[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41286-41287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17424]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2011-N081; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Conboy Lake and Toppenish National Wildlife Refuges, WA;
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge (refuge,
NWR), located in Klickitat County, Washington, and the Toppenish
National Wildlife Refuge, located in Yakima County, Washington. We
provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other
Federal and State 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
August 12, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods:
E-mail: mcriver@fws.gov. Include ``Conboy Lake and
Toppenish NWRs CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Dan Haas, Planning Team Leader, (509) 546-8303.
U.S. Mail: Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge
Complex, Conboy Lake and Toppenish NWRs CCP, 64 Maple Street, Burbank,
WA 99323.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during
regular business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Ludwig, Refuge Manager, Conboy
Lake and Toppenish National Wildlife Refuges, (509) 865-2405 (phone);
Shannon_ludwig@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Conboy Lake NWR, in Klickitat County, Washington, and Toppenish NWR in
Yakima County, Washington. 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 these refuges 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) (Refuge 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 compatible
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 Refuge 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 mission, 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 and objectives
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 participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
During the CCP planning process, many elements of refuge management
will be considered, including wildlife and habitat protection and
management and management of visitor services programs. Public input
during the planning process is essential. The CCP
[[Page 41287]]
will describe the refuge purposes and desired conditions for the refuge
and the long-term conservation goals, objectives and strategies for
fulfilling the purposes and achieving those conditions. At this time we
encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions
for the future management of Conboy Lake and Toppenish NWRs.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project and
develop an EA 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.
Refuge Overviews
Conboy Lake NWR
Conboy Lake NWR covers approximately 9,100 acres in the transition
zone between arid eastern Washington and wet western Washington, near
the southern base of Mt. Adams. The refuge is comprised of a wide
variety of habitat types, from the lake itself to wet meadows to
Ponderosa pine and oak forests. Because of its varied habitats and its
location in the transition zone, the refuge supports an abundance of
wildlife species.
Conboy Lake NWR was established ``for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds''
(Migratory Bird Conservation Act; 16 U.S.C. 715d) that is ``suitable
for-- (1) Incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational
development, (2) the protection of natural resources, [and/or] (3) the
conservation of endangered species or threatened species'' (Refuge
Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. 460k-1), in order ``to conserve (A) fish or
wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species *
* * or (B) plants'' (16 U.S.C. 1534, Endangered Species Act of 1973).
The refuge also fills an important role in the management of mallards,
northern pintails, and tundra swans during migration periods, and is
both a migratory stopover area and breeding site for the Pacific Coast
population of the greater Sandhill crane. It is located along the
Pacific Flyway and has become a particularly important stopover and
wintering ground for migratory birds and waterfowl.
Toppenish NWR
Toppenish NWR was also established ``for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds''
(Migratory Bird Conservation Act; 16 U.S.C. 715d) that is ``suitable
for-- (1) Incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational
development, (2) the protection of natural resources, [and/or] (3) the
conservation of endangered species or threatened species'' (Refuge
Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. 460k-1), ``for the development, advancement,
management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife
resources'' (Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956; 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)(4)), in
order ``to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered
species or threatened species * * * or (B) plants'' (16 U.S.C. 1534;
Endangered Species Act of 1973). Located in arid eastern Washington,
approximately 40 miles north of the Oregon border, most of the refuge's
2,000 acres are nonetheless focused around water. An extensive system
of managed and unmanaged wetlands fills an important role in the
management of mallards, northern pintails, and lesser Canada geese
populations during migration and winter periods. It, too, is located
along the Pacific Flyway and has become a particularly important
stopover and wintering ground for migratory birds and waterfowl.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. We have briefly summarized these issues
below. During public scoping, we may identify additional issues.
Conboy Lake NWR
Land acquisition/exchanges/conservation agreements; water rights;
water management; wet meadow, riparian, and stream habitat management;
short-grass management; upland meadow management; forest management;
plant species management (e.g., invasive and nonnative plants, rare
plants); animal species management (e.g., Oregon spotted frog, sandhill
crane, elk); wildlife-dependent use; effective law enforcement; impacts
of climate change; staffing.
Toppenish NWR
Wildlife and habitat management; water rights; wetland management;
invasive and nonnative species; rare and listed species recovery;
impacts of climate change; contaminants and water quality; wildlife-
dependent issues; effective law enforcement; staffing.
Public Comments
Opportunities for the public to provide further input will be
announced in press releases, planning updates, and on our websites at
http://www.fws.gov/mcriver, http://www.fws.gov/conboylake/management.html, and http://www.fws.gov/toppenish/management.html.
There will be additional opportunities to provide public input
throughout the CCP process.
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 9, 2011.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-17424 Filed 7-12-11; 8:45 am]
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