[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2011)] [Notices] [Pages 77245-77247] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-31808] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-R-2011-N186; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000] Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Austin and Colorado Counties, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an environmental assessment (EA) for Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas, for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA describes our proposal for managing the refuge for the next 15 years. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by January 23, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings 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. Please contact Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager, or Monica Kimbrough, Natural Resource Planner. Email: Monica_Kimbrough@fws.gov. Include ``Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Monica Kimbrough, (505) 248-6803. U.S. Mail: Monica Kimbrough, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor, Room 4019, Albuquerque, NM 87102. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager, Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, CCP--Project, P.O. Box 519, Eagle Lake, TX 77434; phone: (979) 234-3021; fax: (979) 234-3278. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Attwater Prairie Chicken [[Page 77246]] NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 65871; November 5, 2008). The Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, which consists of 10,538 acres located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas, is one of the largest remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in southeast Texas. The Refuge was officially established on July 1, 1972, to preserve and restore coastal prairie habitat for the endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). 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 wildlife- dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for 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. Public Outreach Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (EA) in the Federal Register on November 5, 2008 (73 FR 65871). In December 2008, a letter was sent to individuals at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) formally inviting them to participate in the development of the CCP. We received input from TPWD in January 2009. Information sheets were sent to the public, and news releases were sent to four area newspapers and published in two of the local newspapers (Colorado County Citizen and Eagle Lake Headlight). The news release also aired on KULM Radio in Columbus. Three public open house meetings were held. Despite advertising for these open houses, turnout was poor. Additional written comments were received prior to these open house meetings. The meetings were held at three locations in the area on three separate days between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. A variety of stakeholders contributed feedback at the open house meetings and via written comments; we used the feedback in development of the CCP. 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 multiple 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B--Optimal habitat A--No action management and public use C--Maximal habitat Issue topic alternative (proposed action) management and public alternative use alternative ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Habitat Management Issue 1: Prairie Combination of Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B; Restoration. planting native explore partnership except establish seed grasses, grazing, options to produce native harvest and burning, hydrologic grass seed increase the production on the restoration. number of restoration Refuge; grazing bison acres; expand monitoring only. for grazing and burning effects; remove infrastructure, including two manmade wetland impoundments, restoring a functional level of hydrology. Habitat Management Issue 2: Land/ Acquire acres within Continue to acquire land Same as Alternative B. Property Acquisition. approved acquisition within acquisition boundary; not boundary, proactively seek proactively seeking out land protection out additional land options and diversify protection options. those options. Habitat Management Issue 3: Treatments include a Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B. Invasive Species Control (Flora). combination of conduct one-time chemical, mechanical, systematic chemical and prescribed fire. invasive species control for entire refuge, unit by unit; afterward, treatment is expected to be required every 2-3 years as invasive species are re- established. Wildlife Management Issue 1: Continue to implement Same as Alternative A...... Same as Alternative A. Attwater's Prairie-Chicken Attwater's Prairie- Recovery. Chicken Recovery Plan. Wildlife Management Issue 2: Eliminate feral hogs Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B. Invasive Species Control (Fauna). and nutria based on work with adjacent land sighting and/or owners to control feral documented damage; hog population; remove treat nest sites and brush and other elements conduct research on of hog movement corridors; impacts of red depending on results of imported fire ants on current research of red insect community. imported fire ants, expand treated area to full extent of refuge and work with adjacent landowners to expand treatment off refuge. Wildlife Management Issue 3: Manage three food Same as Alternative A; plus Eliminate wildlife Wildlife Food Plots (Farming plots totaling up to explore additional ways to food plots. Program). 150 acres. provide supplemental food to Attwater's prairie- chicken, including capability to irrigate and addition of food plots when the species' populations expand. Visitor Services Issue 1: Wildlife Provide wildlife Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B. Observation and Wildlife observation and realign auto-tour route; Photography. photography to exclude cattle from public include auto-tour hiking trails; establish a route and two hiking new platform and hiking trails. trail around Horseshoe Lake; remove Pipit Trail; increase guided van tours. [[Page 77247]] Visitor Services Issue 2: Provide environmental Develop an environmental Develop an outdoor Environmental Education. education as education program and classroom through requested and as promote in local school partnerships with staff time permits. districts. local schools, volunteers, and friends group. Visitor Services Issue 3: Host annual Attwater's Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B. Interpretation. Prairie-Chicken add interpretive signage Festival; and kiosk to new auto-tour interpretive signage route and new trail; at headquarters and expand interpretive along auto-tour route. opportunities using recent technologies. Facilities Issue 1: Roads.......... Cooperate with county Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B. maintenance personnel acquire jurisdiction and for refuge entrance maintenance road, and maintain responsibilities of other refuge roads. existing refuge entrance road and widen to two full lanes; bury powerline along entrance road; evaluate and remove services roads where necessary. Facilities Issue 2: Development of Administrative Develop and approve site Same as Alternative B. Administrative Complex. operations conducted plan for new integrated out of three portable administrative complex. structures. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Availability of Documents In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain documents at the following locations:Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Headquarters Office, 1206 APCNWR Road, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/publicinvolvement.html. At the following public libraries: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Library Address Phone No. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eula and David Wintermann 101 North Walnut Ave., (979) 234-5411 Library. Eagle Lake, TX 77434. Nesbitt Memorial Library...... 529 Washington Street, (979) 732-3392 Columbus, TX 78934. Virgil and Josephine Gordon 917 North Circle Dr., (979) 885-7469 Memorial Library. Sealy, TX 77474. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment We consider comments substantive if they: Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the information in the document; Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the environmental assessment (EA); Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented in the EA; and/or Provide new or additional information relevant to the assessment. Next Steps After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant impact. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email 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: November 14, 2011. Joy Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2011-31808 Filed 12-9-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P