[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47657-47660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19497]
[[Page 47657]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2012-N130; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000]
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, OK;
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an
environmental assessment (EA) for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge, WMWR), located approximately 25 miles northwest of Lawton,
Oklahoma, for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA describes our
proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
September 10, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local
news media.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more
information on the Draft CCP/EA by any one of the methods listed below.
You may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please
contact Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, or Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource
Planner.
Email: Roxanne_Turley@fws.gov. Include ``Wichita Mountains
Wildlife Refuge draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Roxanne Turley, 505-248-6803.
U.S. Mail: Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306,
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor,
Room 4342, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, Wichita
Mountains Wildlife Refuge, CCP Project, 32 Refuge Headquarters,
Indiahoma, OK 73552; phone: (580) 429-3222; fax: (580) 429-9323.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Wichita
Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register (73 FR 65872; November 5, 2008).
The Refuge encompasses 59,020 acres of mixed-grass prairie and
crosstimbers habitats, with granite rock outcroppings. The Refuge,
which is a remnant of what was once a much larger natural area,
consists of lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, woodlands, and
grasslands, creating an oasis for both wildlife and people in
southwestern Oklahoma.
The land was originally established as a Forest Reserve by
President William McKinley in 1901. By proclamation of President
Theodore Roosevelt, dated June 2, 1905, and based on a special act of
Congress approved January 24, 1905, the land was further designated as
a National Game Preserve ``for the protection of game animals and birds
and shall be recognized as a breeding place thereof.'' The land was
administered by the U.S. Forest Service until 1936, when it was
transferred to the Bureau of Biological Survey, one of the predecessor
agencies of the present day U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Shortly
thereafter, the area was renamed the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
for administration under the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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, 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 wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and, as
necessary, update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
Public Outreach
Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment
(EA) in the Federal Register on November 5, 2008 (73 FR 65872). The
Refuge solicited comments on issues and concerns to aid in CCP
development through four open house meetings held in January and
February 2009.
An ecoregion-wide coordination meeting was held at the Refuge
Environmental Education Center on December 2, 2009, to gain a better
understanding of the issues within the Central Mixed-Grass Prairie
ecoregion, where the Refuge is located, and to determine the Refuge's
role in addressing issues impacting fish, wildlife, and their habitats
within the larger landscape.
In February 2010, Refuge staff met with the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation to identify their concerns to address in the CCP.
Also at that time a letter was sent to local tribes to inform them of
the planning process and provide information on how to be involved. One
tribal meeting was scheduled as a result.
In addition to the scoping meetings, the Refuge held an open house
at the Refuge Visitor Center on January 25, 2011. The purpose of this
open house was to introduce the new Refuge Manager and to give the
public an opportunity to discuss various Refuge projects and programs,
including the planning process.
The feedback received at the conclusion of the public involvement
period identified numerous concerns from a variety of stakeholders.
These concerns were organized by five broad issue categories and one
administrative category: Ecoregion, Habitat, Wildlife, Public Use,
Facilities, and Administrative Areas.
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process multiple issues were raised by
us, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public. Our draft CCP
addresses them. A full description of each alternative is in the EA. To
address these issues, we developed and evaluated the following
alternatives, summarized below.
[[Page 47658]]
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Alternative B--proposed
Issue topic Alternative A--no action action Alternative C
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Issue 1: Ecoregion............... Improve efficiency of Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
Refuge fleet and plus:
facilities. Identify alternative
Minimize or mitigate energy and water
emissions, smoke, and sources..
dust and maintain Class Increase dust abatement
1 Airshed. efforts..
Maintain current Refuge Explore Refuge expansion
boundary.. opportunities (such as
Monitor and provide through land
public outreach on water acquisition,
quality and mercury conservation easements,
contamination. or cooperative
Protect riparian areas agreements)..
through the construction Expand monitoring of
and/or maintenance of mercury..
low water crossings or Pursue park-and-ride
bridges. commuting or tours and
other means to reduce
traffic..
Issue 2: Habitat Management...... Maintain Special Use Area Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
(SUA) and continue plus: with the exception of
prohibition on Designate and manage the the SUA, which would be
unrestricted public SUA as a Research managed as in
access and use. Natural Area (RNA). Alternative A, but with
Manage lakes at full Continue public use and allowance of more
capacity. Conduct access as in general, although
occasional draw-downs to Alternative A with the controlled, public
control invasive incorporation of access and use.
species, manage adaptive management if/
fisheries, and improve when resources are at
fishing opportunities. risk..
