[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40895-40897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16901]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N107; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, PR; 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 conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Culebra National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR) in the municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico, 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 August 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms.
Ana Rom[aacute]n, via U.S. mail at P.O. Box 510, Boquer[oacute]n, PR
00622. 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 ana_roman@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ana Rom[aacute]n at 787/851-7258
(telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
Culebra NWR is located within the municipality of Culebra, Puerto
Rico, and consists of several units on the main island of Culebra and
numerous small islands surrounding Culebra. With this notice, we
continue the CCP process for Culebra NWR. We started the process
through a notice in the Federal Register on December 19, 2008 (73 FR
77827). For more about the refuge, please see that notice.
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.
Issues
During the development of the Draft CCP/EA, we identified issues
that we felt were most significant to the refuge and the public. These
issues included: (1) Managing invasive species; (2) protecting and
managing sea turtle nesting beaches; (3) monitoring and managing
seabird colonies; (4) cleaning of contamination and unexploded ordnance
from prior military activities; (5) accessing and utilizing beaches;
(6) developing plans for repair and re-utilization of the old
Observation Post at Punta Flamenco; (7) developing hiking trails; (8)
completing boundary verification; and (9) developing renewable energy
projects.
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, we would continue with periodic efforts to
survey and manage for seabird populations. In cooperation with
partners, we would also continue surveys and protection of nesting
hawksbill, green, and leatherback sea turtles and their nests/eggs.
There would, however, be no active program for resident and migratory
birds.
We would continue to protect habitat and conduct periodic surveys
for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican boas and giant anoles. For
listed plants, we would continue to protect and monitor existing
populations of Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus. We
would also protect land and
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resources on offshore cays and conduct limited invasive species
removal.
Culebra NWR would maintain its existing boundaries with no further
acquisition. We would continue to work informally with the Puerto Rico
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and other
partners, and restore the law enforcement officer position to protect
refuge resources.
The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is
open to the public during daylight hours only. Currently closed areas,
such as the Observation Post, would remain closed to the public. Access
to open areas by water taxis under special use permits would continue.
We would continue to provide for opportunistic wildlife observation and
photography. Existing signage and interpretive materials would be
maintained. We would continue to operate the refuge without a visitor
center or friends group. Cooperation with agencies, the municipality,
education institutions, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers
assisting with refuge management would continue.
Alternative B: Wildlife Management Emphasis
Under this alternative, we would conduct expanded seasonal surveys
to determine seabird abundance, and provide for research on nesting
success and nesting habitat quality. We would also manipulate
vegetation to improve seabird nesting habitat, and implement control of
invasive predators that prey on seabirds.
In cooperation with partners, we would also continue surveys and
protection of sea turtles and their nests/eggs. To benefit resident and
migratory birds, annual surveys would be developed and implemented at
selected locations throughout the refuge. We would also implement
habitat management strategies to benefit target species of birds and
cooperate with Puerto Rico DNER to conduct regular surveys and manage
habitat for listed animal species. This alternative provides for the
establishment of additional populations of two species of listed
plants--Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus.
Alternative B would provide for the restoration of hydrology to
specified areas of degraded mangrove habitat, as well as restoration of
dry forest through selective invasive species removal and planting of
propagated trees. This alternative would intensify efforts at invasive
species control and eradication, and pursue opportunities for habitat
restoration on offshore cays.
Under this alternative, we would clearly delineate all refuge
boundaries and pursue opportunities for boundary expansion with
acquisitions from willing sellers. Partnerships with Puerto Rico DNER
and others would be strengthened and formalized, and we would restore
the law enforcement officer position to protect refuge resources.
The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is
open to the public during daylight hours only. The Observation Post and
other currently closed areas would remain closed. Access to offshore
cays would continue by water taxis under special use permits.
Opportunistic wildlife observation and photography on open areas would
continue. We would continue to operate the refuge without a visitor
center.
In addition to the staff provided under Alternative A, we would add
a full-time biologist position and one full-time and one half-time
biological technician position. Under Alternative B, we would continue
coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers to remove hazardous
materials and unexploded ordnance from the refuge.
We would also facilitate the formation of a friends group with 5
years of approval of the comprehensive conservation plan, and increase
cooperation with partners focused on wildlife management by
establishing formal agreements where appropriate.
Alternative C: Expansion of Wildlife and Habitat Management, With
Increased Public Use Opportunities (Proposed Alternative)
This alternative expands both wildlife and habitat management and
public use activities.
To recover special status plants and animal species, Alternative C
is virtually identical to Alternative B. It provides for expanded
seasonal surveys to determine seabird abundance, research on nesting
success, nesting habitat quality, manipulation of vegetation to improve
nesting habitat, and control of invasive predators.
We would also continue surveys and protection of sea turtles and
develop and implement annual surveys for resident and migratory birds,
and establish additional populations of two species of listed plants--
Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus.
This alternative also calls for restoring hydrology to areas of
degraded mangrove habitat, and restoring dry forest through selective
invasive species removal and planting of propagated trees. We would
also intensify efforts at invasive species control and eradication and
pursue habitat restoration on offshore cays.
Within 5 years of approval of the comprehensive conservation plan,
we would clearly delineate all refuge boundaries, pursue opportunities
for boundary expansion with acquisitions from willing sellers, and work
to resolve boundary issues. We would also complete and begin to
implement a cultural resources management plan for the refuge.
The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is
open to the public during daylight hours only. Working with the Army
Corps of Engineers to determine safety of areas cleared of unexploded
ordnance, we would evaluate the potential for opening additional areas
to the public, considering both safety and biological factors. We would
continue to permit water taxis under special use permit for access to
cays. We would also develop partnerships to restore and reopen the
Observation Post for environmental research and/or education purposes.
We would continue to provide for opportunistic wildlife observation
and photography opportunities. We would develop additional public use
facilities, such as trails, towers, boardwalks, and blind, to increase
opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. We would also
develop environmental education and interpretation programs and
materials (e.g., curriculum, teacher training) to be used both on and
off the refuge.
In addition to current staff, we would add one public use
specialist position, one biologist position, one and one-half
biological technician positions, and one maintenance worker position.
This alternative provides for the maintenance of all current
equipment and facilities, including two boats and the office and
residence buildings. It also provides for the development and
maintenance of additional trails, towers, boardwalks, blinds, and the
construction of a new headquarters/visitor contact station.
We would also facilitate the formation of a friends group, increase
cooperation with partners in habitat and wildlife management and public
use, and establish formal agreements.
Contingent upon adding a public use specialist, within 5 years of
CCP approval, we would develop and begin to implement a communications
plan.
Next Step
After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them.
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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: June 11, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-16901 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
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