Notice of Availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, and Notice of Public Meetings, 37865-37866 [05-12804]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37865-37866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12804]



[[Page 37865]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Turnbull National Wildlife 
Refuge, and Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that a 
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment 
(Draft CCP/EA) for Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is 
available for review and comment. This Draft CCP/EA, prepared pursuant 
to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, 
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes the 
Service's proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years. 
Proposed changes to Refuge management include: adding an elk hunting 
program; adding a youth waterfowl hunt; establishing a land 
conservation program with potential Refuge expansion; and expanding the 
interpretive, environmental education, wildlife viewing, and wildlife 
photography facilities and programs. The draft compatibility 
determinations for several different public uses are also available for 
review with the Draft CCP/EA.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the address below by August 
29, 2005. Public open houses will be held:
    1. July 12, 5-8 pm, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, 
Washington.
    2. July 13, 5-8 pm, Cheney High School, Cheney, Washington.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to: Nancy 
Curry, Refuge Manager, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. 
Smith Road, Cheney, Washington 99004. Comments may also be submitted at 
the public meetings or via electronic mail to 
FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Please type ``Turnbull NWR CCP'' in the 
subject line. The public meeting locations are:
    1. Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Dr., 
Student Union Building 17, Lounge AB, Spokane, Washington.
    2. Cheney High School, 460 N. 6th St., Cheney, Washington.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Nancy Curry, Refuge Manager, Turnbull 
National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Road, Cheney, Washington 
99004, phone number (509) 235-4723.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained 
by writing to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Sharon Selvaggio, 
Pacific Northwest Planning Team, 16507 Roy Rogers Road, Sherwood, 
Oregon, 97140. Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be viewed at Turnbull 
National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Rd, Cheney, Washington 99004. 
The Draft CCP/EA will also be available for viewing and downloading 
online at https://pacific.fws.gov/planning. Printed documents will be 
available for review at the following libraries: Cheney Public Library 
at 610 1st Street, Cheney Washington, and the Spokane County Public 
Library at 906 West Main St., Spokane, Washington.

Background

    Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is located in eastern 
Washington in the southwest corner of Spokane County and protects a 
portion of the extensive Channeled Scablands geological formation. 
Turnbull Refuge contributes substantially to the conservation of fish, 
wildlife, and native habitats of the Channeled Scablands. The Refuge 
protects much of the remaining intact wetland habitat of the Channeled 
Scablands, and provides important breeding habitat for many waterfowl, 
particularly redhead ducks, and other waterbirds. The Refuge contains 
one of the few remaining protected blocks of the rare Palouse Steppe 
habitat. Ponderosa pine and aspen habitat are also found here. Wildlife 
conservation is the priority of National Wildlife Refuge System lands.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the CCP is to provide a coherent, integrated set of 
management actions to help attain the Refuge vision, goals, and 
objectives. The CCP identifies the role the Refuge should play in 
support of the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, explains 
the Service's management actions, and provides a basis for Refuge 
budget requests.

Alternatives

    The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates four alternatives for 
managing Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. The 
proposed action is to implement Alternative 3 as described in the Draft 
EA. Alternative 3 best achieves the Refuge's purposes, vision and 
goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses significant 
issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with principles of 
sound fish and wildlife management.

Alternative 1. No Action Alternative

    The No Action alternative, required by the National Environmental 
Policy Act, provides a baseline from which to compare the action 
Alternatives (Alternatives 2, 3, and 4). Under Alternative 1, Refuge 
management practices already underway or funded would continue. The 
current low-to-moderate level of recreational services and activities 
would continue to be provided. An active Environmental Education 
program would continue, but could fluctuate without a stable staff 
base. Most casual Refuge users would find short trails with little or 
no interpretive material. A visitor contact station would not be built. 
Hunting programs would not be initiated. The Service would actively 
encourage conservation within a 21,396-acre Stewardship Area as 
outlined in the 1999 Habitat Management Plan. The intent of the 
Stewardship Area would be to encourage voluntary conservation and 
restoration of habitats to provide mutual benefits to local aquatic 
resources and upland habitats. However, no additional staff for 
stewardship or outreach would be added. The Approved Refuge Boundary 
would not be changed under this alternative.

