[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26035-26037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10571]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N047; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Draft 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive
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conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for St.
Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Franklin and Gulf Counties,
Florida, for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we
describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for
the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by June 1, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms.
Laura Housh, via U.S. mail at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, 2700
Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, GA 31537. Alternatively, you may
download the document from our Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Draft Documents.'' Comments on the
Draft CCP/EA may be submitted to the above postal address or by email
to stvincentccp@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laura Housh at 912/496-7366,
extension 244 (telephone); 912/496-3322 (fax); or via email at
stvincentccp@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for St. Vincent NWR.
We started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on
April 8, 2009 (74 FR 16002). For more about the refuge and our CCP
process, please see that notice. St. Vincent NWR was established in
1968, to protect and conserve migratory birds in accordance with the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 (16 U.S.C. 715D).
St. Vincent NWR is situated along the gulf coast of northwest
Florida, about 60 miles from Panama City and 80 miles from Tallahassee.
The approved acquisition boundary for the refuge is approximately
13,736 acres. The current management boundary is approximately 12,490
acres. We oversee 21 Farm Service Agency easements (1,625 acres) in 6
counties. The 12,490-acre refuge boundary includes two islands--St.
Vincent Island (12,358 acres) and Pig Island (46 acres). It also
includes a mainland tract (86 acres).
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, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Significant issues addressed in the Draft CCP/EA include: (1) The
control of invasive exotic species combined with education; (2) the
need for more education, outreach, and awareness of the refuge; (3) the
need to evaluate the appropriate size and staff needed to accomplish
established purposes (i.e., consider biologist and wildlife officer
positions); (4) the need to broaden and strengthen relationships and
partnerships internally and externally; (5) the need to better
understand the potential impacts of climate change on refuge resources;
(6) the need to evaluate accessibility issues; and (7) the need to
acquire additional funding to support refuge needs.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge
(Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative C as our proposed
alternative. A full description of each alternative is in the Draft
CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative below.
Alternative A: Current Management (No Action)
Under this alternative, there would be no action taken to improve
or enhance the refuge's current habitats, or improve wildlife and
public use management programs. Species of Federal responsibility, such
as threatened and endangered species and migratory birds, would
continue to be monitored at present levels. Additional species
monitoring would occur as opportunistic events when contacts outside
our staff offer support. Current habitat management, including
prescribed fire and hydrological restoration, would continue as outside
resources become available to assist our staff. Management of exotic,
invasive, and nuisance animal and plant species would continue to be
opportunistic. The public use programs of hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation would continue at present levels. Acquisition of lands
into the refuge would occur when funding is appropriated and as willing
sellers are interested in selling land that is necessary for refuge
operations and/or critical habitats for sensitive species. The staff
would consist of a manager, office assistant, forestry technician, and
biological science technician, along with supplementary support from
the remainder of the North Florida National Wildlife Refuge Complex
staff, when available, as well as support from volunteers and partners.
Alternative B: Focus on Natural and Primitive Processes
The focus of Alternative B would be to emphasize the natural and
primitive processes, while adhering to policy, mandates, and the
missions of the Service and refuge. We would continue to support
actions necessary to protect and manage for species of Federal
responsibility, such as threatened and endangered species and migratory
birds. Additional key species would be monitored as the refuge
transitions into a more natural and primitive environment.
We would aggressively attempt to restore the hydrology to natural
conditions with the removal of additional roads on St. Vincent Island.
All water control structures, including the impoundment system on St.
Vincent Island, would be opened to allow natural flow of water to and
from the bay and the gulf. Under this alternative, prescribed burning
would be discontinued, to allow natural fire events to occur unless
human life or property is involved. Since the purchase of the refuge,
there has been minimal emphasis on timber conditions, so a forest
habitat assessment would be conducted on refuge lands. The eradication
of exotic species (e.g., feral hogs and sambar deer) would be a key
component of this alternative.
Wildlife-dependent recreational uses would continue, with some
major changes. The hunt program would consist of a quality white-tailed
deer and raccoon hunt (sambar deer and feral hog hunts would be phased
out as eradication of these species occurs). As this alternative
focuses on natural and primitive processes, camping during hunts would
be discontinued and self check-in stations would be installed. Fishing
opportunities would be based on natural processes, since stocking of
freshwater fish would be discontinued.
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Wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and
interpretation would continue to focus on a natural and primitive
process, with a discontinuation of vehicle tours.
We would continue to maintain and build relations with partners,
volunteers, and the friends group as they relate to managing the
resource, supporting the strategic habitat conservation (SHC)
initiative, and the landscape conservation cooperative (LCC). There
would continue to be a need for research and studies on the refuge to
gain a better understanding of the resource and the changes resulting
from environmental and human events.
We would staff the refuge at current levels, plus add an assistant
manager, a wildlife biologist, a maintenance worker, and a wildlife
officer.
Alternative C: Focus on Native and Imperiled Species (Proposed
Alternative)
This alternative expands on Alternative A, with an increased effort
to manage and protect the refuge's native and imperiled species. Under
this alternative, we would continue to survey and monitor species of
Federal responsibility, such as threatened and endangered species and
migratory birds, and key native species. We would also gain a better
understanding of native species. Additional efforts would be made to
protect and support nesting opportunities for key species, as well as
gain a better understanding of population dynamics of some species.
There would be evaluations to determine if it is suitable to
reestablish populations of the eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise,
and eastern wild turkey.
We would continue to manage lakes 1, 2, and 3 by seasonal draw-
downs to support the needs of shorebirds and wading birds. Lakes 4 and
5 would continue to support deep water for a freshwater fisheries
program, with occasional draw-down to manage the vegetation within the
system. Since the purchase of the refuge, there has been minimal
emphasis on timber conditions, so a forest habitat assessment would be
conducted. The management of exotic, invasive, and nuisance animals and
plants would be a focus, with emphasis on aggressively eradicating
feral hogs.
Wildlife-dependent recreational uses would be expanded. The hunt
program would consist of white-tailed deer, raccoon, and sambar deer.
Fishing would consist of saltwater and freshwater opportunities.
Wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education
and interpretation would be enhanced to focus on imperiled species and
the unique barrier island history and ecosystem as they relate to the
coastal environment. We would enhance the environmental education
program to incorporate Florida Sunshine Standards, while establishing
guidelines for public programs. Vehicle tours that meet management
objectives would continue as long as we have sufficient staff to
support the program. The refuge would be staffed at current levels, in
addition to an assistant manager, a wildlife biologist, a maintenance
worker, a wildlife officer, a visitor services specialist, and a boat
operator. Under this alternative, we would hire a wildlife biologist
student through the Student Career Experience Program, continue the
Youth Conservation Corps Program, and explore opportunities to work
with students through the Student Conservation Association and
AmeriCorps programs. Even with the increased staff, we would continue
to expand our volunteer program and build stronger relations with the
friends group and partners to manage our resources, supporting the SHC
initiative and the LCC. As climate change affects the refuge, increased
research and studies would need to be conducted on species and
habitats, to support the best management decisions through adaptive
management.
Next Step
After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them.
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.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).
Dated: March 29, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-10571 Filed 5-1-12; 8:45 am]
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