[Federal Register: April 6, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 65)]
[Notices]
[Page 17430-17431]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap10-72]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2010-N026; 80230-1265-0000-S3]
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife
Refuges, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for the Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in Kern, San Luis Obispo,
Tulare, and Ventura counties of California. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal, State, and
local agencies; Tribes; and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
May 21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
E-mail: fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Include ``Hopper CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Sandy Osborn, (916) 414-6497.
U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments at the Hopper
Mountain NWR Complex Headquarters in Ventura, California, during
regular business hours; please call (805) 644-5185 for directions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader, at
(916) 414-6503 or Marc Weitzel, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further information may also be found at
http://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/planning/ccp.cfm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge NWRs in Kern, San Luis
Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, California. This notice complies
with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State agencies,
Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on
this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to consider in the environmental document and during development
of the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 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 where compatible with refuge
purposes. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in
accordance with the Administration Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals, objectives, and
strategies that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife,
plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's
establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge
System.
Our CCP process provides opportunities for participation by Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
We will be contacting identified
[[Page 17431]]
stakeholders and individuals at this time for initial input. If you
would like to meet with planning staff or would like to receive
periodic updates, please contact us (see ADDRESSES). We anticipate
holding public meetings for initial comments and also when we have
identified alternative management scenarios. At this time we encourage
comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for
the future management of Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
NWRs.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
Hopper Mountain NWR is in Ventura County, approximately 6 miles
north of the community of Fillmore. Hopper Mountain NWR was established
in 1974 to protect the endangered California condor, its habitat, and
other wildlife resources. The refuge encompasses 2,471 contiguous acres
owned in fee title by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge
is currently closed to public use.
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Bitter Creek NWR is located approximately 80 miles north of Los
Angeles and approximately 10 miles southwest of the community of
Maricopa in the arid foothills, primarily in Kern County. The
legislatively approved refuge boundary also falls within parts of San
Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Bitter Creek NWR was established in
1985 to provide safe roosting and foraging habitat for California
condors. The refuge encompasses nearly 14,097 acres owned in fee title
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bitter Creek NWR Grassland
Habitat Management and Restoration Plan Environmental Assessment and
Compatibility Determination is ongoing. This refuge is currently closed
to public use.
Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Blue Ridge NWR is located in central Tulare County in the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 11 miles north of Springville and 17.5
miles northeast of Porterville, California. Blue Ridge NWR was
established in 1982 to protect critical habitat for the California
condor. Blue Ridge NWR encompasses 897 acres owned in fee title by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge is currently closed to
public use.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. These include: Wildlife management,
habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation, environmental
education, and cultural resources. During public scoping, we may
identify additional issues.
Public Meetings
We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at public
meetings. You can obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or
project leader (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also
submit comments or request a meeting during the planning process by
mail, e-mail, or fax (see ADDRESSES). There will be additional
opportunities to provide public input once we have prepared a draft
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: March 26, 2010.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2010-7353 Filed 4-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P