[Federal Register: February 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 24)]
[Notices]
[Page 6301-6302]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06fe09-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0293; 80230-1265-0000-S3]
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Humboldt and Del
Norte Counties, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments: Draft
comprehensive conservation plan/environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental
Assessment (CCP/EA) for Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
for public review and comment. The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife
Refuge Complex is composed of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) and Castle Rock NWR. The CCP, prepared under the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the
Service will manage the Refuges for the next 15 years. Draft
compatibility determinations for several public uses are also available
for review and public comment in the Draft CCP/EA.
DATES: Written comments must be received at the address below on or
before March 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: For more information on obtaining documents and submitting
comments, see ``Review and Comment'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
For public meeting location see ``Public Meetings'' under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric T. Nelson, Project Leader, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 576, Loleta, CA 95551-9633, phone
(707) 733-5406 or Sandy Osborn, Refuge Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825, phone (916)
414-6503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us
to develop a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for each national
wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge purposes and
[[Page 6302]]
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, environmental education and
interpretation.
The CCP for the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex was
initiated in January 2007. At that time and throughout the process,
public comments were requested, considered, and incorporated in
numerous ways. Public outreach has included public scoping meetings,
planning updates, a CCP Web page, and Federal Register notices. We
announced the notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Environmental Assessment in the Federal Register (72 FR 4020,
January 29, 2007).
Background
Humboldt Bay NWR is located on Humboldt Bay on the northwest
California coast near Eureka and Arcata. In 1971, the Humboldt Bay NWR
was established to conserve coastal habitats for a great diversity of
animals and plants, especially migratory birds. In later years the
Service added the Lanphere and Ma-le'l Dunes Units, to help conserve
the most pristine remaining dune ecosystem on the west coast of North
America. The Refuge Complex also includes Castle Rock NWR, a 14-acre
island located in Del Norte County, less than a mile northwest of
Crescent City. This refuge hosts one of the largest and most diverse
colonies of breeding seabirds on the Pacific coast and provides a roost
for approximately 20,000 Aleutian cackling geese during their
migration.
Alternatives
The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for
managing Humboldt Bay and Castle Rock Refuges for the next 15 years.
One alternative for each Refuge has been identified as the preferred
alternative. The preferred alternatives were identified based on the
analysis presented in the Draft CCP/EA, which may be modified following
the completion of the public comment period based on comments received
from other agencies, tribal governments, non-governmental
organizations, or individuals.
Alternatives for the Humboldt Bay NWR
Under Alternative A (the ``No Action'' Alternative), the Service
would continue the current management of Humboldt Bay NWR at
approximately the same level it has in the recent past. There would be
continued work on the most substantive refuge issues including:
Maintenance of facilities and existing programs, Salmon Creek and other
habitat restoration, control of invasives (especially Spartina, or non-
native cordgrass), habitat management for salmonids, Aleutian cackling
geese management, and public use initiatives.
Under Alternative B, the Service would make a number of
improvements to Humboldt Bay NWR management including substantial
native habitat restoration, moderate enhancement of Aleutian cackling
goose habitat, substantial restoration of Salmon Creek, substantial
enhancements of other wetland and dune habitats, an increase in visitor
services, a slight reduction in hunt opportunities, and proactive
cultural resource management.
Alternative C, the preferred alternative, would include all of the
features of Alternative B plus more native habitat restoration, more
restoration of Salmon Creek, more enhancements of other wetland and
dune habitats; and a slight increase in hunt opportunities compared to
Alternative A.
Alternatives for the Castle Rock NWR
Under Alternative A (the ``No Action'' Alternative), the Service
would continue to manage Castle Rock NWR as it has in the recent past.
Under Alternative B, the Service would make a number of changes to
Castle Rock NWR management including: Restricting any monitoring and
research to off-island; increasing educational outreach and
interpretation; and increasing coordination with tribal entities.
Under Alternative C, the preferred alternative, the Service would
improve management of Castle Rock NWR by: Expanding surveys for flora
and fauna; improving research with remote controlled recording devices;
increasing educational outreach and interpretation in collaboration
with local entities; increasing coordination with tribal entities; and
recommending Castle Rock NWR for wilderness designation and completing
the associated legislative environmental impact statement.
Public Meetings
The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted
on the Refuge Complex Web site at http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/
ccp.html.
Review and Comment
Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Sandy Osborn, Refuge Planner, 2800
Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846. Copies of the Draft
CCP/EA may be viewed at this address or at the Humboldt Bay National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta, CA 95551-9633. The
Draft CCP/EA will also be available for viewing and downloading online
at http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/ccp.html. Printed documents will also
be available for review in the Government Collection sections at the
following libraries: Arcata Library, 500 7th Street, Arcata, CA 95521;
College of the Redwoods Library, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA
95501; Del Norte County Library, 190 Price Mall, Crescent City, CA
95331; Fortuna Library, 753 14th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540; Humboldt
County Library, 1313 3rd Street, Eureka, CA 95501; Humboldt State
University Library, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521; and Conservation
Library, USFWS-NCTC, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to: Sandy Osborn,
Refuge Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-
1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846; or via electronic mail, sandy_
osborn@fws.gov. Comments may also be faxed to (916) 414-6497.
At the end of the review and comment period for this Draft CCP/EA,
we will analyze comments and address them in our Final CCP. 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: October 31, 2008.
Toni M. Deery,
Acting Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento,
California.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
[FR Doc. E9-2009 Filed 2-5-09; 8:45 am]
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