[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16058-16059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6532]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2011-N180; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific County, WA; Record of
Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge final
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and record of decision (ROD). We
completed a thorough analysis of the environmental, social, and
economic considerations and presented it in our Final CCP and
environmental impact statement (EIS), which we released to the public
on August 12, 2011. The ROD documents our decision to implement
Alternative 2, as it is described in the Final CCP/EIS.
DATES: The Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, signed the ROD on September 29, 2011. We plan to begin
implementation of the CCP immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or request a copy of the CCP/ROD by the
following methods:
Agency Web Site: Download the document at: http://www.fws.gov/willapa/CCP/.
Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Willapa NWR CCP/ROD''
in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA
98624.
In person viewing: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888
SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624.
Local Libraries: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader,
(360) 484-3482 (phone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Refuge. We
started this process through a notice of intent in the Federal Register
on April 9, 2008 (73 FR 19238). We announced the availability of our
draft and final documents in the Federal Register as well. Our Draft
CCP/EIS was released on January 21, 2011 (76 FR 3922), and our Final
CCP/EIS was released on August 12, 2011 (76 FR 50247).
The Refuge was established in 1937 to protect migrating and
wintering populations of brant, waterfowl, shorebirds, and other
migratory birds, and for conservation purposes. It encompasses over
16,000 acres of tidelands, temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, sand
dunes, rivers, and small streams. Remnants of old growth coastal cedar
forest and habitats for spawning wild salmon, migrating shorebirds, and
threatened and endangered species, such as the western snowy plover and
marbled murrelet, are preserved on the Refuge.
We evaluated three alternatives for managing the Refuge's resources
in the Final CCP/EIS, identified Alternative 2 as our preferred
alternative, and completed a thorough analysis of environmental,
social, and economic considerations. The ROD documents our selection of
Alternative 2 for implementation. Alternative 2 is the foundation of
our CCP. The CCP will guide our management and administration of the
Refuge for the next 15 years. In accordance with National Environmental
Policy Act and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6(b)), this
notice announces the availability of our CCP/ROD.
Background
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. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in
accordance with the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives and Selected Alternative
We identified management issues in our Draft and Final CCP/EIS. To
address these issues, we developed and evaluated three alternatives.
Alternative 1 is our no-action alternative; under it, current Refuge
management programs would continue. Under Alternative 2, our preferred
alternative, current management would continue and a number of
compatible improvements to our wildlife, habitat, biodiversity, and
visitor services management activities would be implemented. Under
Alternative 3, we would continue current Refuge management programs,
and some improvements to wildlife, habitat, and visitor services
management would occur, but to a lesser degree than under Alternative
2.
After considering public comments, we selected Alternative 2, as it
is described in the Final CCP/EIS, for implementation. Alternative 2
will best achieve Refuge purposes, and contribute toward the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with the sound
principles of fish and wildlife science and conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. Current wildlife and habitat management
will continue under Alternative 2, including maintaining freshwater
wetlands on the Tarlatt Unit and implementing our forest management
plan. The following improvements will be implemented over time.
The Refuge's intensively managed pastures and impoundments
will be restored to historic estuarine conditions, increasing open
water, intertidal flats, and salt marsh habitats by 621 acres.
Avian and mammalian predators on the Leadbetter Point Unit
will be controlled as necessary, to help meet western snowy plover
population recovery goals.
We will manage 93 acres of short-grass fields as foraging
habitat for Canada geese, elk, and other wildlife, on the Riekkola
Unit. Grassland restoration will include establishing the early-blue
violet host plant on 33 acres, which will serve the future
reintroduction of the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly.
We will expand the approved Refuge acquisition boundary by
6,809 acres in the Nemah, Naselle, South Bay, and East Hills areas, and
divest the Shoalwater and Wheaton Units (941 acres) from the Refuge.
We will develop an interpretive trail and observation deck
along the South Bay that will tie into our proposed Tarlatt Unit
visitor/administrative facility.
After the proposed estuarine restoration is completed, we
will
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expand the waterfowl hunting area to 5,570 acres.
We will provide an additional 100 acres, and develop three
blinds for goose hunting, including a barrier-free blind. Two blinds
for waterfowl hunting, including a barrier-free blind, will also be
developed. Walk-in hunters will access the blinds on a first-come-
first-served basis.
We will develop a year-round cartop boat launch, parking
area, and 0.6-mile Porter Point Trail, to access the South Bay.
A special-permit elk hunt is planned on the Leadbetter
Point Unit. Elk and deer hunting are proposed during State seasons on
the South Bay and East Hills Units.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to options listed under ADDRESSES, you can view our
CCP/ROD at the following libraries.
Ilwaco Timberland Library, 158 1st Ave. North, Ilwaco, WA
98624.
South Bend Timberland Library, 1216 West 1st St., South
Bend, WA 98586.
Ocean Park Timberland Library, 1308 256th Place, Ocean
Park, WA 98640.
Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St., Astoria, OR 97103.
Dated: March 7, 2012.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2012-6532 Filed 3-16-12; 8:45 am]
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