[Federal Register: August 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 148)]
[Notices]
[Page 38667-38668]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04au09-74]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2009-N0073; 22570-1261-0000-V3]
Limiting Mountain Lion Predation on Desert Bighorn Sheep on Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge, Yuma and La Paz Counties, AZ
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental assessment;
request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
that our draft environmental assessment (EA) for limiting mountain lion
(Puma concolor) predation on desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis
mexicana) on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is available.
The Refuge is located in southwest Arizona. The draft EA describes
alternatives, including a proposed action alternative, that address how
we intend to manage mountain lion predation to help achieve bighorn
sheep population objectives.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
on the draft EA 60 days from date of publication.
ADDRESSES: Please provide written comments to the Southwest Arizona
National Wildlife Refuge Complex, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 9300 East 28th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365; via facsimile
at 928-783-8611; or electronically to KofaLionComments@fws.gov. You may
obtain a copy of the draft EA by writing to the address above, or by
download from http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Viramontes, 505-248-6455 (phone);
505-248-6915 (fax); or Jose_Viramontes@fws.gov (e-mail). If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Refuge contains a major portion of the largest contiguous
habitat for desert bighorn sheep in southwestern Arizona and
historically has been home to a population averaging 760 bighorns. The
Refuge has served as the primary source of bighorn sheep for
translocations to reestablish and supplement extirpated or declining
populations throughout southern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and
Colorado. Population estimates from systematic aerial surveys indicate
that a 50-percent decline in the Refuge sheep population occurred
during the period 2000-2008.
In response to this decline, the Service and the Arizona Game and
Fish Department (AZGFD) have conducted an analysis of the probable
causes of the decline and are currently implementing a strategic
management program intended to lead to the recovery of this important
wildlife resource. Several studies and monitoring projects have been
initiated or enhanced. Some of the more important aspects of this broad
program include more frequent bighorn population surveys, monitoring
and maintaining water availability, assessing body condition and
disease in the bighorn population, monitoring disturbance attributable
to human recreation, and monitoring the extent of predation and its
impacts on the population. Many of the elements in this management
program have been addressed through prior planning documents and
require little additional review. Others, such as the proposed lethal
control of mountain lions, have not been previously addressed and
[[Page 38668]]
therefore require National Environmental Policy Act analysis and public
review.
Draft Environmental Assessment
This draft EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for
managing mountain lion predation on desert bighorn sheep on the Refuge.
Alternative A: Under this alternative, the Refuge would continue to
be managed as it has been in the past. We currently have no plan to
guide the management of mountain lions. Current management efforts,
described in the Refuge's general management plan, focus on maintaining
critical wildlife water sources for bighorn sheep, and, in coordination
with the AZGFD, monitoring desert bighorn sheep numbers, and
considering desert bighorn sheep transplants to augment populations
elsewhere. Research on wildlife and wildlife water sources would
continue. We would not take action to prevent mountain lion predation
on desert bighorn sheep within the Refuge boundaries under this
alternative.
Alternative B: This is the our proposed action, which would allow
the option of removing specific, individually identified offending
mountain lions, through translocation or lethal removal, from the
Refuge under certain circumstances, in order to recover and maintain an
optimal population of desert bighorn sheep. The proposed action has
several components. We would trap mountain lions and fit them with
tracking devices to monitor their activities. When the Refuge bighorn
sheep population estimate is below 600 animals, active mountain lion
removal would occur. Active mountain lion control is the removal of
mountain lions found to kill two or more bighorn sheep within a 6-month
period. The Service, or its agents, would carry out the lethal removal
or translocation. However, when the Refuge bighorn sheep population
estimate is between 600 and 800 animals, active mountain lion control
may or may not be employed based on the totality of the circumstances
at the time. In order to meet the bighorn sheep population objectives
while minimizing the necessary impacts to mountain lions, some
flexibility is desired. Decisions regarding whether active mountain
lion control is necessary will be based on an adaptive management
approach and based on the following factors: The current sheep
population estimate; the current sheep population trend; bighorn sheep
lamb survival and recruitment; the estimate of the number of mountain
lions currently using the Refuge; current and forecasted habitat
conditions; and available funding and manpower. When the Refuge bighorn
sheep population estimate is at or above 800 animals, active mountain
lion control would not occur, although mountain lions on the Refuge
would continue to be captured and fitted with tracking devices to aid
in continuing research.
Alternative C: Under this alternative, there would be no attempts
to radio collar and distinguish which mountain lions are preying on
bighorn sheep. Mountain lions would be lethally removed or translocated
at a rate of approximately 2 mountain lions per year from the area
until the sheep population reaches an estimated 800 animals and has
exhibited an increasing trend based on at least 3 sheep population
surveys. Mountain lion removals would resume if the Refuge bighorn
sheep population was found to again go below 800 animals.
Additional Refuge Information
Additional information on the history of the Refuge and its
purpose, goals, objectives, and management strategies can be found in
the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge & Wilderness and New Water Mountains
Wilderness Interagency Management Plan and Environmental Assessment:
EA-AZ-055-95-105, October 1996. Pertinent information can also be found
in the April 2007 report titled Investigative Report and
Recommendations for the Kofa Bighorn Sheep Herd, prepared jointly by
the Service and the AZGFD. Both documents, along with other detailed
information, are available at the following Web site: http://
www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa.
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.
Authorities
The Environmental Review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; Executive Order 12996; the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997; and Service policies and procedures for
compliance with those laws and regulations.
Dated: April 3, 2009.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
[FR Doc. E9-18285 Filed 8-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P