[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37702-37704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15330]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-ES-2012-N051; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Caribou and Bonneville
Counties, ID; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact
Statement
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) for Grays Lake National
Wildlife Refuge (refuge, NWR). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
evaluating effects of various CCP alternatives will also be prepared.
We provide this notice in compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act and 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
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planning process. We are also requesting public comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by August 21, 2012. We will announce opportunities for public input in
local news media throughout the CCP planning process; see Public
Participation under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods:
Email: william_smith@fws.gov. Include ``Grays Lake CCP EA'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: William Smith, 208-574-2756.
U.S. Mail: Grays Lake NWR, 74 Grays Lake Road, Wayan, ID 83285.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular business
hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Smith, 208-574-2755.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Grays Lake NWR in Caribou and Bonneville Counties, ID. This notice
complies with the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (NEPA)
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and our CCP policy to (1) advise other
Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to
conduct detailed conservation planning for this refuge, 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 (NWRS), 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 NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use
these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for each refuge to contribute to the
NWRS 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
the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of NWRS. Our CCP
process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, State, and
local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. At this
time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of Grays Lake NWR.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project and
develop an EIS in accordance with the requirements of NEPA; 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.
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Grays Lake NWR was established in 1965 and is located in Caribou
and Bonneveille Counties, near the community of Wayan, in southeast
Idaho. Grays Lake lies within a high mountain valley at approximately
6,400 feet in elevation and at the base of Caribou Mountain. The refuge
boundary encompasses approximately 32,800 acres. The area immediately
surrounding the refuge is dominated by agricultural uses, principally
summer livestock and haying operations.
The refuge purposes are ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for
any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' 16 U.S.C. 715d
(Migratory Bird Conservation Act) ``* * * suitable for--(1) Incidental
fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, (2) the protection
of natural resources, (3) the conservation of endangered species or
threatened species * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 460k-1 ``* * * the Secretary * * *
may accept and use * * * real * * * property. Such acceptance may be
accomplished under the terms and conditions of restrictive covenants
imposed by donors * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 460k-2 (Refuge Recreation Act (16
U.S.C. 460k-460k-4), as amended). ``* * * for the development,
advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and
wildlife resources * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)(4) ``* * * for the benefit
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its
activities and services. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of
any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude ''
16 U.S.C. 742f(b)(1) (Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956).
The refuge is composed of a 21,000-acre hardstem bulrush marsh and
7,000 acres of sedge and rush wet meadows. The remaining habitats are
comprised of upland sagebrush, dry grass meadows, willow, and aspen.
There are approximately 200 species of wildlife which utilize the
refuge during various periods of the year. Approximately 80 species of
migratory birds nest at Grays Lake, including the largest breeding
concentration of greater sandhill cranes in North America.
Throughout the marsh are a series of canals and drainage ditches,
which were constructed to facilitate the withdrawal of water from Grays
Lake for the Fort Hall Irrigation Project. This alteration of Grays
Lake's natural water levels has gradually changed the extent and
composition of the marsh's habitats. Consequently, the marsh is less
productive for wildlife than it was in earlier times.
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.
At Grays Lake NWR, the Service will evaluate the following:
(1) Water management structures, methods, and schedules to improve
refuge wildlife habitats and values, while assuring Tribal water rights
are preserved in perpetuity;
(2) How the Service can protect and improve the quantity and
quality of water for fish and wildlife resources;
(3) Means required to minimize disturbance within the refuge to
nesting and migrating waterbirds and wildlife;
(4) How the refuge can meet increasing demands for recreational
opportunities and provide quality visitor services programs in
consideration of wildlife disturbance issues;
(5) The best means to attain productive deep marsh habitats for
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refuge wildlife which match or mimic the natural and historic
vegetative composition and open water interspersion of the Grays Lake
basin;
(6) What can be done to prevent the introduction and dispersal of
invasive plants and animals and facilitate their removal from the
refuge;
(7) The refuge's role in supporting native fish and riparian
habitat restoration;
(8) The restoration of native sagebrush habitats to support the
long-term viability of native wildlife populations;
(9) The means to minimize sandhill crane conflicts with small grain
farms;
(10) The most appropriate management techniques for the refuge's
wet meadow and upland habitats to maximize habitat values for key
wildlife species (e.g., sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, Canada geese)
while assuring other native wildlife cover and forage requirements are
also satisfied;
(11) How to best address high nest predation rates on the refuge;
(12) How the refuge can best contribute to the conservation of
rural character and open space in the Grays Lake basin;
(13) How the refuge can adaptively manage in response to predicted
and unpredicted challenges of climate change; and
(14) How the refuge can most appropriately assess the efficacy of
management actions at the appropriate spatial and temporal scale.
Public Participation
We will involve the public through open houses, informational and
technical meetings, and written comments. We will release mailings,
news releases, and announcements to provide information about
opportunities for public participation in the planning process.
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: May 10, 2012.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2012-15330 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am]
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