Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuges, Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare Counties, CA, 2194-2196 [2014-00367]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2194-2196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00367]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2013-N118; FXRS12650800000-134-FF08R00000]


Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife 
Refuges, Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare Counties, CA

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 a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental

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Assessment (CCP/EA), and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for 
the Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife 
Refuges (Refuges or NWRs). The CCP/EA, prepared under the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the 
Service will manage the three refuges for the next 15 years.

DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed on 
September 30, 2013. Implementation of the CCP may begin immediately.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the Final CCP and FONSI by 
any of the following methods. You may request a CD-ROM copy. A limited 
number of paper copies are available.
    Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document(s) at https://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/.
    Email: fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Include ``Hopper CCP'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Refuge Planning, (916) 414-6497.
    U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Copies of the Final CCP/EA and FONSI 
may also be viewed during regular business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader, at 
(916) 414-6503, or Michael Brady, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or 
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further information may also be found at 
https://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Hopper Mountain NWR was established in 1974 and includes 2,471 
contiguous acres in Ventura County, California. Bitter Creek NWR was 
established in 1985 and includes 14,097 acres, primarily in Kern County 
and extending into San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Blue Ridge NWR 
was established in 1982 and includes 897 acres in Tulare County in the 
foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These three refuges in the 
Hopper Mountain NWR Complex (Complex) in southern California were 
created under the authority of the Federal Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), primarily to restore the 
endangered California condor population to its native range. Through 
this CCP process, we determined that areas of Bitter Creek NWR and Blue 
Ridge NWR can provide opportunities for public and Service-guided 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
Final CCP for Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National 
Wildlife Refuges 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 
environmental assessment (EA) that accompanied the draft CCP.
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (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 intend to review and 
update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the 
Administration Act.
    Our Draft CCP/EA was available for a 60-day public review and 
comment period, which we announced via several methods, including press 
releases, updates to constituents, and a Federal Register notice (77 FR 
2012, April 11, 2012). The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the Refuges for the next 15 years.

Alternatives Considered

Alternative A for All Three Refuges (No Action Alternative)

    Under Alternative A (no action alternative) for each of the three 
refuges, the Service would continue to manage the Refuges as we have in 
the recent past. There would be continued maintenance of facilities and 
support of the California Condor Recovery Program activities. The three 
Refuges would remain closed to public use.

Alternatives B and C for Hopper Mountain NWR

    Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would 
increase condor management and support actions; collect baseline data 
for Refuge resources with emphasis on special status species; improve 
management of all habitat types on the Refuge; and increase outreach 
and Service-guided visitor and volunteer opportunities. The Refuge 
would remain closed to public use.
    Under Alternative C for Hopper Mountain NWR, the Service would 
increase some condor management and support actions, expand baseline 
data collection, manage invasive plants without using pesticides, 
increase habitat protection and enhancement of select black walnut and 
oak woodlands and increase some visitor services. The Refuge would 
remain closed to public use.

Alternatives B and C for Bitter Creek NWR

    Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would 
increase condor management and support actions, install a 1,000-square-
foot condor treatment facility, and collect baseline data on Refuge 
resources with emphasis on special status species. The Service would 
also use grazing and other methods to improve habitat quality to 
support special status San Joaquin Valley species, and restore some 
springs and drainages. We would also expand visitor services by opening 
a new interpretive trail, and developing a new Refuge administrative 
office with visitor area, and condor observation point.
    Under Alternative C for Bitter Creek NWR, the Service would improve 
and expand current management by increasing some condor management and 
support actions; restore more habitat to support special status 
species; manage invasive plants without using pesticides; restore more 
springs and drainages; and expand outreach, interpretation, and visitor 
and volunteer opportunities.

Alternatives B and C for Blue Ridge NWR

    Under Alternative B (selected alternative), the Service would 
improve current management by increasing condor management activities, 
collecting baseline data for special status species, and adding 
volunteer opportunities. Portions of the Refuge would be opened to 
public use.
    Under Alternative C for Blue Ridge NWR, the Service would increase 
some

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condor management actions, but to a lesser extent than Alternative B, 
and work with partners to increase some guided visitor and volunteer 
opportunities. The Refuge would remain closed to public use.

Selected Alternative for All Three Refuges

    During the review and comment period, we received 25 letters on the 
Draft CCP/EA containing over 750 comments. Comments focused on habitat 
management (including grazing, fire management, and protection of 
special status plants) and visitor services (wildlife-dependent 
recreation). We incorporated comments we received into the CCP when 
appropriate and we responded to the comments in an appendix to the CCP. 
In the FONSI, we selected Alternative B for implementation for all 
three Refuges. The FONSI documents our decision and is based on the 
information and analysis contained in the EA.
    Under the selected alternative, the Service will expand both 
natural resource management and visitor services opportunities on the 
Refuges. Additional biological activities would include baseline 
surveys on native flora and fauna. Other habitat management activities 
would include development of a comprehensive integrated pest management 
plan and addressing the effects of climate change on Refuge resources.
    Visitor services, specifically interpretation and environmental 
education opportunities, would be expanded at all three refuges. 
Additional volunteer opportunities would be offered at Hopper Mountain 
and Bitter Creek NWRs. A new Refuge administrative office with visitor 
area, and a condor observation area would be constructed at Bitter 
Creek NWR.
    The selected alternative best meets the Refuges' purposes, vision, 
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the 
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with 
principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Implementation of the 
selected alternative will be subject to the availability of funding and 
other resources, and may occur incrementally over the life of the 15-
year plan. Based on the associated environmental assessment, this 
alternative is not expected to result in significant environmental 
impacts and therefore does not require an environmental impact 
statement.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2014-00367 Filed 1-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P