[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71011-71012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28753]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2012-N114; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Clallam County, WA;
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 and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Dungeness National Wildlife
Refuge (refuge or NWR) for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA
describes our proposal for managing the refuge for the 15 years
following approval of the final CCP. Implementing the CCP is subject to
the availability of funding and any other compliance regulations.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
December 28, 2012.
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.
Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Dungeness NWR draft
CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Project Leader, (360) 457-9778.
U.S. Mail: Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
715 Holgerson Road, Sequim, WA 98382.
Web site: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/wa/docsdungeness.htm.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (360) 457-8451 to make
an appointment (necessary for viewing/pickup only) during regular
business hours at the above address. For more information on locations
for viewing or obtaining documents, see ``Public Availability of
Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Ryan, Project Leader, Washington
Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 715 Holgerson Road, Sequim,
WA 98382; phone (360) 457-8451 and fax (360) 457-9778.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Dungeness NWR in
Clallam County, Washington. We started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register (76 FR 61378; October 4, 2011). For more
information about the history of the refuge, see that notice.
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, 111 Stat.
1254, 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, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 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.
Public Outreach
We began public outreach by publishing a notice of intent in the
Federal Register (76 FR 61378; October 4, 2011) announcing our intent
to complete a CCP and EA for the refuge and inviting public comments.
In October 2011, we distributed Planning Update 1, which included
background information on the refuge; refuge purposes; preliminary
issues, vision, and goals; and a request for public comments. Some
scoping comments we received were about broad or long-range issues,
while others suggested very specific or detailed strategies that could
be used to achieve biological or public use objectives. The comments
were categorized into eight general categories: Threats to refuge
resources; wildlife and habitat management; wildlife-dependent public
use; non-wildlife-dependent public use; law enforcement; cultural
resources; land acquisition; and refuge administration.
We reviewed and evaluated the potential issues, management
concerns, and opportunities that we, our partners, and the public
identified during scoping. We used this information to define the major
issues to be addressed in the CCP/EA. Preliminary draft alternatives
were then developed to address these issues and meet the goals and
objectives of the refuge. In January 2012, we distributed Planning
Update 2, which included a summary of the scoping comments we received,
a summary of our preliminary draft alternatives, notice of public open
house meetings, and information on how and where to comment. On January
19 and February 2, 2012, we held a total of four public open house
meetings in Sequim, Washington, to meet the public, present our
preliminary draft alternatives, and solicit comments. The meetings were
announced through local media outlets, on the refuge's Web site, and in
Planning Update 2. Comments we received have been considered and
evaluated, with many incorporated into the various alternatives
addressed in the draft CCP/EA.
Draft CCP/EA 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 several issues, which the draft CCP addresses. A full
description of each alternative is in the EA. To address these issues,
we developed and evaluated the following alternatives, briefly
summarized below.
Common to All Alternatives
The New Dungeness Light Station, within the approved refuge
boundary, is due to be excessed by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Under
all alternatives, the Service would work with the USCG to bring the
light station property into the NWRS either through interagency
cooperative management agreement or property transfer. Subsequently,
the
[[Page 71012]]
Service proposes to enter into an agreement with the New Dungeness
Light Station Association to continue their management and maintenance
of the light station facilities.
Alternative A: No Action
Under Alternative A, the refuge would continue with current
management, which focuses on protecting and maintaining habitats in
their current condition. Fire suppression techniques would continue to
be used to prevent catastrophic wildfire. Wetland and forested habitats
would continue to be monitored for invasive species, and treated with
Integrated Pest Management techniques as funding allows. The water
delivery system on the Dawley Unit would be maintained to deliver water
to the impoundment. Access on roads within the Dawley Unit would be
maintained. Partnerships would continue to be cultivated for oil spill
response and to address water quality issues within Dungeness Bay and
Harbor. Limited data would be collected on birds, vegetation, invasive
species, and marine debris, with no specific effectiveness monitoring
conducted for habitats or wildlife. Research would continue under
Special Use Permits. Areas that are open for public use year-round,
areas that are open only seasonally depending on the needs of refuge
wildlife, and areas that are closed to visitors year-round for the
benefit of wildlife would remain the same. Public-use activities on the
refuge would include fishing (saltwater), shell-fishing (clams and
crabs), wildlife observation, wildlife photography, hiking, boating (no
wake allowed), jogging, horseback riding, beach use (wading,
beachcombing, other recreational beach uses), environmental education,
and environmental interpretation.
