[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2194-2196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00367]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2013-N118; FXRS12650800000-134-FF08R00000]
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife
Refuges, Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare Counties, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the
availability of a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental
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Assessment (CCP/EA), and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for
the Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife
Refuges (Refuges or NWRs). The CCP/EA, prepared under the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the
Service will manage the three refuges for the next 15 years.
DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed on
September 30, 2013. Implementation of the CCP may begin immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the Final CCP and FONSI by
any of the following methods. You may request a CD-ROM copy. A limited
number of paper copies are available.
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/.
Email: fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Include ``Hopper CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Refuge Planning, (916) 414-6497.
U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Copies of the Final CCP/EA and FONSI
may also be viewed during regular business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader, at
(916) 414-6503, or Michael Brady, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further information may also be found at
http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Hopper Mountain NWR was established in 1974 and includes 2,471
contiguous acres in Ventura County, California. Bitter Creek NWR was
established in 1985 and includes 14,097 acres, primarily in Kern County
and extending into San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Blue Ridge NWR
was established in 1982 and includes 897 acres in Tulare County in the
foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These three refuges in the
Hopper Mountain NWR Complex (Complex) in southern California were
created under the authority of the Federal Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), primarily to restore the
endangered California condor population to its native range. Through
this CCP process, we determined that areas of Bitter Creek NWR and Blue
Ridge NWR can provide opportunities for public and Service-guided
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
Final CCP for Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National
Wildlife Refuges in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed a thorough
analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we included in the
environmental assessment (EA) that accompanied the draft CCP.
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 and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We intend to review and
update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the
Administration Act.
Our Draft CCP/EA was available for a 60-day public review and
comment period, which we announced via several methods, including press
releases, updates to constituents, and a Federal Register notice (77 FR
2012, April 11, 2012). The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three
alternatives for managing the Refuges for the next 15 years.
Alternatives Considered
Alternative A for All Three Refuges (No Action Alternative)
Under Alternative A (no action alternative) for each of the three
refuges, the Service would continue to manage the Refuges as we have in
the recent past. There would be continued maintenance of facilities and
support of the California Condor Recovery Program activities. The three
Refuges would remain closed to public use.
Alternatives B and C for Hopper Mountain NWR
Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would
increase condor management and support actions; collect baseline data
for Refuge resources with emphasis on special status species; improve
management of all habitat types on the Refuge; and increase outreach
and Service-guided visitor and volunteer opportunities. The Refuge
would remain closed to public use.
Under Alternative C for Hopper Mountain NWR, the Service would
increase some condor management and support actions, expand baseline
data collection, manage invasive plants without using pesticides,
increase habitat protection and enhancement of select black walnut and
oak woodlands and increase some visitor services. The Refuge would
remain closed to public use.
Alternatives B and C for Bitter Creek NWR
Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would
increase condor management and support actions, install a 1,000-square-
foot condor treatment facility, and collect baseline data on Refuge
resources with emphasis on special status species. The Service would
also use grazing and other methods to improve habitat quality to
support special status San Joaquin Valley species, and restore some
springs and drainages. We would also expand visitor services by opening
a new interpretive trail, and developing a new Refuge administrative
office with visitor area, and condor observation point.
Under Alternative C for Bitter Creek NWR, the Service would improve
and expand current management by increasing some condor management and
support actions; restore more habitat to support special status
species; manage invasive plants without using pesticides; restore more
springs and drainages; and expand outreach, interpretation, and visitor
and volunteer opportunities.
Alternatives B and C for Blue Ridge NWR
Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would
improve current management by increasing condor management activities,
collecting baseline data for special status species, and adding
volunteer opportunities. Portions of the Refuge would be opened to
public use.
Under Alternative C for Blue Ridge NWR, the Service would increase
some
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condor management actions, but to a lesser extent than Alternative B,
and work with partners to increase some guided visitor and volunteer
opportunities. The Refuge would remain closed to public use.
Selected Alternative for All Three Refuges
During the review and comment period, we received 25 letters on the
Draft CCP/EA containing over 750 comments. Comments focused on habitat
management (including grazing, fire management, and protection of
special status plants) and visitor services (wildlife-dependent
recreation). We incorporated comments we received into the CCP when
appropriate and we responded to the comments in an appendix to the CCP.
In the FONSI, we selected Alternative B for implementation for all
three Refuges. The FONSI documents our decision and is based on the
information and analysis contained in the EA.
Under the selected alternative, the Service will expand both
natural resource management and visitor services opportunities on the
Refuges. Additional biological activities would include baseline
surveys on native flora and fauna. Other habitat management activities
would include development of a comprehensive integrated pest management
plan and addressing the effects of climate change on Refuge resources.
Visitor services, specifically interpretation and environmental
education opportunities, would be expanded at all three refuges.
Additional volunteer opportunities would be offered at Hopper Mountain
and Bitter Creek NWRs. A new Refuge administrative office with visitor
area, and a condor observation area would be constructed at Bitter
Creek NWR.
The selected alternative best meets the Refuges' purposes, vision,
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with
principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Implementation of the
selected alternative will be subject to the availability of funding and
other resources, and may occur incrementally over the life of the 15-
year plan. Based on the associated environmental assessment, this
alternative is not expected to result in significant environmental
impacts and therefore does not require an environmental impact
statement.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2014-00367 Filed 1-10-14; 8:45 am]
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