[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 47657-47660] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-19497] [[Page 47657]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-R-2012-N130; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000] Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, OK; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, WMWR), located approximately 25 miles northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma, 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 September 10, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local news media. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more information on the Draft CCP/EA by any one of the methods listed below. You may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please contact Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, or Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner. Email: Roxanne_Turley@fws.gov. Include ``Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Roxanne Turley, 505-248-6803. U.S. Mail: Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. 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 4342, Albuquerque, NM 87102. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, CCP Project, 32 Refuge Headquarters, Indiahoma, OK 73552; phone: (580) 429-3222; fax: (580) 429-9323. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 65872; November 5, 2008). The Refuge encompasses 59,020 acres of mixed-grass prairie and crosstimbers habitats, with granite rock outcroppings. The Refuge, which is a remnant of what was once a much larger natural area, consists of lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, woodlands, and grasslands, creating an oasis for both wildlife and people in southwestern Oklahoma. The land was originally established as a Forest Reserve by President William McKinley in 1901. By proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt, dated June 2, 1905, and based on a special act of Congress approved January 24, 1905, the land was further designated as a National Game Preserve ``for the protection of game animals and birds and shall be recognized as a breeding place thereof.'' The land was administered by the U.S. Forest Service until 1936, when it was transferred to the Bureau of Biological Survey, one of the predecessor agencies of the present day U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Shortly thereafter, the area was renamed the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for administration under the National Wildlife Refuge System. 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, as necessary, 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 65872). The Refuge solicited comments on issues and concerns to aid in CCP development through four open house meetings held in January and February 2009. An ecoregion-wide coordination meeting was held at the Refuge Environmental Education Center on December 2, 2009, to gain a better understanding of the issues within the Central Mixed-Grass Prairie ecoregion, where the Refuge is located, and to determine the Refuge's role in addressing issues impacting fish, wildlife, and their habitats within the larger landscape. In February 2010, Refuge staff met with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to identify their concerns to address in the CCP. Also at that time a letter was sent to local tribes to inform them of the planning process and provide information on how to be involved. One tribal meeting was scheduled as a result. In addition to the scoping meetings, the Refuge held an open house at the Refuge Visitor Center on January 25, 2011. The purpose of this open house was to introduce the new Refuge Manager and to give the public an opportunity to discuss various Refuge projects and programs, including the planning process. The feedback received at the conclusion of the public involvement period identified numerous concerns from a variety of stakeholders. These concerns were organized by five broad issue categories and one administrative category: Ecoregion, Habitat, Wildlife, Public Use, Facilities, and Administrative Areas. CCP Alternatives We Are Considering During the public scoping process multiple issues were raised by us, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public. 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. [[Page 47658]] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative B--proposed Issue topic Alternative A--no action action Alternative C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue 1: Ecoregion............... Improve efficiency of Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. Refuge fleet and plus: facilities. Identify alternative Minimize or mitigate energy and water emissions, smoke, and sources.. dust and maintain Class Increase dust abatement 1 Airshed. efforts.. Maintain current Refuge Explore Refuge expansion boundary.. opportunities (such as Monitor and provide through land public outreach on water acquisition, quality and mercury conservation easements, contamination. or cooperative Protect riparian areas