Alternative B: Preferred Alternative
The Service's Preferred Alternative would continue many of the
activities in Alternative A, but would also expand the level of active
habitat management and enhancement that the Service would conduct. A
forest assessment would be conducted within the Dawley Unit and a step-
down forest management plan would be completed by 2018. Active forest
management techniques would be employed within a core 40-acre area to
promote the development of old-growth forest. A road inventory and
condition assessment for the Dawley Unit would be completed by 2016.
The slope along the main road would be stabilized, but the overall
amount of road maintained would decrease and unneeded logging spur
roads outside of the core area would be rehabilitated. A wetland
inventory and hydrological assessment would be conducted by 2015. The
impoundment at the Dawley Unit would be managed for optimum water
levels and benthic layer characteristics for amphibians. In addition to
existing status monitoring and research, data would be collected on a
greater variety of flora and fauna. Environmental factors that are
stressors, climate-change related or otherwise, would be monitored.
Effectiveness monitoring of CCP and other step-down plan objectives
would occur. Public-use changes would include new limits on boat
landing hours. Additional wildlife viewing, interpretive, and
environmental education programs would be offered. Staff and volunteer
time devoted to making visitor contacts would be increased. New
orientation, guidance, and regulatory signage and materials would be
developed. The existing uses of jogging and horseback riding were
evaluated and our draft analysis has found that jogging is not
appropriate due to wildlife disturbance and therefore would no longer
be allowed. We also have preliminarily determined that horseback riding
should no longer be allowed due to safety concerns and user conflicts.
Alternative C
All additional habitat monitoring and management activities
included in Alternative B are also included in this alternative, as are
effectiveness monitoring and research identification, and pursuit of
partnerships to accomplish these activities. However, forest management
within the Dawley Unit would be further expanded to include minimal
management activities (e.g., planting berry-producing shrubs) within an
additional 30-40 acres outside of the core area. Unneeded logging spur
roads within this area would also be rehabilitated. Public use
opportunities and programs under Alternative C are similar to
Alternative B but smaller and more restricted in some cases. Limits on
boat landing hours under Alternative C are the same as under
Alternative B. Wildlife viewing, interpretive, and environmental
education programs would be slightly more frequent under Alternative C
compared to Alternative A but slightly less frequent compared to
Alternative B. Similar to Alternative B, jogging is found to be not
appropriate due to wildlife disturbance and therefore would no longer
be allowed. Horseback riding would not be allowed due to safety
concerns and user conflicts.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents in the following ways: by calling the refuge complex at 360-
457-8451 or visiting our Web site at http:[sol][sol]www.fws.gov/
pacific/planning/main/docs/wa/docsdungeness.htm. Printed copies will be
available for review at the following libraries:
North Olympic Public Library--Sequim Branch, 630 N. Sequim
Ave., Sequim, WA 98382
North Olympic Public Library--Port Angeles Branch, 2210 South
Peabody St., Port Angeles, WA 98362
Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence Street, Port
Townsend, WA 98368
Jefferson County Central Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port
Hadlock, WA 98339
Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment
Public comments are requested, considered, and incorporated
throughout the planning process. Public participation is vital to this
planning effort. Comments on the draft CCP/EA will be analyzed by the
Service and addressed in the final planning documents.
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 6, 2012.
Robyn Thorson
Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28753 Filed 11-27-12; 8:45 am]
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