate massive development
in the central portions of the county. |
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| The USFWS made promises
to the public and the environmental community that the El Toro
site would become a national wildlife refuge and be protected
in accordance to the NCCP guidelines. These promises were key
to gaining the support of Sea and Sage Audubon for the development
of the Central /Coastal NCCP. The promises made by the USFWS
were also critically important for EHL, Laguna Canyon Foundation,
National Audubon, NRDC and others who were considering a program
that was suffering from pretty serious opposition. |
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| Currently, because
of the lack of concern about wildlife management from the FBI,
biologists with NROC and interested environmental representatives
cannot even access the property to monitor wildlife, let alone
contribute to the management of the critical wildlife features. |
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| Furthermore, there
are alternative locations available nearby for law enforcement
training facilities, especially long range outdoor firing ranges
that are better. These alternative sites do not conflict with
sensitive wildlife management or pose wildfire threats, and
would be safer than placing long range, outdoor rifle ranges,
near Lake Forest and Irvine. |
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| We need your help
getting comments and letters to the US Fish and Wildlife Service,
demanding that they meet the commitments they made to establish
the El Toro National Wildlife Refuge under NCCP guidelines and
provide for its proper wildlife management. They need to hear
that we support the NCCP and its goals and we demand a refuge
that protects sensitive wildlife. |
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Please
send your comments by June 30, 2009 |
| Write
to: |
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| Andy Yuen,
Project Leader |
Richard Smith,
Natural Resource Specialist |
| San Diego
NWR Complex |
Region 8 Refuge
Planning |
| U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service |
2800 Cottage
Way, W-1832 |
| 6010 Hidden
Valley Road, Suite 101 |
Sacramento,
CA 95825 |
| Carlsbad,
CA 92101 |
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| Or email: |
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| (Please type “El
Toro NWR” in the subject box) |
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Talking
Points: |
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| A National Wildlife
Refuge is long overdue at El Toro |
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| Firearms and tactical
training at the El Toro site will impact wildlife that the NCCP
and NWR is supposed to protect, would increase the risk of wildfire,
is incompatible with the NCCP, and restricts proper management
of the site. |
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| Protections of species
such as CA Gnatcatchers, Coastal Cactus Wrens, raptors, and
other birds, sensitive plant communities, and sensitive wildlife
must be the primary focus of the refuge. |
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| The goals and agreements
of the Central/Coastal NCCP must be met and must take priority
over any other use of the El Toro property, whether it becomes
a Wildlife Refuge, or remains in any other form under the management
of the USFWS |
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| The USFWS and the
Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC) must be the primary managers
of the natural resources at the El Toto site, and they must
have priority over other uses. |
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| Despite the obvious
need for adequate law enforcement training facilities, the FBI
needs to find a more suitable location to perform these activities,
somewhere other than on an NCCP wildlife reserve. Other locations
in southern California are available. |
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| In wildfire prone
southern California, indoor firing ranges are a superior alternative.
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| Emphasize, that
your continued support for the NCCP process, is reliant upon
the proper management of NCCP properties and the program’s
ability to protect sensitive habitats and species, especially
at the El Toro site. |
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| The USFWS made promises
about this property and it needs to keep them in full!! |
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