agreements).. through the construction Expand monitoring of and/or maintenance of mercury.. low water crossings or Pursue park-and-ride bridges. commuting or tours and other means to reduce traffic.. Issue 2: Habitat Management...... Maintain Special Use Area Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B, (SUA) and continue plus: with the exception of prohibition on Designate and manage the the SUA, which would be unrestricted public SUA as a Research managed as in access and use. Natural Area (RNA). Alternative A, but with Manage lakes at full Continue public use and allowance of more capacity. Conduct access as in general, although occasional draw-downs to Alternative A with the controlled, public control invasive incorporation of access and use. species, manage adaptive management if/ fisheries, and improve when resources are at fishing opportunities. risk.. Permit grazing on five Construct a fish passage small allotments on on West Cache Creek to Refuge property located improve fish crossings.. outside of the Refuge Phase out and boundary fence. discontinue grazing permits when fences are moved to the true Refuge boundaries.. Issue 3: Wildlife Management..... Manage native fauna (elk, Manage populations at Manage native fauna the deer, and bison) at or levels targeted to same as Alternative B, near carrying capacity. allow for habitat plus evaluate the Hold public auctions variability. feasibility of (bison) and hunts (elk Evaluate increasing the pronghorn antelope and and deer) to manage bison herd. Evaluate wolf reintroductions. population levels. decreasing longhorn Manage non-native fauna Manage black-capped herd size, or move the the same as Alternative vireo according to herd to alternate A, except increase the recovery plan. location.. longhorn herd size. Manage non-native fauna Hold public auctions (longhorn) at carrying (bison and longhorn) capacity. Hold public and hunts (elk and auctions to manage deer) to manage longhorn population population levels.. levels.. Monitor long-term trends Monitor for zebra mussels in vegetation and in Refuge lakes. Manage animal health and feral hogs according to adaptively manage all the Integrated Pest native wildlife.. Management (IPM) Plan.. Promote expansion of black-capped vireo habitat on adjacent lands.. Consider more aggressive and proactive measures to avoid zebra mussel introduction. Manage feral hogs according to the IPM Plan.. [[Page 47659]] Issue 4: Public Use.............. Administer hunts to Same as Alternative A, Review and revise achieve population plus: administration of management objectives Improve fishing hunts. Consider turkey for white-tailed deer opportunities through and feral hog hunts. and elk. signage, facilities, Manage fishing as in Allow fishing at 12 lakes and hardened boat Alternative B, with the in the Public Use Area. ramps. Add youth exception of evaluating Stock resident fish fishing day clinic. Add the need for additional species periodically. fishing piers at Quanah fishing piers based on Provide wildlife viewing Parker, Jed Johnson, fishing pressure. and photography and Crater Lakes.. Allow bicycling as in opportunities. Improve wildlife Alternative B, plus re- Provide interpretive observation open the Burma Road to talks, nature walks, and opportunities by bicycling. exhibits. Offer upgrading existing Manage hiking as in interpretive tours in facilities and Alternative B, plus the SUA through the constructing two new develop additional Friends of the Wichitas. viewing blinds. Develop hiking opportunities in Conduct only a small and designate a the high density use amount of interpretation wildlife observation zone. in the Wilderness Area. loop using existing Manage rocksports as in Hold Environmental roads and trails. Offer Alternative A, except Education (EE) classes evening and weekend that technical (gear on- and off-Refuge. photography workshops.. assisted) rock climbing Partner with Friends Update exhibits at the would be eliminated. group to provide Visitor Center. transportation Construct an assistance for students. interpretive nature Conduct only a small trail loop around the amount of EE in the Visitor Center. Expand Wilderness Area. public interpretive Allow bicycling on paved workshops. Maintain roads and on the Mt. interpretive tours Scott access road. Pave provided by the Friends highway shoulders along of the Wichitas but the section of State move them from the Highways 115 and 49 that Special Use Area to the extend from the Medicine Public Use Area if Park gate west and south necessary to protect to the Cache gate. wildlife and habitat.. Allow boating on five Work to develop EE lakes. Provide paved and Center as a training unhardened boat ramps, facility. Link EE interpretive signs, and programs to the other facilities. Oklahoma State Provide and maintain Curriculum. Increase developed camping emphasis on EE from 6 opportunities at Doris to 10 percent of annual and Fawn Creek school contacts.. Campgrounds. Allow Create/designate hiking designated area and bike routes and backcountry camping connect existing through a permit. routes. Increase