[Federal Register: November 30, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 229)]
[Notices]
[Page 74075-74077]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30no10-113]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2010-N203; 20131-1265-2CCP-S3]
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Johnston County, OK; Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact
for Environmental Assessment
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 our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental
assessment (EA) for the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In
this final CCP, we describe how we will manage this Refuge for the next
15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://
www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/index.html.
E-mail: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include ``Tishomingo Final CCP'' in
the subject line of the message.
Mail: Joseph R. Lujan, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM
87103-1306.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 505-248-7458 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at 500 Gold Avenue SW.,
Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris Patton, Refuge Manager,
Tishomingo NWR, 12000 South Refuge Road, Tishomingo, OK 73625; by
phone, 580-371-2402; or by e-mail, kris_patton@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Tishomingo
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
November 17, 1999 (64 FR 62683).
Tishomingo NWR is located in Johnston County, Oklahoma, and
encompasses 16,464 acres located in south-central Oklahoma. Management
efforts focus on protecting, enhancing, and restoring Refuge habitats
and water management for the benefit of fish and wildlife resources.
Cumberland Pool, a part of Lake Texoma, takes up a quarter of the
Refuge and serves as the focal point for many visitors because of its
birds and fish. The Refuge also has a strong historical context. The
Refuge was once the homeland of the Chickasaw Nation, and later became
the Washita and Chapman Farms, integrating an entire community.
On January 24, 1946, the Refuge was authorized and established to
preserve nesting grounds for migrating waterfowl, by order of President
Harry S. Truman under Public Land Order 312. U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers' and the Service's cooperative agreement, along with a
cooperative agreement between the Service, Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, and the Corps, are the foundation of refuge
management authority for the Service.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
final CCP for the Tishomingo NWR 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 EA that accompanied the draft CCP.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the Tishomingo
National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternative B, with
modifications
[[Page 74076]]
as described in Appendix I (Response to Public Comments), is selected
as the management direction for the Final Plan.
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. 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 will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative
Our draft CCP and our EA (75 FR 3753) addressed several issues. To
address these, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives.
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A: No-action B: Proposed action C: Expanded public-use
alternative alternative alternative
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Issue 1: Habitat Management Biological program and Integrated biological Same as Proposed Action
Activities. habitat management and habitat management (Alternative B).
would continue under efforts with landscape
existing plans; any level and ecosystem
expansions would occur level plans; implement
opportunistically. adaptive management
practices that would
contribute to ongoing
monitoring and
modification of Refuge
resources.
Issue 2: Improvements to public use Limited to current Improvement of priority Expand and emphasize
opportunities. public use under public uses, all priority public
existing plans; Any particularly hunting, uses, particularly
expansions would occur fishing and wildlife hunting within the
opportunistically. observation, to meet Wildlife Management
demand when compatible Unit portion of the
with wildlife needs Refuge.
and Refuge purposes;
expansion of research
efforts and dynamic
partnerships.
Issue 3: Staffing, Facilities, and Existing staffing Addition of a Visitors Same as Proposed Action
Infrastructure. (seven permanent Service Manager to (Alternative B) plus
positions) and existing base; additional 10 miles of
facilities; any addition of over 5 hiking trails, an 8-
additional staff and miles of hiking trails mile canoe
facility expansions with pull outs and interpretive trail and
would occur parking areas; a 12-mile auto tour
opportunistically. development of route.
primitive camping
areas.
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Comments
We solicited comments on the draft CCP and the EA for the
Tishomingo NWR from January 22, 2010, to March 23, 2010 (75 FR 3753).
The Draft Plan/EA was made available for public review on January 22,
2010, at the Refuge; at the local library in Tishomingo, OK; and at the
Regional Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A total of 12 meetings were
held with other local, State, and Federal governments as well as the
local Chickasaw nation and nongovernment agencies, including one
university. An open house public meeting was also held on February 24,
2010, in the Redbud Environmental Education Center on the Tishomingo
NWR, where a total of 15 individuals signed the attendance rosters. A
total of 82 comments were submitted in writing to the Refuge/Regional
Office. Additionally, one State agency, one university, and two
nongovernmental organizations responded prior to the end of the 60-day
public comment period.
Based on the comments received, the Draft Plan/EA was changed to
include rationale on how management direction for Lake Texoma is
consistent with the purpose of establishment of the Refuge and remains
focused on waterfowl, migratory birds, and other wildlife. Additional
rationale was also incorporated to maintain the current amount of
farming but increase moist soil units in an attempt to improve
waterfowl habitat.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative B for implementation. This alternative describes how
habitat objectives will be accomplished through a combination of
adaptive management activities to encourage ecological integrity,
promote restoration of grasslands, and control invasive plant species
to promote habitat for migratory birds, waterfowl and other resident
wildlife. This alternative was selected because it best meets Refuge
purposes and goals. This action will not adversely impact endangered or
threatened species or their habitat. Opportunities for wildlife-
dependent recreation activities, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, environmental education, and
interpretation, will be enhanced. Future management actions will have a
neutral or positive impact on the local economy, and the
recommendations in the Plan will ensure that Refuge management is
consistent with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/
oklahoma/tishomingo/Index_html.
At the following locations:
[[Page 74077]]
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Library Address Phone No.
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Johnston County Library-- 116 West Main (580) 371-3006
Chickasaw Library System. Street,
Tishomingo, OK
73460.
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Dated: October 29, 2010.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Regional Director, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30001 Filed 11-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P