[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65011-65015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26083]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2012-N019: FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000]
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Randall County, TX;
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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an
environmental assessment (EA) for the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife
Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located approximately 30 miles southwest of
Amarillo, Texas, for public review and comment. The
[[Page 65012]]
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
November 23, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local
news media.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more
information by any of the following methods. You may request hard
copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please contact Lynn Nymeyer,
Refuge Manager, or Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner.
Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include ``Buffalo Lake NWR draft CCP
and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Joseph Lujan, 505-248-6803.
U.S. Mail: Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306,
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: 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 4305. Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Nymeyer, Refuge Manager, Buffalo
Lake NWR, CCP--Project, P. O. Box 179, Umbarger, TX 79091; phone: 806-
499-3382; fax: 806-499-3254.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Buffalo Lake
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
(63 FR 33693; June 19, 1998).
The Buffalo Lake NWR, which consists of over 7,677 acres, is
located approximately 30 miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas. The
primary purpose of the refuge is to protect wintering waterfowl and
short-grass prairie habitat. The refuge was officially established on
November 17, 1959, and continues to provide critical habitat for
migratory waterfowl and grassland bird species.
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 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 June 19, 1998 (63 FR 33693). Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was formally invited to
participate in the development of the CCP. We received input from TPWD
on September 16, 2004, and have continued to involve them throughout
the planning process. Information sheets were sent to the public, and
news releases were sent to a variety of media outlets. A public open
house meeting was held December 15, 2009, at the refuge. Additional
written comments were received prior to these open house meetings. A
variety of stakeholders contributed feedback at the open house meetings
and via written comments; we used the feedback in development of the
CCP.
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process with which we started work on
this draft CCP, we, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the
public, raised multiple issues. 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.
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C--Optimal habitat
A--No-action B--Improved habitat management and public
Alternatives alternative (current management and public use (proposed action)
practices) use alternative alternative
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Habitat Management
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Climate Change....................... No current management Establish a baseline Same as Alternative B.
direction. dataset for refuge
resources. From this
dataset, a decision-
based research and
monitoring program
will be developed to
track any potential
impacts climate change
may have on the refuge.
Habitat Fragmentation................ Limit the amounts and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
types of all new plus the development
infrastructures such of a Land Protection
as roads and trails on Plan of an additional
the refuge. 20,000 acres would
guide land acquisition
for the refuge and
further conservation
efforts in the area
and reduce human
encroachment on the
refuge.
[[Page 65013]]
Wind Energy Research................. Conduct a diurnal avian Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
activity survey and plus actively track
acoustic monitoring in wind energy
order to track any development projects
changes in habitat and in and around Randal
wildlife. County to assist the
refuge in anticipating
potential changes in
habitat and wildlife.
Prairie Management and Restoration... Use grazing and Same as Alternative A, Cease using grassland
prescribed fire to plus supplement leasing for livestock
promote and maintain current management grazing and permit
prairie habitat. with reseeding parts native fauna species,
of the refuge with whose populations
native short grasses. would be permitted to
increase under this
alternative, to graze
freely without
competition on the
refuge. The 7-year
prescribed fire
program as described
in Alternative A would
continue.
Invasive Flora Species............... Remove invasive flora Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
through chemical means. plus the refuge would
utilize additional
chemical treatment on
invasive flora species
through the use of
aircraft application,
followed by the
mechanical removal of
aboveground systems.
Moist Soil Management................ Maintain 40-acre Moist Same as Alternative A, Developed sufficient
Soil Unit. plus the addition of moist soil units to
three 40-acre moist maintain the level
soil units and the available to wildlife
related pumping prior to the Ogallala
infrastructure. The Aquifer receding due
water source, like the to human activity and
current moist soil use.
units, will be a well
from the Santa Rosa
Aquifer with filters
to insure no Ogallala
water is used.