Permit grazing on five Construct a fish passage
small allotments on on West Cache Creek to
Refuge property located improve fish crossings..
outside of the Refuge Phase out and
boundary fence. discontinue grazing
permits when fences are
moved to the true
Refuge boundaries..
Issue 3: Wildlife Management..... Manage native fauna (elk, Manage populations at Manage native fauna the
deer, and bison) at or levels targeted to same as Alternative B,
near carrying capacity. allow for habitat plus evaluate the
Hold public auctions variability. feasibility of
(bison) and hunts (elk Evaluate increasing the pronghorn antelope and
and deer) to manage bison herd. Evaluate wolf reintroductions.
population levels. decreasing longhorn Manage non-native fauna
Manage black-capped herd size, or move the the same as Alternative
vireo according to herd to alternate A, except increase the
recovery plan. location.. longhorn herd size.
Manage non-native fauna Hold public auctions
(longhorn) at carrying (bison and longhorn)
capacity. Hold public and hunts (elk and
auctions to manage deer) to manage
longhorn population population levels..
levels.. Monitor long-term trends
Monitor for zebra mussels in vegetation and
in Refuge lakes. Manage animal health and
feral hogs according to adaptively manage all
the Integrated Pest native wildlife..
Management (IPM) Plan.. Promote expansion of
black-capped vireo
habitat on adjacent
lands..
Consider more aggressive
and proactive measures
to avoid zebra mussel
introduction. Manage
feral hogs according to
the IPM Plan..
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Issue 4: Public Use.............. Administer hunts to Same as Alternative A, Review and revise
achieve population plus: administration of
management objectives Improve fishing hunts. Consider turkey
for white-tailed deer opportunities through and feral hog hunts.
and elk. signage, facilities, Manage fishing as in
Allow fishing at 12 lakes and hardened boat Alternative B, with the
in the Public Use Area. ramps. Add youth exception of evaluating
Stock resident fish fishing day clinic. Add the need for additional
species periodically. fishing piers at Quanah fishing piers based on
Provide wildlife viewing Parker, Jed Johnson, fishing pressure.
and photography and Crater Lakes.. Allow bicycling as in
opportunities. Improve wildlife Alternative B, plus re-
Provide interpretive observation open the Burma Road to
talks, nature walks, and opportunities by bicycling.
exhibits. Offer upgrading existing Manage hiking as in
interpretive tours in facilities and Alternative B, plus
the SUA through the constructing two new develop additional
Friends of the Wichitas. viewing blinds. Develop hiking opportunities in
Conduct only a small and designate a the high density use
amount of interpretation wildlife observation zone.
in the Wilderness Area. loop using existing Manage rocksports as in
Hold Environmental roads and trails. Offer Alternative A, except
Education (EE) classes evening and weekend that technical (gear
on- and off-Refuge. photography workshops.. assisted) rock climbing
Partner with Friends Update exhibits at the would be eliminated.
group to provide Visitor Center.
transportation Construct an
assistance for students. interpretive nature
Conduct only a small trail loop around the
amount of EE in the Visitor Center. Expand
Wilderness Area. public interpretive
Allow bicycling on paved workshops. Maintain
roads and on the Mt. interpretive tours
Scott access road. Pave provided by the Friends
highway shoulders along of the Wichitas but
the section of State move them from the
Highways 115 and 49 that Special Use Area to the
extend from the Medicine Public Use Area if
Park gate west and south necessary to protect
to the Cache gate. wildlife and habitat..
Allow boating on five Work to develop EE
lakes. Provide paved and Center as a training
unhardened boat ramps, facility. Link EE
interpretive signs, and programs to the
other facilities. Oklahoma State
Provide and maintain Curriculum. Increase
developed camping emphasis on EE from 6
opportunities at Doris to 10 percent of annual
and Fawn Creek school contacts..