Allow hiking throughout quality (linking) of the Public Use and routes to/from Lake Wilderness Areas. Elmer Thomas Recreation Maintain nine trails Area (LETRA), Cache, totaling about 17 miles Medicine Park, Meers, in the Public Use Area and Lawton via and in the Wilderness partnerships. Consider Area on two designated a bicycle-share pilot trails totaling about program.. three miles. Improve boating Provide and maintain four opportunities through picnicking areas. increased interpretive Allow rock climbing, signage or educational rappelling, and kiosks, increased bouldering throughout visitor contacts, and the Public Use Area. increased law Maintain partnership and enforcement contacts.. collaborative fixed Increase camping and anchor evaluation picnicking process with Wichita opportunities by Mountains Climbing working with partners Coalition (WMCC). to meet the demand in Implement all anchor areas adjacent to the replacements or Refuge, including modifications by hand in pedestrian and bicycle the Wilderness Area. connections. Increase Allow special uses utilization of less including monitoring and visited picnic areas in research; economic or the medium density use commercial special uses area.. including rocksports Increase and improve instruction, auctions, accessible hiking and guided interpretive opportunities.. tours; non-commercial Permit replacement of special uses including fixed anchors for cultural (e.g. tribal) rocksports but limit and religious events placement of new (e.g. Holy City) and anchors.. public events. Conduct special use Protect sensitive areas activities under a or wildlife through Special Use Permit temporary access (SUP).. restrictions if Monitor visitation by necessary. requiring participants Allow use without group to register on site at size restrictions.. trailheads. Manage areas to fit high, medium, and low density use zones. In the low density zone groups would not exceed 15 without a SUP. In the medium density zone groups of up to 30 are allowed. In the high density zone, groups of more than 30 are allowed. Improvements would be focused in the higher density zones.. Issue 5: Facilities.............. Maintain Visitor Center, Same as Alternative A, Manage administrative EE Center, headquarters plus: facilities the same as building and quarters, Remodel Visitor Center Alternative B, plus roads, trails, and EE buildings. install emergency campgrounds, picnic Install two wildlife phones along roadways. areas, fishing piers, observation blinds at Manage public use boat ramps, dams, the Visitor Center and facilities the same as fences, corrals, etc. the EE Center. Increase Alternative A, plus trash collection remodel headquarters infrastructure, place building and enlarge additional kiosks, and corrals. improve wayfinding signage.. Replace headquarters building, enlarge corrals, and move fence to true Refuge boundary.. Issue 6: Administrative Areas.... Manage Holy City Same as Alternative A, Remove Holy City according to a 5-year plus: facilities and SUP to allow for Monitor use of Holy City structures. management and and effects to Refuge Relocate the Job Corps administration of events. resources. Adapt center off-Refuge. Manage Treasure Lake Job management of Corps according to a MOA activities if resources and easement with the are being adversely U.S. Department of Labor affected.. and U.S. Department of Consider partnership Agriculture Forest opportunities with Job Service. Administer site Corps participants to jointly as an include increased EE educational and and Refuge-specific vocational training projects.. site.. [[Page 47660]] Issue 7: Cultural Resources...... Protect known Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B, archaeological sites. plus: plus: Protect and maintain Update the 1964-1965 Identify sites in the designated sites or archaeological survey Public Use Area at a those sites eligible for by completing greater risk of designation to preserve systematic surveys disturbance. Nominate historic character. Refuge-wide. Increase additional historic monitoring of known sites for designation. sites.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Availability of Documents In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain documents at the following locations:Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Office, 32 Refuge Headquarters, Indiahoma, OK 73552 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/planindex.html. At the following public libraries: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Library Address Phone number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lawton Public Library.................... 110 SW 4th Street, Lawton, OK 580-581-3450 73501. Cameron University Library............... 2800 West Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 580-581-2957 73505. Southern Prairie Library System.......... 421 N. Hudson Street, Altus, OK 580-477-2890 73521. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: August 3, 2012. Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012-19497 Filed 8-8-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P