[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 65011-65015] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-26083] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-R-2012-N019: FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000] Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Randall County, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located approximately 30 miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas, for public review and comment. The [[Page 65012]] 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 November 23, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local news media. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more information by any of the following methods. You may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please contact Lynn Nymeyer, Refuge Manager, or Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner. Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include ``Buffalo Lake NWR draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Joseph Lujan, 505-248-6803. U.S. Mail: Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: 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 4305. Albuquerque, NM 87102. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Nymeyer, Refuge Manager, Buffalo Lake NWR, CCP--Project, P. O. Box 179, Umbarger, TX 79091; phone: 806- 499-3382; fax: 806-499-3254. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Buffalo Lake NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (63 FR 33693; June 19, 1998). The Buffalo Lake NWR, which consists of over 7,677 acres, is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas. The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect wintering waterfowl and short-grass prairie habitat. The refuge was officially established on November 17, 1959, and continues to provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and grassland bird species. 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 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 June 19, 1998 (63 FR 33693). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was formally invited to participate in the development of the CCP. We received input from TPWD on September 16, 2004, and have continued to involve them throughout the planning process. Information sheets were sent to the public, and news releases were sent to a variety of media outlets. A public open house meeting was held December 15, 2009, at the refuge. Additional written comments were received prior to these open house meetings. A variety of stakeholders contributed feedback at the open house meetings and via written comments; we used the feedback in development of the CCP. CCP Alternatives We Are Considering During the public scoping process with which we started work on this draft CCP, we, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public, raised multiple issues. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C--Optimal habitat A--No-action B--Improved habitat management and public Alternatives alternative (current management and public use (proposed action) practices) use alternative alternative ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Habitat Management ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate Change....................... No current management Establish a baseline Same as Alternative B. direction. dataset for refuge resources. From this dataset, a decision- based research and monitoring program will be developed to track any potential impacts climate change may have on the refuge. Habitat Fragmentation................ Limit the amounts and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. types of all new plus the development infrastructures such of a Land Protection as roads and trails on Plan of an additional the refuge. 20,000 acres would guide land acquisition for the refuge and further conservation efforts in the area and reduce human encroachment on the refuge. [[Page 65013]] Wind Energy Research................. Conduct a diurnal avian Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. activity survey and plus actively track acoustic monitoring in wind energy order to track any development projects changes in habitat and in and around Randal wildlife. County to assist the refuge in anticipating potential changes in habitat and wildlife. Prairie Management and Restoration... Use grazing and Same as Alternative A, Cease using grassland prescribed fire to plus supplement leasing for livestock promote and maintain current management grazing and permit prairie habitat. with reseeding parts native fauna species, of the refuge with whose populations native short grasses. would be permitted to increase under this alternative, to graze freely without competition on the refuge. The 7-year prescribed fire program as described in Alternative A would continue. Invasive Flora Species............... Remove invasive flora Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. through chemical means. plus the refuge would utilize additional chemical treatment on invasive flora species through the use of aircraft application, followed by the mechanical removal of aboveground systems. Moist Soil Management................ Maintain 40-acre Moist Same as Alternative A, Developed sufficient Soil Unit. plus the addition of moist soil units to three 40-acre moist maintain the level soil units and the available to wildlife related pumping prior to the Ogallala infrastructure. The Aquifer receding due water source, like the to human activity and current moist soil use. units, will be a well from the Santa Rosa Aquifer with filters to insure no Ogallala water is used. Lakebed Management................... Cooperatively farm 581 Reduce all farming Remove all farming acres of the dry activities to activity from the lakebed. approximately half of refuge and convert current management; farming lands to this would limit native vegetation. farming activities to no more than 300 acres. Additionally, previously farmed lands would be converted back to natural vegetation. Water Quality........................ Continue to utilize the Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative A. current water plus the installation retention structure at of bio-filters and Umbarger Dam. necessary groundwater pump infrastructure in order to remove coli forms from surface and ground water flowing from adjacent and nearby cattle operations. This infrastructure would be located on the Refuge. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wildlife Management ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Native Fauna......................... Maintain current levels Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. of prairie dogs, mule deer and white tailed deer. Invasive Fauna....................... Manage invasive fauna Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. throughout the refuge. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visitor Services Issues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hunting.............................. There is currently no Introduce hunting to Same as Alternative B. hunting permitted on the refuge to assist the refuge and a hunt in controlling plan has not been invasive fauna species developed. as well as control the populations of native fauna species. Fishing.............................. Currently, no fishing Construct a 6+/-acre Same as Alternative B. in the refuge. public fishing pond near existing viewing blind by the lake bed and Stewart Marsh. [[Page 65014]] Wildlife Observation and Photography. Maintain hiking trails Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. and the auto-tour plus the installation route, observation of six additional decks, viewing blinds, blinds, near moist and scenic overlooks. soil units, prairie The refuge maintains dog town, and Unit 12 two viewing blinds, (for deer). one at Stewart Marsh and another overlooking the prairie dog town. Environmental Education and The refuge hosts and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. Interpretation. annual education day plus increase the for school children number of education from surrounding days (as requested) to communities. Refuge a maximum of one per staff maintains an month. The refuge environmental would also develop and education area for construct 20 education/ interpretive panels. interpretation Expansion of existing programs; both the auto tour route would education area and the open areas of the staff are available refuge that are closed upon request to to the public due to provide environmental safety concerns. education and interpretation presentations. Maintain interpretation on the auto-tour route and self-guided hiking trails. Camping.............................. The refuge currently Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. permits primitive camping in a designated 25-site campground that has picnic tables and restroom facilities. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Facilities ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Administrative Facilities............ Maintain headquarters Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B, and Visitors Center. plus develop an plus increase Administrative Complex infrastructure to to include provide the refuge headquarters, Visitors with sufficient water Center, biological sources to mimic the lab, and maintenance amount as historically and storage facility. provided by the natural spring. This would provide the same habitat that was available to wildlife prior to the Ogallala Aquifer receding due to human activity and use. Public Use Facilities................ Limited public use Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. facilities include plus expand photo blinds, four construction and parking lots, six maintenance of two vault toilets. additional hiking trails, one near the Prairie Dog town and the other through grassland prairie habitat near the campground. The refuge would also replace and/ or rehabilitate the existing chemical toilet facilities adjacent to the campground with facilities that can remain open year round. Quality and Safety of Refuge Roadways Maintain current road Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B. infrastructure. plus the rehabilitation of the entrance road from Farm to Market 168 to headquarters with a two lane paved road with adequate shoulders. Resurfacing of the remaining refuge roads with new caliche. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Availability of Documents In addition to using any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain documents at the following locations:Buffalo Lake NWR Headquarters Office, Umbarger, TX 79091, 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/publicinvolvement.html. The following public libraries: [[Page 65015]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Library Address Phone No. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deaf Smith County Library...... 211 East 4th Street, 806-364-1206 Herford, TX 79045. Canyon Public Library.......... 1501 3rd Avenue, 806-655-5015 Canyon, TX 79015. Amarillo Southwest Library..... 6801 Southwest 45th 806-359-2094 Ave, Amarillo, TX 79109. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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: September 13, 2012. Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012-26083 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P