[Federal Register: June 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 113)]
[Notices]
[Page 28271-28273]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn09-87]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2009-N0070; 80230-1265-0000-53]
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Modoc County, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
environmental assessment (EA) for Modoc National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
for public review and comment. In these documents, we describe
alternatives, including our preferred alternative, to manage this
refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP. Draft
compatibility determinations for several public uses are also available
for review and public comment in the Draft CCP/EA.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by July 30, 2009. We will announce upcoming public meeting in local
news media.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more
information by any of the following methods. You may request hard
copies or a CD-ROM of the documents.
E-mail: Jackie_Ferrier@fws.gov. Include ``Modoc NWR Draft CCP and
EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Planner, (530) 934-7814.
U.S. Mail: Sacramento NWR Complex, 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA
95988.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (530) 233-3572 to make
an appointment (necessary for view/pickup only) during regular business
hours at
[[Page 28272]]
the Modoc NWR, at 5364 County Road 115, Alturas, CA 96101 during
business hours. For more information on locations for viewing or
obtaining documents, see ``Public Availability of Documents'' under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Clay, Project Leader at Modoc
NWR, (530) 233-3572 (telephone) or Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Planner at
Sacramento NWR Complex at (530) 934-2801 (telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Modoc NWR. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR
44850; August 9, 2007).
The 7,021 acre Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is located southeast
of Alturas, California. The Refuge was established in 1960 pursuant to
the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715d) and the Refuge
Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460 K.4). Lands within the Refuge have
been set aside for use as an inviolate sanctuary, and other management
purposes, for migratory birds, for incidental fish and wildlife-
oriented recreational development, for the protection of natural
resources, and for the conservation of endangered species or threatened
species.
Located near the confluence of the north and south forks of the Pit
River, the Refuge conserves, protects, and manages a mosaic of
freshwater lakes and ponds, seasonal wetlands, irrigated meadows,
grasslands, and sagebrush/juniper upland habitats. These habitats
provide important resting, feeding, and nesting areas for ducks, geese,
and other migratory birds including the greater sandhill crane.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Public Outreach
We started the CCP for Modoc NWR in August 2007. At that time and
throughout the process, public comments were requested, considered, and
incorporated in numerous ways. Public outreach has included a public
scoping meeting, planning updates, a CCP Web page, and Federal Register
notices. Comments we received cover topics such as wildlife, habitat,
refuge management, invasive species management, partnerships, and
visitor services. We have considered and evaluated all of these
comments, with many incorporated into the various alternatives
addressed in the draft CCP and the EA.
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process with which we started work on
this draft CCP, we, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public
raised several issues. Our draft CCP addresses them. A full description
of each alternative is in the EA. To address these issues, we developed
and evaluated the following alternatives, summarized below.
The Draft EA/CCP presents an evaluation of the environmental
effects of four alternatives for managing the Modoc Refuge for the next
15 years. The Service proposes to implement Alternative C, as described
in the EA. Alternative C best achieves the Refuge's purposes, vision,
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with
principles of sound fish and wildlife management. This alternative is
described in more detail in the CCP.
There are many features of proposed Refuge management that are
common to all four alternatives. Features common to all alternatives
include invasive species management, habitat management and
restoration, implementation of a hunting and fishing program, and
providing wildlife observation, photography, environmental education,
and interpretation opportunities. There are also many features of each
alternative that are distinct.
Alternative A, the no action alternative, assumes no change from
current management programs and is considered the baseline to compare
other alternatives against. Under Alternative A, the primary management
focus of the Refuge would continue to be providing habitat for
migrating and nesting migratory and resident birds with an emphasis on
migratory birds by restoring and maintaining wetland, riparian, and
grassland habitats. The Refuge would continue to offer wildlife-
dependent recreation including wildlife observation, photography,
environmental education, interpretative programs, fishing and hunting,
with emphasis on youth and disabled hunters.
Under Alternative B, the Refuge would emphasize management for
biological resources. Biological opportunities would be maximized to
allow optimum wildlife and habitat management throughout the majority
of the Refuge. The Refuges would continue its current focus of
providing migratory and nesting habitat for migratory birds. Habitat
and invasive species management programs would be expanded.
Environmental education, interpretation, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, fishing, and hunting, programs would be reduced.
Under Alternative C, the Refuge would achieve an optimal balance of
biological resource objectives and visitor services opportunities.
Habitat management and associated biological resource monitoring would
be improved. Visitor service opportunities would focus on quality
wildlife-dependant recreation distributed throughout the Refuge. In
addition, environmental education, interpretation, wildlife
observation, photography, fishing, and hunting programs would be
expanded beyond Alternative A.
Under Alternative D, the Refuge would emphasize management for
visitor services. Wildlife-dependant recreational opportunities would
be expanded on the Refuge. Opportunities for the six priority public
uses: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography,
environmental education, and interpretation, would be expanded beyond
Alternatives A, B, and C.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/modoc.
Public Libraries: Modoc County Library 212 West Third
Street Alturas, CA 96101, Cedarville Branch Library 460 Main Street,
Cedarville, CA 96104, Conservation Library, USFWS-NCTC,
[[Page 28273]]
698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 during regular library
hours.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your 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.
Dated: June 2, 2009.
Margaret T. Kolar,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. E9-13303 Filed 6-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P