[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4430-4431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01171]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N187; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Citrus and Hernando
Counties, Florida. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage
this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Michael
Lusk via U.S. mail at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, 1502 SE.
Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429. Alternatively, you may
download the document from our Internet Site, http://southeast.fws.gov/planning, under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Morris, at 850-567-6202
(telephone), or crystalriverCCP@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Chassahowitzka
NWR. We
[[Page 4431]]
started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on June 8,
2009 (74 FR 27173). For more about the refuge and our planning process,
please see that notice.
Located about 60 miles north of Tampa, the 30,843-acre
Chassahowitzka NWR was established for wintering waterfowl and other
migratory birds. In 1976, Congress designated 23,579 acres of the
refuge as ``Wilderness.'' Chassahowitzka NWR is managed as a part of
the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex).
The refuge's diverse ecosystems, including prime estuarine habitat,
hosts a myriad and abundance of flora and fauna. The marshlands,
swamplands, shallow bays, and tidal streams provide the quantity and
quality of aquatic plant and animal life required to support thousands
of wintering waterfowl, marsh birds and waterbirds, shorebirds, fishes,
and a variety of animal species that depend on a marine environment.
The refuge also has 2,560 acres of hardwood swamplands and 250 acres of
upland forest. Notable imperiled species include Florida manatees and
an experimental population of whooping cranes introduced to the marsh
habitats over a decade ago by means of a partnership.
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.
Comments
We made copies of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) available for a 30-day public
review and comment period via a Federal Register notice on May 11, 2012
(77 FR 27792). We provided over 125 copies of the Draft CCP/EA to
individuals or organizations requesting copies. A total of 22
individuals, organizations, and government agencies provided comments
on the Draft CCP/EA by U.S. mail or email. Comments were received from
many organizations, including Save the Manatee Club, Inc.; United
Waterfowlers of Florida, Inc.; Citrus County Airboat Alliance;
Southwest Florida Water Management District; Citrus County Planning;
City of Crystal River; National Park Service, Planning and Compliance
Division, Southeast Region; U.S. Geological Survey; Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission; Florida Department of State; and the
Florida Clearinghouse.
CCP Alternatives, Including our Preferred Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge
(Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative C selected for
implementation. This alternative relies on our extensive partnerships
and promotes some new ones. We will hire a volunteer coordinator to
recruit and train a volunteer corps for every program area. This
alternative proposes additional staffing (a total of eight new
positions for the Complex) to provide optimal resource protection and
management capability. Research will include a broader suite of
species, as well as habitat studies to adaptively manage for wildlife
populations. The impacts of commercial and visitor use and external
threats to the refuge will be studied and the results of those studies
applied to refuge management and public use. Upland uses will be
promoted though the development of improved facilities and access, and
an observation platform and kayak landing will be added to the Dog
Island facility.
The addition of key positions, such as a law enforcement officer,
the volunteer coordinator, and the biological and computer-mapping
technicians, will allow for greater resource study, mapping, data
analysis, and enforcement. The hiring of a wildlife specialist and
office assistant will support staff and provide a dedicated outreach
coordinator. Refuge facilities will be improved for both visitor
services and personnel. The existing house that serves as the Complex
headquarters will be demolished, and a new headquarters and visitor
contact station will be built. We will also construct a pole barn near
the maintenance shop in which to store equipment, and will make
improvements to the maintenance area and shop. All alternatives provide
for ``green'' options, materials, and energy efficiency in the design
and construction of new facilities and in equipment replacement.
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: August 17, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-01171 Filed 1-18-13; 8:45 am]
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