[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]
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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.
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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.
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B--Optimal habitat
A--No action management and public use C--Maximal habitat
Issue topic alternative (proposed action) management and public
alternative use alternative
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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.
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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:
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Library Address Phone No.
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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.
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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