Campgrounds. Allow Create/designate hiking
designated area and bike routes and
backcountry camping connect existing
through a permit. routes. Increase
Allow hiking throughout quality (linking) of
the Public Use and routes to/from Lake
Wilderness Areas. Elmer Thomas Recreation
Maintain nine trails Area (LETRA), Cache,
totaling about 17 miles Medicine Park, Meers,
in the Public Use Area and Lawton via
and in the Wilderness partnerships. Consider
Area on two designated a bicycle-share pilot
trails totaling about program..
three miles. Improve boating
Provide and maintain four opportunities through
picnicking areas. increased interpretive
Allow rock climbing, signage or educational
rappelling, and kiosks, increased
bouldering throughout visitor contacts, and
the Public Use Area. increased law
Maintain partnership and enforcement contacts..
collaborative fixed Increase camping and
anchor evaluation picnicking
process with Wichita opportunities by
Mountains Climbing working with partners
Coalition (WMCC). to meet the demand in
Implement all anchor areas adjacent to the
replacements or Refuge, including
modifications by hand in pedestrian and bicycle
the Wilderness Area. connections. Increase
Allow special uses utilization of less
including monitoring and visited picnic areas in
research; economic or the medium density use
commercial special uses area..
including rocksports Increase and improve
instruction, auctions, accessible hiking
and guided interpretive opportunities..
tours; non-commercial Permit replacement of
special uses including fixed anchors for
cultural (e.g. tribal) rocksports but limit
and religious events placement of new
(e.g. Holy City) and anchors..
public events. Conduct special use
Protect sensitive areas activities under a
or wildlife through Special Use Permit
temporary access (SUP)..
restrictions if Monitor visitation by
necessary. requiring participants
Allow use without group to register on site at
size restrictions.. trailheads. Manage
areas to fit high,
medium, and low density
use zones. In the low
density zone groups
would not exceed 15
without a SUP. In the
medium density zone
groups of up to 30 are
allowed. In the high
density zone, groups of
more than 30 are
allowed. Improvements
would be focused in the
higher density zones..
Issue 5: Facilities.............. Maintain Visitor Center, Same as Alternative A, Manage administrative
EE Center, headquarters plus: facilities the same as
building and quarters, Remodel Visitor Center Alternative B, plus
roads, trails, and EE buildings. install emergency
campgrounds, picnic Install two wildlife phones along roadways.
areas, fishing piers, observation blinds at Manage public use
boat ramps, dams, the Visitor Center and facilities the same as
fences, corrals, etc. the EE Center. Increase Alternative A, plus
trash collection remodel headquarters
infrastructure, place building and enlarge
additional kiosks, and corrals.
improve wayfinding
signage..
Replace headquarters
building, enlarge
corrals, and move fence
to true Refuge
boundary..
Issue 6: Administrative Areas.... Manage Holy City Same as Alternative A, Remove Holy City
according to a 5-year plus: facilities and
SUP to allow for Monitor use of Holy City structures.
management and and effects to Refuge Relocate the Job Corps
administration of events. resources. Adapt center off-Refuge.
Manage Treasure Lake Job management of
Corps according to a MOA activities if resources
and easement with the are being adversely
U.S. Department of Labor affected..
and U.S. Department of Consider partnership
Agriculture Forest opportunities with Job
Service. Administer site Corps participants to
jointly as an include increased EE
educational and and Refuge-specific
vocational training projects..
site..
[[Page 47660]]
Issue 7: Cultural Resources...... Protect known Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
archaeological sites. plus: plus:
Protect and maintain Update the 1964-1965 Identify sites in the
designated sites or archaeological survey Public Use Area at a
those sites eligible for by completing greater risk of
designation to preserve systematic surveys disturbance. Nominate
historic character. Refuge-wide. Increase additional historic
monitoring of known sites for designation.
sites..
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Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Office, 32
Refuge Headquarters, Indiahoma, OK 73552 between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
At the following public libraries:
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Library Address Phone number
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Lawton Public Library.................... 110 SW 4th Street, Lawton, OK 580-581-3450
73501.
Cameron University Library............... 2800 West Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 580-581-2957
73505.
Southern Prairie Library System.......... 421 N. Hudson Street, Altus, OK 580-477-2890
73521.
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Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment
We consider comments substantive if they:
Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the
information in the document;
Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the
environmental assessment (EA);
Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented
in the EA; and/or
Provide new or additional information relevant to the
assessment.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant
impact.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email 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 that we will be
able to do so.
Dated: August 3, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-19497 Filed 8-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P