[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3922-3924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-887]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2010-N083; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific County, WA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft comprehensive conservation plan
and draft environmental impact statement; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and draft
environmental impact statement (Draft CCP/EIS) for the Willapa National
Wildlife Refuge (refuge) for public review and comment. In the Draft
CCP/EIS, we described our alternatives, including our preferred
alternative, for managing the refuge for 15 years following approval of
the final CCP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by March 7, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, request a copy of the Draft CCP/
EIS, or request more information by any of the following methods.
E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Willapa CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624.
Web site: http://www.fws.gov/willapa; select ``Contact Us.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader,
(360) 484-3482.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to
protect migrating and wintering populations of Brant, waterfowl,
shorebirds, and other migratory birds, and for conservation purposes.
The refuge encompasses approximately 16,000 acres of tidelands,
temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, sand dunes, rivers, and small
streams. It also preserves several rare remnants of old growth coastal
cedar forest, and habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of
thousands of migrating shorebirds, and threatened and endangered
species such as the Western snowy plover and Marbled murrelet. This
notice announces the availability of the refuge's Draft CCP/EIS.
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, 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 and conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for
conserving
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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.
Public Outreach
In March 2008, we distributed Planning Update 1 to our project
mailing list and public outlets located near the refuge. We announced
the initiation of our planning process, provided background information
on the refuge, requested comments on refuge management issues, and
invited the public to open house meetings in the update. We also
announced the public open house meetings in a press release and on
Service Web sites. We held the meetings on March 25 and 26, 2008, in
South Bend and Ilwaco, Washington, respectively, to obtain comments on
refuge management issues. In April 2008 we published a Notice of Intent
in the Federal Register (73 FR 19238; April 9, 2008), announcing our
intention to complete a CCP/EIS and inviting public comments. We
distributed Planning Updates 2 and 3 in August 2008 and July 2009,
respectively. In the updates we summarized public comments and
management goals, and displayed our draft preliminary alternatives.
Draft CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
We are considering three CCP alternatives for managing the refuge;
brief descriptions follow.
Alternative 1 (No Action)
Under Alternative 1 the current refuge management programs and
operations would not change. The refuge would continue to maintain, and
where feasible restore, habitats, including forest stand improvements,
wetlands enhancements, and beach dune enhancements. Habitat
improvements for imperiled species, State or federally listed as
threatened or endangered, would continue. Existing public uses,
including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography,
interpretation, environmental education, and boating and camping would
continue.
Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)
Under Alternative 2, the Service's preferred alternative, current
wildlife and habitat management programs would continue, plus this
alternative includes the highest level of refuge habitat improvement of
the three alternatives. Intensively managed pastures and impoundments
would be restored to historic estuarine habitats, and approximately 749
acres of open water, intertidal flats, and salt marsh would be created.
On the refuge's Leadbetter Point Unit, a predator management program
would be implemented to manage avian and mammalian predators and
increase the Western snowy plover population to meet recovery plan
goals for the species. Grassland restoration on up to 33 acres would
include establishment of the early-blue violet; this host plant would
serve the future reintroduction of the endangered Oregon silverspot
butterfly.
Improvements to the wildlife-dependent public use program would
include: A new interpretive trail and wildlife observation deck along
the South Bay, connected to the proposed visitor-center/office/
maintenance facility to be located on the Tarlett Unit. Waterfowl
hunting opportunities, in accordance with the State's season, would
expand to include approximately 6,058 acres after the proposed
estuarine restoration is completed. A boat launch access point (car-top
boats only) would be developed to access the South Bay. An expanded,
special-permit-only elk hunt would occur on the Leadbetter Point Unit.
Elk and deer hunting would expand in South Bay units in accordance with
the State's seasons.
An expansion of the refuge's land acquisition boundary is proposed
to include 1,908 acres in the Nemah and Naselle areas; 561 acres in
South Bay; and 4,334 acres in the East Hills. We would also consider
divesting the Cape Shoalwater and Wheaton properties from the refuge.
Alternative 3
Under Alternative 3, intensively managed pastures and impoundments
would be restored to historic estuarine habitats, creating
approximately 429 acres of open water, intertidal flats, and salt marsh
on the refuge. The proposed estuarine restoration project would occur
on the Lewis and Porter Point units only. Approximately 30 acres of
managed freshwater wetlands would remain on the Riekkola and Tarlatt
units. Predator management for protection of the threatened Western
snowy plover on the Leadbetter Point Unit would occur on an as needed
basis to control avian predators only. Grassland restoration on up to
33 acres would include the successful establishment of the early-blue
violet; this host plant would serve the future reintroduction of the
endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly.
Wildlife-dependent public use activities under Alternative 3 would
include expanded waterfowl hunting in accordance with the State's
season, after estuarine restoration efforts are completed. A new
interpretive trail and wildlife observation deck along the South Bay
would be connected to the proposed visitor-center/office/maintenance
facility to be located on the Tarlett Unit. Expansion of hunting
opportunities would occur at the Leadbetter Point Unit to include a
permit-only regulated elk hunt. Elk and deer hunting opportunities
would occur in the South Bay units in accordance with the State's
seasons.
An expanded land acquisition boundary is proposed to include: 561
acres in South Bay and 4,334 acres in the East Hills. We would also
consider divesting the Cape Shoalwater and Wheaton properties from the
refuge.
Public Availability of Documents
You can request copies of the Draft CCP/EIS on CD-ROM from Charlie
Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 3888 SR
101, Ilwaco, WA 98624; phone (360) 484-3482. The Draft CCP/EIS will
also be available for viewing and downloading on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/lc. Printed copies of the Draft CCP/EIS may be reviewed at
the refuge and at the following libraries.
Ilwaco Timberland Regional Library, 158 1st Ave. North,
Ilwaco, WA 98624.
South Bend Timberland Library, West 1st and Pacific, South
Bend, WA 98586.
Ocean Park Timberland Library, 1308 256th Pl., Ocean Park,
WA 98640.
Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St., Astoria, OR 97103.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final CCP/EIS.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 we will be able to
do so.
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Dated: January 6, 2011.
David Patte,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-887 Filed 1-20-11; 8:45 am]
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