[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16634-16636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6907]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2010-N272; 81683-1265-0000-S3]
Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, Orange County, CA; Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan/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
environmental assessment (EA) for the Seal Beach National Wildlife
Refuge for public review and comment. The CCP/EA, 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 Refuge for the next 15 years.
Two step-down plans (an Integrated Pest Management Program and a
Mosquito Management Plan), as well as draft compatibility
determinations for several existing and proposed public uses, are also
available for review and public comment.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by May 9, 2011.
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ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
E-mail: Victoria_Touchstone@fws.gov. Include ``Seal Beach CCP'' in
the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Victoria Touchstone, Refuge Planner, (760) 930-0256.
U.S. Mail: Victoria Touchstone, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San
Diego NWR Complex, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA
92011.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Touchstone, Refuge Planner,
at (760) 431-9440, extension 349, or Victoria_Touchstone@fws.gov; or
Kirk Gilligan, Refuge Manager, at (562) 598-1024. Further information
may also be found at http://www.fws.gov/sandiegorefuges/ (click on Seal
Beach NWR CCP link in the refuge planning box at the upper left hand
corner of the Web page).
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 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 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.
We initiated the CCP/EA for the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge
in April 2007. At that time and throughout the process, we requested,
considered, and incorporated public scoping comments in numerous ways.
Our public outreach has included a Federal Register notice of intent
published on April 16, 2007 (72 FR 190160), two scoping meetings, two
planning updates, and a CCP Web page (http://www.fws.gov/sandiegorefuges; click on Seal Beach NWR CCP link). We received two
scoping comments during the 30-day public comment period.
Background
Legislation authorizing the establishment of the Seal Beach NWR was
signed by President Richard M. Nixon on August 29, 1972. The Refuge
boundaries, which are located entirely within Naval Weapons Station
Seal Beach, were determined by the Secretary of the Interior with the
advice and consent of the Secretary of the Navy. In accordance with the
authorizing legislation, the Refuge is to be managed pursuant to the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended,
and pursuant to plans which are mutually acceptable to the Secretary of
the Interior and the Secretary of the Navy. The Refuge was officially
established on July 11, 1974, following approval of a general
management plan for the Refuge by the Service and the Navy. Refuge
purposes include preservation and management of habitat for endangered
species (i.e., light-footed clapper rail and California least tern) and
preservation of habitat to support migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and
other water birds.
The Refuge, which encompasses approximately 965 acres, includes one
of the largest remaining salt marshes along the southern California
coast. This coastal wetland supports three Federally listed species,
including the endangered light-footed clapper rail, California least
tern, and eastern Pacific green sea turtle. The State-listed endangered
Belding's savannah sparrow, along with the light-footed clapper rail
and California least tern, nest and raise their young within the
boundaries of the Refuge. The security needs for Naval Weapons Station
Seal Beach require that all public access onto the Refuge be limited to
supervised visits, such as monthly public tours and other prescheduled
group tours or events.
Alternatives
The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for
managing the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge over the next 15
years. The alternative that appears to best meet the Refuge purposes is
identified as the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative has
been 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, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals.
Under Alternative A, the no-action alternative, we would continue
to manage the Refuge as we have in the recent past. No changes in
wildlife and habitat management or public use would occur.
With Alternative B, current wildlife and habitat management
activities would be expanded to include evaluation of current Refuge
baseline data for fish, wildlife, and plants; identification of data
gaps; implementation of species surveys to address data gaps as staff
time and funding allow; restoration of native habitat; and support for
new research projects that would benefit Refuge resources and Refuge
management. Habitat restoration would focus on increasing salt marsh
and intertidal mudflat habitat, with some restoration of wetland/upland
transition habitat also proposed. Pest control would be implemented in
accordance with an Integrated Pest Management Program, and mosquito
monitoring and control would be guided by a Mosquito Management Plan.
No changes to the current public-use program would occur.
Alternative C, the preferred alternative, includes the majority of
the management activities proposed in Alternative B. The primary
differences between the two alternatives include a different focus on
habitat restoration and expansion of the opportunities available for
wildlife observation on the Refuge. Under Alternative C, the focus of
the restoration effort would be on upland and wetland/upland transition
habitat, with fewer acres restored to intertidal habitat.
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 planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/sandiegorefuges
(click on the Seal Beach NWR CCP link).
Review and Comment
Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to Victoria
Touchstone (see ADDRESSES). Printed copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be
viewed at the same address or at the Seal Beach/Mary Wilson Library,
707 Electric Avenue, Seal Beach, CA 90740. The Draft CCP/EA has also
been made available for review at http://www.fws.gov/sandiegorefuges
(click on the Seal Beach NWR CCP link). Comments on the Draft CCP/EA
should be addressed to Victoria Touchstone (see ADDRESSES).
At the end of the review and comment period for this Draft CCP/EA,
comments will be analyzed by the Service and addressed in the Final
CCP. Before including your address, phone number,
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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 16, 2011.
Ren Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2011-6907 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P