[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10882-10883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04571]
[[Page 10882]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2015-N244; FXRS12610800000-167-FF08R00000]
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Obispo
County, CA: Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/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
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National
Wildlife Refuge for review and comment. The CCP/EA, prepared under the
National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the
Service proposes to manage the refuge for the next 15 years. Draft
compatibility determinations for uses proposed under one or more of the
alternatives are also available for review and public comment.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by April 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
Email: fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Include ``GND CCP'' in the subject
line of the message.
Fax: Attn: GND CCP, (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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Refuge Planner at (916) 414-6500 or
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further information may also be found at
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, requires the Service to develop a CCP for
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 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 also evaluate the potential for providing
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities 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 Improvement Act.
We initiated the CCP/EA for Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes in December
2013. We hosted two public meetings, one in Grover Beach on December
11, 2013, and one in Guadalupe on December 12, 2013. Our public
outreach included a Federal Register notice of intent, published on
December 6, 2013 (78 FR 73557), two planning updates, two scoping
meetings, and a CCP Web page, which can be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html. The scoping
comment period ended on February 4, 2014. The refuge received several
comments at the scoping meetings and two comments via email.
Background
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was established in
2000 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531) to
preserve and conserve Central California coastal dune and associated
wetlands habitats and assist in the recovery of native plants and
animals that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. Refuge
goals include (1) protecting restoring and enhancing native habitat to
aid in the recovery of federally listed and special status species and
critical habitat; (2) protecting and restoring coastal dune and other
natural communities to support the diverse species of the central
California coast; and (3) providing safe and high-quality opportunities
for compatible wildlife-dependent educational and recreational
activities to foster public appreciation of the natural heritage of the
region. The 2,553-acre Refuge consists of one parcel that is bordered
on its western edge by the Pacific Ocean, agricultural lands to the
east, Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area to the north, and Rancho Guadalupe
Dunes County Park to the south.
Alternatives
The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for
managing the refuge for the next 15 years. Each alternative proposes a
different level of management and public use. The Final CCP will
identify the proposed action, which may look very similar to one of the
three alternatives, or could include a combination of components from
two or more of the alternatives presented. This decision will be based
on the analysis presented in the Draft CCP/EA, comments received from
other agencies, Tribal governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/
or individuals during the public comment period, and forecasted budgets
for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Under Alternative A (no action alternative), the current management
actions, including habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities, and environmental education, would be continued at the
refuge. Habitat and wildlife management activities would continue to be
focused on conservation of listed species, invasive weed control,
barrier fencing, planting native vegetation, and baseline surveys.
Limited guided tours and self-guided access to support wildlife
observation and photography would also continue under Alternative A.
Volunteers would continue to be an important component of the Citizen
Science research program, where they would help with vegetation surveys
and manual weed removal. The refuge would continue to be closed to the
public during the western snowy plover breeding season.
Alternative B proposes a moderate increase in wildlife and habitat
management over Alternative A, as well as an incremental increase in
visitor services and environmental education, including opening the
refuge year round to support these uses. Outreach and education during
the plover breeding season would be conducted, and a loop trail would
be constructed to direct the public away from plover nesting habitat. A
draft feral swine control and monitoring plan has been prepared as an
appendix to the draft CCP/EA and two future step-down plans (i.e.,
Integrated Pest Management Plan, Predator Management Plan) are proposed
for development following the completion of the Final CCP. An invasive
plant early detection and rapid response program to address the
introduction of new invasive weeds on the refuge would also be
developed. This alternative also proposes the future
[[Page 10883]]
establishment of a visitor contact station or office at or near the
refuge.
Alternative C, which was developed to take into consideration the
forecasted decline in budgets for the National Wildlife Refuge System,
proposes to reduce or eliminate many of the current management
activities occurring on the refuge, as well as to close the refuge to
all public access. Under Alternative C, the Service's management
actions would be limited to the minimum necessary to meet statutory
responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.
Public Meetings
The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted
on the refuge planning Web site, at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.
Review and Comment
Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to the refuge
planner (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be viewed at
the same address and the following local libraries; Guadalupe Branch of
the Santa Maria Public Library, 4719 W. Main Street, Guadalupe, CA
93434; and the Santa Maria Public Library (Main Library), 421 S.
McClelland Street, Santa Maria, California 93454. The Draft CCP/EA will
also be available for viewing and downloading online, at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.
Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to the refuge
planner (see ADDRESSES).
At the end of the review and comment period for the Draft CCP/EA,
comments will be analyzed by the Service and addressed in the Final
CCP/EA. 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: February 1, 2016.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-04571 Filed 2-29-16; 11:15 am]
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