Lakebed Management................... Cooperatively farm 581 Reduce all farming Remove all farming
acres of the dry activities to activity from the
lakebed. approximately half of refuge and convert
current management; farming lands to
this would limit native vegetation.
farming activities to
no more than 300
acres. Additionally,
previously farmed
lands would be
converted back to
natural vegetation.
Water Quality........................ Continue to utilize the Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative A.
current water plus the installation
retention structure at of bio-filters and
Umbarger Dam. necessary groundwater
pump infrastructure in
order to remove coli
forms from surface and
ground water flowing
from adjacent and
nearby cattle
operations. This
infrastructure would
be located on the
Refuge.
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Wildlife Management
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Native Fauna......................... Maintain current levels Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A.
of prairie dogs, mule
deer and white tailed
deer.
Invasive Fauna....................... Manage invasive fauna Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A.
throughout the refuge.
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Visitor Services Issues
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Hunting.............................. There is currently no Introduce hunting to Same as Alternative B.
hunting permitted on the refuge to assist
the refuge and a hunt in controlling
plan has not been invasive fauna species
developed. as well as control the
populations of native
fauna species.
Fishing.............................. Currently, no fishing Construct a 6+/-acre Same as Alternative B.
in the refuge. public fishing pond
near existing viewing
blind by the lake bed
and Stewart Marsh.
[[Page 65014]]
Wildlife Observation and Photography. Maintain hiking trails Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
and the auto-tour plus the installation
route, observation of six additional
decks, viewing blinds, blinds, near moist
and scenic overlooks. soil units, prairie
The refuge maintains dog town, and Unit 12
two viewing blinds, (for deer).
one at Stewart Marsh
and another
overlooking the
prairie dog town.
Environmental Education and The refuge hosts and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
Interpretation. annual education day plus increase the
for school children number of education
from surrounding days (as requested) to
communities. Refuge a maximum of one per
staff maintains an month. The refuge
environmental would also develop and
education area for construct 20
education/ interpretive panels.
interpretation Expansion of existing
programs; both the auto tour route would
education area and the open areas of the
staff are available refuge that are closed
upon request to to the public due to
provide environmental safety concerns.
education and
interpretation
presentations.
Maintain
interpretation on the
auto-tour route and
self-guided hiking
trails.
Camping.............................. The refuge currently Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A.
permits primitive
camping in a
designated 25-site
campground that has
picnic tables and
restroom facilities.
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Facilities
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Administrative Facilities............ Maintain headquarters Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
and Visitors Center. plus develop an plus increase
Administrative Complex infrastructure to
to include provide the refuge
headquarters, Visitors with sufficient water
Center, biological sources to mimic the
lab, and maintenance amount as historically
and storage facility. provided by the
natural spring. This
would provide the same
habitat that was
available to wildlife
prior to the Ogallala
Aquifer receding due
to human activity and
use.
Public Use Facilities................ Limited public use Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
facilities include plus expand
photo blinds, four construction and
parking lots, six maintenance of two
vault toilets. additional hiking
trails, one near the
Prairie Dog town and
the other through
grassland prairie
habitat near the
campground. The refuge
would also replace and/
or rehabilitate the
existing chemical
toilet facilities
adjacent to the
campground with
facilities that can
remain open year round.
Quality and Safety of Refuge Roadways Maintain current road Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
infrastructure. plus the
rehabilitation of the
entrance road from
Farm to Market 168 to
headquarters with a
two lane paved road
with adequate
shoulders. Resurfacing
of the remaining
refuge roads with new
caliche.
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Public Availability of Documents
In addition to using any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or
obtain documents at the following locations:
Buffalo Lake NWR Headquarters Office, Umbarger, TX 79091,
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/publicinvolvement.html.
The following public libraries:
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Library Address Phone No.
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Deaf Smith County Library...... 211 East 4th Street, 806-364-1206
Herford, TX 79045.
Canyon Public Library.......... 1501 3rd Avenue, 806-655-5015
Canyon, TX 79015.
Amarillo Southwest Library..... 6801 Southwest 45th 806-359-2094
Ave, Amarillo, TX
79109.
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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: September 13, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-26083 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
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