Alternative 2. Moderate Recreation Increase

    Under Alternative 2, the Environmental Education program would be 
moderately expanded and additional opportunities for wildlife 
observation, photography, and interpretive opportunities would be 
available. Four miles of trail would be added, and most viewpoints 
would be supported with interpretive signs. A small visitor contact 
point would be added to the current office space. The Environmental 
Education program facilities would be enlarged at their current 
location. Contingent upon approval of a Hunting Plan and publishing 
rules in the Federal Register, the Refuge would offer an elk hunting 
program annually. Hunting season length, number of permits, and seasons 
offered would vary according to the level of aspen damage observed on 
the Refuge each year. The Service would actively encourage conservation 
within a Stewardship Area of approximately 44,536 acres surrounding the 
Refuge. The intent of the Stewardship Area would be to encourage 
voluntary conservation and habitat restoration, to benefit local 
aquatic resources and

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upland wildlife habitats, through outreach activities and technical 
assistance. The Refuge would not acquire any properties outside the 
existing Approved Refuge Boundary.

Alternative 3. Recreation With Aquatic and Biodiversity Stewardship 
(Proposed Action)

    Under this alternative, the Environmental Education program would 
be expanded, with greater numbers of students both on and off Refuge 
offered the opportunity to learn about the wildlife and ecology of the 
Channeled Scablands and Turnbull Refuge. Additional classroom space 
would be added, allowing the Refuge to accommodate two classes at the 
same time. The trail network would be expanded by approximately four 
miles and two additional viewpoints would be added. A small visitor 
contact point would be established inside new office space. Using the 
old highway roadbed, a designated bike trail would be established along 
Cheney-Plaza Road to link the Columbia Plateau Trail with the Public 
Use Area. Contingent upon approval of a Hunting Plan and publishing 
rules in the Federal Register, the Refuge would offer an annual elk 
hunting program and youth waterfowl hunt. The hunt would occur during 
the State's special season for youths, now occurring in mid-September. 
The new waterfowl hunting program would emphasize education, possibly 
requiring a waterfowl identification or natural history class for 
youths participating in the hunt. The Refuge would consider expanding 
the waterfowl hunt in the future once more fall waterfowl habitat has 
been restored in the vicinity of the Refuge. The Service would actively 
encourage conservation within a Stewardship Area, as described under 
Alternative 2. In addition, the Service would seek protection within 
the National Wildlife Refuge System of up to 12,000 acres by fee, 
easement, or agreement from willing sellers on priority lands within 
the Stewardship Area. Priority lands include adjoining lands that are 
most critical for protection of Refuge water quality and quantity; have 
the highest quality steppe, pine, and wetland habitat; and provide the 
best opportunities for wetlands restoration or protection.

Alternative 4. High Conservation and High Recreation Opportunities

    Under Alternative 4, the Environmental Education program would be 
expanded, with greater numbers of students both on and off Refuge 
offered the opportunity to learn about the wildlife and ecology of the 
Channeled Scablands and Turnbull Refuge. Trails would be expanded as 
under Alternative 3. Six additional viewpoints would be added. A new 
moderately sized visitor and interpretive center would be built or 
leased, designed in concert with a new expanded environmental education 
facility. With partner's assistance, a designated loop bike trail would 
be established through the Refuge to link the Columbia Plateau Trail 
with the Public Use Area. Contingent upon approval of a Hunting Plan 
and publishing rules in the Federal Register, the Refuge would offer an 
elk hunting program and a waterfowl hunting program during the State's 
general duck season. Turkey hunting may also be considered during the 
next 15 years, depending on turkey population trends. The Service would 
actively encourage conservation within a Stewardship Area, as described 
under Alternative 2. In addition, the Service would seek protection of 
up to 25,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System by fee, 
easement, or agreement from willing sellers on priority lands within 
the Stewardship Area.
    Under all alternatives, habitat and fire management practices on 
the Refuge would continue as described under the Habitat Management 
Plan and the Fire Management Plan.

Public Comments

    Public comments are requested, considered, and incorporated 
throughout the planning process. A previous notice was published in the 
Federal Register concerning this Draft CCP/EA on March 2, 2000. After 
the review and comment period ends for this Draft CCP/EA, comments will 
be analyzed by the Service and addressed in revised planning documents. 
All comments received from individuals, including names and addresses, 
become part of the official public record and may be released. Requests 
for such comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of 
Information Act, the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA 
regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)], and Service and Departmental policies 
and procedures.

    Dated: June 22, 2005.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 05-12804 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P